78 Newport shocks

[Cadee]

I need to put 4 new shocks on my 78 Newport.
If a shop did it, roughly hour many hours should they bill me for?
I have the shocks.
Thanks.

 

[Sport Fury 67]

This is a reply as a starting point of conversation:

Most repair shops usually charge a flat rate for shock replacement based on the average time the job takes. A shop may bill 1.5 hours per pair of shocks even if an experienced technician can complete the job in an hour. This system ensures consistent pricing but means you pay for the job, not the exact time. You will also have to to ask the shop what is their hourly rate for this type of work.

Example: At $100 per hour

• One pair of rear shocks: 1 to 1.5 hours of labor, for a cost of approximately $100 to $150.
• One pair of front shocks 1.5 to 3 hours of labor, for a cost of approximately $150 to $300.
• Full set (all four shocks): 3 to 5 hours of labor, for a cost of approximately $300 to $500.

One of the issues now a day is finding a shop with a lift weight rated for these monsters ; )

A suggestion is to call around to independent shops and if you can find one that specializes and or services small to medium size commercial type trucks, they are set up to handle leaf springs and torsion bars.

 

[bronze turbine]

Most of today's SUVs, EVs and trucks weigh at LEAST as much as a '78 Newport. More important is finding a shop that has a mechanic experienced on older cars. Putting shocks on is pretty straight forward, but some aspects of working on these older cars is really foreign to kids today.

 

[CBODY67]

IF the shop might claim they don't know how to do them, ask if they know how to put shocks on a similar model year Camaro or Firebird. SAME thing, more than they might expect.

If you bought high or mid-pressure gas shocks, then the lower control arm might need to be separated from the knuckle, for which an extra charge might happen. THEN they might also want to do a front end alignment, too.

I'm suspecting any shop doing work for the public will have a rack rated at 10K Lbs, usually. Ought to handle an upper-4000lb Chrysler just fine.

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[6PKRTSE]

Very simple process to just replace them yourself.

 

[Cadee]

Thank you everyone for the responses. I’ll tackle this myself.

 

[6PKRTSE]

Use penetrating oil on the studs & nuts a day or two before you start if a rusty car.

 

[3175375]

Use penetrating oil on the studs & nuts a day or two before you start if a rusty car.

Thank you everyone for the responses. I’ll tackle this myself.

I don’t know if your year is different but for my 68, I believe that I had to support the lower control arm with a floor jack to drop it enough to remove and install the front shocks.

 

[Cadee]

I don’t know if your year is different but for my 68, I believe that I had to support the lower control arm with a floor jack to drop it enough to remove and install the front shocks.

All great information everyone. Thank you

 

[Boydsdodge]

I need to put 4 new shocks on my 78 Newport.
If a shop did it, roughly hour many hours should they bill me for?
I have the shocks.
Thanks.

Where are you located?

 

[Cadee]

Where are you located?

Near Hamilton

 

[PursuitSpecial]

I did all 4 of mine on the ground with jack stands in about 3 hours. Most of that time was spent drinking beer though.