$500.00 to install springs!!! plus $140 for alignment: outrageous?

I just called 2 shops in the bay area, and they quoted me $585.00 for springs and $140.00 for alignment, and the other Carrera Motors said $490.00 plus $140.00 for alignment and that is if I bring in my own springs. If I want the springs Eibach or H&R its another $400 roughly!!!! Is this normal or should I keep shopping around........ Im thinking for this price it isn't even worth it.

Keep shopping. I had mine installed by an excellent non-porsche shop that does my other work. $300 for install and alignment.

Seems a bit high but by no means outrageous. I paid $600 for springs, shocks, and sways, which also included alignment.

Dell, that's a good deal. Most shops around here charge just under $1K for labor alone, not including the alignment... OT: Where in NC are you planning on moving? I'm relocating to Raleigh in late spring.

Eli.....you ain't kidding on the rates. I called around and most places wanted between $1K and $1200 for the ROW kit install. I think I got a great price. As for NC. Moving to Raleigh as well! Well, actually a suburb of Raleigh called Cary. It is just west of Raliegh on the way to Chapel Hill. The wife and I are building there and while we are moving there June 1, our home will not be ready till end of August. Hotel hell for us Looking forward to hooking up when we get there. And the best part? VIR is only an hour away

Good to hear, my future office is in Cary. We'll definitely have to meet up.

I just checked one very reputable shop and they quoted me $1200 for coilover install.... w/alignment outrageous

I was quoted about $600 just for an alignment because it's AWD.

You got it....looking forward to it

LVDell -- I live in Cary, NC. It's a great place to live!

Great to hear! Looking forward to mixing it up with the Raleigh crowd

try devek---- Redwood City

X73 install with alignment, 750$. My last alignment, 100$, yes with AWD. Give Taso at TKX Performance a call (formerly RPM racing).

My springs installed on my C4S was 250 bucks. Then 99 for an alignment.

I paid 750 for H&R springs, incl, install and alignment, thought it was pretty cheap...springs alone are 400 and alignment is about 125-150 anywhere you go....because with P you have to align all 4 wheels, even when you don't have a 4WD

To install lowering springs, the average rate is about an hour a corner. This is to remove the strut, disassemble and reassemble with the new springs, and reinstall. Plus you would need any alignment. Coilovers are much more involved. There is the removal and installation of the units (which is the same as the stock struts more or less), and then the ride height setting. We charge 7-8 hours to install coilovers. This is because it can take up to 4 hours to properly set the ride height and get it perfect. A lot of guys measure from the fenderwells and call it good (this is not the way you should do it), but you really need to use height bolts and measure off the factory suspension points. This will allow you to measure a corner to the mm. Sometimes you have 3 corners perfect, one is off 2mm, you change that, and it in turn throws off another corner (that was previously on the mark). What this involves (for those that don't know), is putting the car on the lift, removing all the tires....turning your settings on each strut up or down depending (1 turn of the nut is suppose to equal 2mm IIRC, but I have found that to not be exactly true, so you are guessing when you turn the nut as to how much it will change), putting the tires back on, putting the car back on the ground, rolling the car back and forth over a 20-30 foot area, and rechecking the ride height on the ground. If it is off, you push the car back on the lift, pull the tires, and repeat the process. For me to get everything exactly perfect, takes probably an average of 10-12 times coming off the lift, and I have done more than I care to admit. Sometimes you get lucky on the 3rd or 4th try, but not usually. Some people are content with measuring the fenderwell and saying...ok 25 1/4 - 25 1/2 on each fender...sounds good. Maybe I am too picky

Personally, I would rather have picky, than the lowest bidder

ur joking right?

They want 1.5 hours a corner(X4) at there custom shop rate of 120.00+ $720.00 and they charge $375.00 for an alignment......... ridiculous, anyone with a spring compressor, or want to do a side job in the Bay area for some extra cash.... DAN

I must admit I have been paying $300 for alignment (on a new laser alignment machine) for my C4S. Seems to be the going rate here in Westchester County NY.

Dant, there are a couple of shops in the Bay Area that are Rennlist sponsors. Sharkwerks and 969 Motorsports. You may want to try them.

Dant, $500 to install the PSS9 kit and $69.00 for alignment. k

Dant it usually takes us 4-5 hours on a C2 to do springs. We usually focus more on PSS9s, JICs, Motons etc... as doing springs isn't going to really do anything for the performance of the vehicle. In fact, we've found it more often than not unsettles the car a bit more. The shocks are under-damped and so on... We don't do alignments in house though. It's an easy enough job so if you want to save a few bucks you could easily do a DIY on it. It's pretty easy as you were saying. Nice talking to you on the phone! And if you need to borrow a spring compressor I have a few

I takes about 2-3 hours to install springs and another hour for allgnment...4-5 hours is what you charge your client...but over an hour per wheel?? come on!!!??

As PorscheDoc said it takes about an hour per corner so that's 4 hours. If there's a sub-woofer in the back it does take a while longer which is why I said 4-5. You've got some finiggling to do. Then to do the alignment etc... We do things carefully and do not rush however as I was saying we rarely do springs (I just don't like the way the car drives with those) and just stick to doing coil overs. It takes us the same time so it's about 5 hours to do coil overs on a C2. Give or take some time for ride height adjustments. A little longer with Motons and what not. Although as I said in the original post it's a simple enough DIY job so if someone wants to save $500 bucks and do it at home, I'd be happy to lend the spring compressor out. It feels good to work on your own car too!

I may try and do it myself.... does anyone know of a good DIY anywhere on the internet... and if you can let me borrow that spring compressor for a day, that would be awesome!!!! But in the meantime if anyone has done this before and wants to make, say $300.00 on the side, I will be more then happy to pay you for it. Please let me know through PM Dan

I won't di it myself, because anything that has to do with the driving/engine part of the car has to be done by professionals or I lose my warranty.

No worries man. Like you and the guy below were saying it really IS easy and I bet you'd have a bit of fun/satisfaction doing it yourself Never be afraid!

No worries man. Like you and the guy below were saying it really IS easy and I bet you'd have a bit of fun/satisfaction doing it yourself Never be afraid!

If you are doing lowering springs, you do not need spring compressors. The stock springs are not under much pressure, if you hit the top nut with an impact during disassembly, the spring comes apart under force, but only enough to barely pop the strut and spring apart. What i do, is lay the strut on the ground, get in front of it with the air gun, and point the strut away from me. It will launch all of 6 inches. Going back on, you can set the strut on end and compress it enough yourself to put the top nuts on. Normally I would say always use spring compressors, but you definetly do not need them for this job, in fact, as dangerous as spring compressors are, you are probably increasing your chance of getting hurt by using them in this particular application.