After being inspired by the wheelbearing thread in the suspension forum and having gotten fed up with brakepad knockback, I decided it was time to replace my front wheel bearings. Removing the suspension knuckles was a real adventure but the information on NASIOC helped me through as usual.

After removing the knuckles, I cleaned and dropped them off at a local shop on my way to work. I get a call later in the afternoon telling me that they're done. The shop tells me it's two hours labor, or $170. I was very surprised as all my research has indicated that pressing the bearings out/in was a quick job, especially for a shop that specialized in Subarus. I asked if there was anything wrong with my parts and they said everything was fine. I spoke with the technician that did they work and he explained that it took a long time to set up the press and to ensure that the bearing goes on straight. I don't mind paying to have the job done right, but is two hours of labor reasonable for pressing bearings?

I would not be to concerned with the labor charges. I have pressed many bearings during my years as a tech and some can be a major pita. I would imagine that if they did the full job inluding removing both knuckles they would have charged 5 or 6 hours. I had a saturn wheel bearing explode while installing it using a Hub shark tool and it hit me square in the face... so the money spent is well worth it.

I did a bearing with a Ford tech at a dealership one day, just a single side, but he didn't have the right dies and had no clue how the thing was supposed to come apart.

Still took him less than 30 minutes to remove and reinstall one side, and again, he was 100% clueless as to how to do it.

/Brox

Perhaps they have a 1-hour minimum charge?

^^ this. But in most cases it should be an hour or less. There are some times the hard ones that nothing goes wrong but just are stubborn and take a long time. $170 does seem stiff to me, but when it is all said and done, it is DONE.

understand that they do not generally charge extra when it is difficult to remove except in extreme cases. This is the way the flat-rate world works, just cause yours take a half hour doesn't mean thats what they charge. The idea is that while yours may take a half an hour someone else's will take an hour and a half this way the pay is "relatively" fair for the tech. also just because hes a great tech and can do the job faster does not mean that he should get less money because it took him less time.

2 hours does seem a little high, but not outrageously.

also disregard the ford comparison, as different manufactures do things VERY differently.

I guess the lesson learned here is for me to get multiple quotes upfront, but since this was a reputable Subaru shop who builds Subaru race cars, I figured the job will be done right. I was rushed on my way to work and, as flstffxe says, atleast it's DONE! I just don't like the feeling of being taken advantage of; or even the suspicion of it.

My final thing to do is find someplace to press in the front lateral link bushings off the car. Then the entire car goes back together and on the road again!

My final thing to do is find someplace to press in the front lateral link bushings off the car. Then the entire car goes back together and on the road again!

Which bushing do you really mean as there officially isn't a front lateral link.

I'm not sure what they're called officially, but there are two sets of lateral links in the rear suspension. One set has the swaybars attached and they are more towards the rear of the car, so I call that set the rear lateral links. The front lateral links that I'm referring to don't have the endlink mounts and are mounted forward of the other.

There are four lateral link bushings that came with the Subaru sport suspension kit. Two of them are in a single bag marked Bush B and the other two are individually packed, labelled Bush A. I got these bushings nearly 3 years ago as a reward for helping someone install his swaybar. Must be some kind of record to finally installing these things.

He also gave me four metal bushings(20166FE100) labelled "Pipe MTG (Bush)." Those look impossible to install so I'm not even going to try. Maybe I'll find somebody that wants them as I can't believe anybody would pay Subaru $22 a piece for these paperweights.

I'm not sure what they're called officially, but there are two sets of lateral links in the rear suspension.
Ah, then you actually used the right words. Since you had been talking about front wheel bearings, it seemed to follow logically that you were still talking about the front end of the car.

As far as getting those bushings in, take a look at this handy dandy tutorial on how to do it (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1380974)

Thanks for the link! You did a tremendous job on that tutorial. As it turns out, I happen to have the "taco link" but without the cheese dip, hehe. As I don't plan on doing this more than once, I'm debating whether I should buy the Harbor Freight press or have a shop do it. The cost will probably come out about even unless I do more bushings later on.

Thanks for the link! You did a tremendous job on that tutorial. As it turns out, I happen to have the "taco link" but without the cheese dip, hehe. As I don't plan on doing this more than once, I'm debating whether I should buy the Harbor Freight press or have a shop do it. The cost will probably come out about even unless I do more bushings later on.

You can "rent" that press at Advanced Auto (and probably every autoparts store). You just ask for the loaner ball joint press and look inside the box to make sure what they give you looks like the picture. You give them the full purchase price of the tool, then they refund the entire amount to you when you return the tool.

If you have the taco link, it's REALLY worth upgrading.