Right Rack and pinion boot badly melted on right side and Toyota wants $574 to replace and will also replace right CV boot. Parts may cost ~$100. Why is total labor + parts at Toyota $574?
Asked by Zephyr_3397 Jan 28, 2017 at 06:46 AM about the 2007 Toyota Avalon XLS
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
The $574 fixes only the right
two boots. Six months later will
I get charged another $574 to
replace the two boots on the left
side. Should I trust going to an
independent mechanic?
4 Answers
Your better of cost wise to go to an independent garage, mechanic. And have the hole Rack & Pinion Assembly replaced. That would take care of the 2 inner boots, plus Rack & Pinion Steering does wear out. You can get an rebuilt Rack & Pinion for like $220, and a new Rack & Pinion Steering for around $520, so you have an idea. Then it would be just labor cost for installment. For this price it would be ridiculous to just be replacing boots.
Repairs are expensive- the price you were quoted sounds about right- the labor rate is around $100 an hour- how many hours do you think it takes to do this work? ask the service adviser to break it down- an independent garage might charge as much- but you run the risk of a mechanic who could mess it up- who knows? roll the dice- or just get a new car-
Zephyr_3397 answered 7 years ago
Discount Tires in Paris, TX said I needed one boot replaced not two. They got the new boot at Toyota, replaced and aligned for $140. Saving $434.
Dealer labor rates are totally out of control. Probably a combination of greed and complying with all those out of control Government regulations. Independent shops are the way to go for almost all service and repair work.
