About how much would I be looking at for a fair price to replace both rear shackles? Parts + Labor? Trying to figure out the fair price while calling around for quotes.

The driver's side shackle snapped and the passenger side one is about to. Need these done by Friday for a 600 mile long road trip. On top of that, I live in Michigan, so they are rusted. I don't have a cutting torch or air tools and from what I've read these are near impossible without.

Would you say it is safe to make the trip with the broken shackles? I have to make the trip, no way out (classes starting).

 

No. It's not safe to drive with broken shackles. I just replaced my shackles and bushings last month. Shackles were $50 each, life warranty from oreilly. Leaf spring bushings $14 each, Moog life warranty. $80 Harbor freight ball joint press kit for removing and installing bushings. If your leaf spring bushings look OK, don't change them. If your frame bushings look OK, leave the new ones in the box and you won't need the press.

$100 for 2 shackles and $80 for the tool. Mail order shackles are probably cheaper.

 

I'm likely going to shop this. To much PITA from what I've heard and I only have three days to work on it. And none of those days are a weekend (Therefore working in the dark for 3 hours at most after 9 hour shift). I got an EVAP leak somewhere so my little propane torch isn't an option and I own no air tools at all.

Just need to know what to expect from labor cost. I can get the parts for $50 at parts store or $39 at rockauto (each not for set). Figure if labor + parts is less then $200 I'll shop it, and at most $300. I would think most shops around here would be equipped much better then me, and get it done significantly faster.

 

Called some shops during my lunch.

Seems like the average price is $200 to $250 for labor if I supply the parts. One of the shops asked about the hanger, what is this? They seem to think it needs replacement too when I inquired over the phone.

 

He's referring to the hanger at the front of the leaf spring. Or if you're changing that bushing as well. The bushings in the springs are harder to change than the frame bushing, which is only pressed into holes at each end.

 

I got a quote from another guy up where my collage is. He said $193 for parts and labor... but that was the best case. Thinking I may just go with this guy so far.

The mechanic friend I took it to first to have this found said I should take a hose clamp and wrap it around the frame and springs tight to prevent it from shaking off. Other then that he said no off roading or rough roads and I'll likely be fine for the trip, but that this was no permanent fix.

 

Lucky, what did you do? Which shop did you take it to and what did they replace? Cost? Or did you drive without the repair? How did it go? Don't leave us hanging? We hope it went well, either way. Concerned in Seattle.

 

I ended up having to drive it to college with the broken rear shackle. Once here though I got the work down for $385 parts + labor. It fixed that problem.

 

I paid around $80 for the shackles from RockAuto and paid a guy that does a lot of work for me $200 to do them.