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suspension fitting cost

3K views 25 replies 9 participants last post by  Pascs 
#1 ·
How much would you guys in the know say it should cost to have new shocks and springs fitted to a 147 by a garage if I've already got the parts myself?

The reason I'm asking is I've just bought koni FSDs and Eibach prokit springs for mine and was planning on fitting them myself (having changed the suspension on several other cars before without problems) but as I seem to be finding a lot, what was a simple job on other cars is a right pain in the a*se on an alfa!

I had a look at it yesterday and I can't get the ball joints off the front without a big chance of splitting the rubbers and if I'm going to end up needing a load of new wishbones by tearing the rubbers I might as well pay to get the whole lot done by a professional.

My only problem is I live in the very north of the highlands and finding a nice little alfa specialist indie to do the work or even an alfa dealer isn't possible for me so I'm going to have to get the work done by one of the local garages if I don't do it myself.
 
#3 ·
:lol: I did the same as you ... expect to pay about £200-£300 ish (although that is based upon surrey prices) ... alternatively you could send IainFm a PM as he's up in your area and I believe his currency is beer :thumbs:
 
#4 ·
If you dont have any problems with the bolts then its about a 4 hour job all together, its fairly straight forward. Depends what problems the garage encounter when getting the mounting bolts out, I've done it 3 times myself but here there is no corrosion so its not a problem. In Scotland could well be a different story, I'm from Aberdeen so I know the weather up there :(
 
#7 ·
Have you got a heavy duty ball joint splitter???
 
#8 ·
Yeah, I've got a fork ball joint splitter I just don't think I can get in at the top wishbone without splitting the rubber (or hammering very close to the front wing) and you don't seem to be able to buy rubbers separately to replace for the alfa without buying the complete wishbones which seems a bit costly.

I'm right up in on the north coast in Caithness, 05GT.

Here's a pic of my new (to me) alloys, I think they really suit the car, very happy with them (thanks very much to the forum member 'bampot' who I bought them off at the weekend:thumbs:.)
 

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#9 ·
If you're talking about the front wishbone you don't need to take it out to get the front suspension out ... just undo the top bolts holding the dampers on and they drop out leaving the wishbones in place ...


... that's how it is for a 156 anyway ...
 
#13 ·
You need to undo the top wishbone balljoint in order to get the suspension low enough to get the damper out of the fork thing

No need to touch the lower ball joint
 
#10 ·
#11 ·
I used one of those scissor type ball joint splitters that has a bolt on it which you screw down and the lower arm pushes up on the ball joint bolt - seems to work ok but sometimes does need an extra whack with a hammer

edit: haha .................same type as 156Chris has shown
 
#12 ·
Theres a guy on ebay selling ball joint rubbers just search for:
Alfa Romeo ball joint track rod end dust boot x 8

I bought some off him last year and they are still going strong on my lower and upper wishbones.

Edit: I have the same laser ball joint splitter, though it needed modifying with an angle grinder to fit round the lower wishbone.
 
#15 ·
Theres a guy on ebay selling ball joint rubbers just search for:
Alfa Romeo ball joint track rod end dust boot x 8

I bought some off him last year and they are still going strong on my lower and upper wishbones.
Thats interesting............so the ones he sells fit the standard ball joints, might buy a set :thumbs:
 
#16 ·
The original question was.... how much will it cost?

I read on another forum a girl quoted £150 by a backstreet garage. He had the car for a week. Had major issues with each corner..... final bill. £900 labour.

If you get a price from a garage, especially one who is not familiar with Alfa's, bear in mind it'll probably take them longer than they quote for.... and you pay the bill.
 
#20 ·
My god what a battle this car is.

I went back out after reading some of your advice and finally got the ball joint after managing to buy a set of scissor splitters and I've got the front done and new koni/eibachs on.

Now I'm stuck on the back on the long bottom bolt that just wont shift at all.

It really better be worth it, I'm losing the will to live.
 
#21 ·
... not that I'm putting you off but ... I've heard the back is worse than the front to do ..


Get yourself some "shock and unlock" from halfrauds ... and good luck :thumbs:
 
#23 ·
Mission accomplished! (Well, after I replace the rear anti roll bar stabilizer link I broke taking it apart.)

I found the only way to get those bolts out the rear damper was for me and a mate to take turns hitting them with a hammer while trying to turn the other end with a ratchet, got there eventually though.

Looking very nice, pics to follow:thumbs:

So, suspension fitting cost... 17.99 ball joint separator and 15 quid for a stabilizer link, bargain!
 
#26 ·
:thumbs:
 
#25 ·
I'm just glad I paid someone to do mine :lol: ...
 
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