Hello I am new to this site. I have a 2000 Cherokee that needs left and right front 4wd u-joints.

My local garage quoted me $330 parts and labor.

Does this sound accurate?

 

Hmm...........I'm showing 2.4 hours labor and most places charge $90.00 per hour so $216.00 labor and I think those U-joints are about $45 or so each. They may be adding in new axle seals as well.

 

Thanks for the reply!!! I appreciate.

 

Pretty sure u should be able to get u joints at most 20 a piece

 

Thanks again.. ANy other opinions?

 

Ouch!
If you have the time and don't mind some down time on your rig,
do it yourself, or get a buddy that knows how to help.
At the very least, shop around for a better deal.
That is alot of coin saved.
Oh and get quality Spicer joints.
And yes while your at it, seals too.

 

You're probably correct. I was having trouble getting a price for axle u-joints from local parts stores so, I went with AllData's price.

 

$20 to $40 for Spicer @ Quadratec

 

That'd be a perfect easy job for you to start learning how to work on your own Jeep. It's simple and will save you a lot of money in the long run. Don't be scared.

 

Yeah, I took mine out myself and the local 4x4 shop only charged me $10 each to press out the old ones and press in the new ones. So, only cost me $80 for both. I used Moog's.

 

OK, what axle seals are you guys talking about? The only seals that i can think of on a Dana 30 that are possibilities are the inner axle seals in the diff case. I doubt that the shop is going to replace them when doing u-joints. Am I nuts?

Oh, and $330 to install a pair of front axle u-joints seems a little steep to me. I've never paid anyone to do it though so you might take that with a grain of salt.

 

The shop price sounds right. To replace the seals, the diff needs to come out to get to them jacking up the price more.

 

OK. The shop i go to wouldn't even think about replacing those seals without me asking for that to be done. If they're not leaking, leave them alone. And if it is the case that they're tearing into the diff to do the seals "because it needs u-joints", that's a little shady. Go somewhere else...

 

Yeah the shop price is not surprising, but the money saved by DIY
can be put elsewhere.
Its not that hard to replace u-joints, just means down-time for your rig.
Hell I use the "vice-&-sockets" method.
Just be careful not to damage the yoke.

 

You might want to add new rotors, Because the old factory rotors are thinner and have a tendency to crack.