I transformed my 2010 Ranger

[Garth Libre]

The local tire store wanted to charge me over $1,500 for four tires and four shocks. I ordered some tires from Walmart and had them put on for about $500. I changed the sway bar ends and sway bar bushings for less than $50 I think, but today I swapped out the old shocks front and back with KYB's. If I'm honest, I think it took me three hours because the fronts had rusted bolts on the tops. The shaft kept turning so I cut through the bushings so I could grab the shock shaft with a vise grip to cut the shaft off - (that's a tough job ). The rears were easy to swap out. I used torque settings for everything I could find, but I think a lot of this stuff is memorized by pro mechanics. The KYB $40 each? - I forgot what I paid for them, but they are massively better than whatever came off (factory shocks). So that's it - For $700 anyone can refresh the ride and make it feel brand new. Next job is to figure out why the passenger seat makes a rattle sound when there's no passenger and riding over rough roads. Any ideas on how to fix that?

 

[pjtoledo]

remove stuff under the seat?????

try bashing on it, if somethings loose you should be able to replicate it.
oh, that long thin cylinder,,, it's a seat belt pre-tensioner. it uses exploding gas to rapidly tension the belt.

if the seats release & tilt forward look at the latching mechanism.

 

[superj]

and it could just be play between the track sliders since they are a little older now. maybe grease them if it turns out to be that and it could help?

my 04 doesn't do it but its a single cab so the seat doesn't really get moved around much to cause play between the track and slider

 

[MaicoDoug]

Rattling? All my doors rattle bad, fixed them by installing a small rubber bumper keeping the door from closing in too far. If it's the seat, tighten stuff up & use some thick grease. Might be a loose or missing spring. Time for the Junk yard crawl.

KYB is what I had on the 83 long bed. Glad you got her going down the center of the road!

 

[Ranger850]

$700 in parts and about the same in labor, plus tax, $1,500 sounds right on the button for that job.
Great way to save some cash and learn stuff about your truck.

 

[Garth Libre]

$700 in parts and about the same in labor, plus tax, $1,500 sounds right on the button for that job.
Great way to save some cash and learn stuff about your truck.

Mechanics charge $100 an hour. I'm painfully slow at any mechanical job I do. There is no way swapping out four shocks would take 7 hours to change the shocks. It took me two hours and I'm ridiculously slow. If I had to do it a second time, I could shave another half hour now that I know the issue of rusted shocks. I have the additional time expense of not having a hydraulic lift. Plus, there was no excuse for not diagnosing worn out bushings and sway bar links. How does a mechanic miss sway bar links that had no apparent bushings left?

 

[Ranger850]

Mechanics charge $100 an hour. I'm painfully slow at any mechanical job I do. There is no way swapping out four shocks would take 7 hours to change the shocks. It took me two hours and I'm ridiculously slow. If I had to do it a second time, I could shave another half hour now that I know the issue of rusted shocks. I have the additional time expense of not having a hydraulic lift. Plus, there was no excuse for not diagnosing worn out bushings and sway bar links. How does a mechanic miss sway bar links that had no apparent bushings left?

They also have a guide that tells them how many hours it should take, and thats what they charge. Regardless if they get it done quicker, or slower. If the guide says 7.5 hours to do a job, they charge for 8. You also pay them for their experience and tools they have at the ready. It is up to YOU, the customer, to decide if the shop price is worth it, or not. I recently bought a $300 12 ton press because that was cheaper than the shop price to press out/in some bearings for a corolla. So, I am not disagreeing with your decision. I just don't think it is a "rip off" price.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mechanics charge $100 an hour. I'm painfully slow at any mechanical job I do. There is no way swapping out four shocks would take 7 hours to change the shocks. It took me two hours and I'm ridiculously slow. If I had to do it a second time, I could shave another half hour now that I know the issue of rusted shocks. I have the additional time expense of not having a hydraulic lift. Plus, there was no excuse for not diagnosing worn out bushings and sway bar links. How does a mechanic miss sway bar links that had no apparent bushings left?

$100/hr is cheap...

 

[SenorNoob]

$100/hr is cheap...

With all the shop bills factored in that probably means what $20/hr for the mechanic? Less?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

With all the shop bills factored in that probably means what $20/hr for the mechanic? Less?

That will get you a lube tech at a small town dealer...

 

[SenorNoob]

That's what I'm saying. I work for $20/hr now. My job title is maintenance technician. I wouldn't want to deal with the public and rusty cars for what I make now. It's much easier in an industrial setting.