So all these shops around me have never done a tC before and whenever they say "oh, 60 bucks should cover it" I tell them that they need to drop the subframe... then they freak out and raise the quote to $250... lol ( the "engine cradle" is the subframe right? also called crossmember?)

I can probably get access to my schools lift, how long do you think itll take me to do that? I did the rear in 30 mins with some ramps and a socket set.

The main thing i'm worried about is the fact that the guide reccomends an impact wrench and some bolts need 116 ft-lbs... i dont have an impact wrench and i dont think i am strong enough to torque the bolt that much...

ALSO, what is this deal about using "prybars, pics, or tranny jacks" to align the cradle hole with the frame hole!? that REALLY scares me...

what should I do... therer is no way i'm paying $250 for the install...

please give me your input if you have done the install yourself, and was it hard to align the cradle with the frame hole?

thanks!

sell me the sway bar.

sell me the sway bar.

you're getting pretty damn annoying... :tap:

i didn't install mine.. but yea.. $250 is waaaaay too much.

i would say less than half that is reasonable.

theyre not joking about using prybars and a tranny jack... having installed one on my old FM tC, i know first hand how much of a PITA the front bar is...

i had a friend of a friend quote me $75 for a 1hr job for both which turned into a 6 hour job (5.5 for the front alone)... and yes it is hard to get the crossmember holes to line up with the frame after you drop it (that alone took at least an hour)... but we were using jack stands and a tranny jack, but the guy that installed it said that it would have been worse with a lift...

longest sunday afternoon of my life... period.

____tt........

$250!? do you think if i take it to the shop and show them what is involved they will lower the price?! seems ridiculous to pay 250 for the front install when i paid 275 for the bars!

i dont know... $250 sounds like a reasonable price (the guy that installed my bar had a $75/hr labor charge) so theyre estimating it will take about 3 1/3 hours at that rate... i would shop around tho...

The main thing i'm worried about is the fact that the guide reccomends an impact wrench and some bolts need 116 ft-lbs... i dont have an impact wrench and i dont think i am strong enough to torque the bolt that much...

Sounds to me like the other aspects are more to worry about. No, you don't need an impact wrench, it would just make the job faster/easier. Yes, you can torque bolts to 116ft-lbs, even if you're fairly small and/or relatively weak. Most torque wrenches have a long enough handle such that it should be easy for you, and if not, just slip a longer pipe over the end of your socket wrench for some additional leverage and you'll be fine.

I have done it to a couple of tcs, it is hard the first time, the last time i did it it took me 2 hours, on jack stands, with someone helping me, and an impact gun