Any idea how much extra labor involved in changing out tt couplers when doing a a4 trans swap with new tc. I have not seen the final bill but I would like to know just how much of this labor in overlapping before I get the bill in hand, keep in mind I've paid for an engine swap, exhaust, rear swap, tc and couplers before, also a supercharger install, all by the same shop, I think I probably have earned a break in labor at this point. The bill is always much higher than the estimate!

I'm not cheap... just want a fair price

Thanks,
Adam

 

I think they could possibly add an extra hour labor on top, maybe a half hour if they are in a good mood since you have spent a lot with them already... it isn't a particularly hard job especially since everything is already out but those torx bolts can be a major major pain in the rear

 

Do you know this from doing it, is that actual time or based on someone's shop rate?
I briefly saw incomplete bill and I think he had several hours added for the couplers on top of labor for trans, that can't be fair can it?

 

yes I know from doing it, not sure on an actual shop rate but in my opinion that would be fair... the torx bolts that hold the couplers on are very tight with loctite from hell... in order to get them out you have to get them heated up to loosen the loctite and even then there is a good chance you will break a socket on them, especially if you use an impact to get them loose... if it were me doing it I would get them loose by hand then the rest of the way with an impact... and if the guy doing it is using name brand tools (snap-on, matco, etc) a good socket can cost almost as much as an hours worth of labor... granted if one of those sockets were to break it will get replaced under warranty but if the tech doesn't have an extra then they will have downtime from work until they are able to get a replacement... if your torque tube has the large snap ring that can also be another obstacle... so these are probably things that have been incorporated into the charge but several hours on top of everything you have already paid, I don't agree with that at all... I would just go pick the torque tube up and have a buddy help you with it

 

Car is done, just not tuned all the way, (that's another story), I have paid shop several thousand for this latest work but have not settled the bill because car will not run without fouling plugs! I saw part of final bill and that's why I'm asking before it's done done. I tried to get him to email bill so I could go over it, still waiting.... a month later, no email, Thanks for your response.

 

ohhhh so they already did the work and you are now seeing on the bill where they charged you several hours to replace the couplers on top of what you have already paid?... sorry I don't know you're whole back story... BUT if the drivetrain was already out it shouldn't have been several hours more labor, not in my opinion... most shops charge right around $100 an hour at least so $300+ is definitely not fair, now if they are having to rip the drivetrain out before replacing the couplers then it sounds more reasonable... that also sucks about it not running right

 

Can you post a pic of the bill on here

 

Don't have it yet, just saw part of it, he was not done adding stuff.. I just happened to see a charge on there for 600.00 ish for labor on couplers (if I remember right) and another 600.00 for a set of used Ti mufflers, those are the two things that popped out at me. When I asked him about the coupler labor he kind of acted like the tourque tube did not need to be pulled to do trans and tc? But I know from talking to his mechanic it was gonna be out anyway and not much extra time to put couplers in, I have every intention of going over bill before I pay it, I just wanted a few unbiased opinions on this.
Thanks

 

daaaayumm $600 for z06 titanium mufflers!... even if the mufflers were included in the price it still isn't worth that... those mufflers are $250-300 and if I were the shop I'd just install them at the cost of the part because you have spent a grip already and if your drivetrain is out there is hardly any labor involved at that point... sounds like you are getting taken for a ride, sorry man

 

It's the whole catback, I will pay a fair price, they were almost new take offs....I ain't paying 600.00 if he wanted that much he should of told me first! I see them sell here for 250.00 to 350.00 all day long.