The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hello.

what is considered a fair labour time to change all four wheel bearings on an Excel SE?
Bearing in mind how long they may have been in there, i am not looking for speedy change but what would be fair for a garage to expect to charge in hours.

Thanks in advance, Justin

Forget the time it will take, account for the fact that the rears necessitate new crush tubes which you need to be sure are available before anybody starts the job. Personally, I'd say if they aren't noisy leave them, as disturbing them can lead to new ones failing very quickly.

Fronts, must be c1.5 hours /side.

The crush tubes (collapsible spacers) for the rear bearings are listed at SJ Sports are, along with inner and outer bearings.

Thanks for the replies. LotusBits have supplied the parts and the work is done (by others). The bill for just labour was £600 plus VAT, with no breakdown of hours. I have requested the breakdown. They certainly struggled with the job but the car is back now and driving better than ever, with the bonus that wheel wobble now eliminated, as well as noisy bearings gone. So overall happy but thought labour a bit excessive. Justin

Personally, for a professional bill I dont think thats too bad. I did my own and it was a complete P in the A to do the rear bearings and Im a fairly competent mechanic and a Yorkshireman ( usual war cry = How Much !!!! )

Bash

Those rears are a PITA, the shaft stub has to be pressed out to get to the bearings (which then have to be pressed out) so if you assume 4.5 hours a side plus 3 hours (both) fronts that doesn't seem too bad.

I did all four corners in one long day. The fronts take no more than an hour each - it's the rears that take all the time, and most of that is just removing the uprights in the first place, so if someone is taking their time that will be two days labour - work that out for the hourly rate and see if it seems reasonable.

Pete

When my rear wheel bearings were replaced the labour time was 7 hours by a very experienced Lotus mechanic.

Brilliant replies, thanks. The garage said it was a right pain and had I known what the rears involved, I would not have bothered changing them (as it was the fronts that were very noisy). But the car is driving better than ever, so all is well. Justin

Check the rears again after ~ 100 miles or so - they sometimes need the nut nipping up again, even when they've been scrupulously set up.

Pete

bash wrote:Personally, for a professional bill I dont think thats too bad. I did my own and it was a complete P in the A to do the rear bearings and Im a fairly competent mechanic and a Yorkshireman ( usual war cry = How Much !!!! )

Bash

ooooowwwwwww much????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eeee bye gum lad!

CHRISYD wrote:

bash wrote:Personally, for a professional bill I dont think thats too bad. I did my own and it was a complete P in the A to do the rear bearings and Im a fairly competent mechanic and a Yorkshireman ( usual war cry = How Much !!!! )

Bash

ooooowwwwwww much????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eeee bye gum lad!

That really sounds like him!

Pete

Pete Boole wrote:

CHRISYD wrote:

bash wrote:Personally, for a professional bill I dont think thats too bad. I did my own and it was a complete P in the A to do the rear bearings and Im a fairly competent mechanic and a Yorkshireman ( usual war cry = How Much !!!! )

Bash

ooooowwwwwww much????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eeee bye gum lad!

That really sounds like him!

Pete

I will look out for him!!!

Ahh well, we had it tough, after lickin troad clean wit tongue etc

Bash

Im not as bright as I look either

You think you 'ad it tough! I've got a handful of hot gravel for dinner!

Pete