Hey guys,

What would be a reasonable price for a workshop in Sydney to charge for:
1. Replacement of rear subframe including handbrake cables
2. Replacement of front subframe including power steering rack and pump

All are from hub to hub.
Let's take Fairfield area as an example since I believe prices are cheaper there.

Obviously only a labour charge involved, but Mal would have to give you a time estimate.

You would need to find a workshop that is prepared to undertake the work, then obtain and transport the rather large bits.

I guess you have a good reason to go to so much trouble?

Max, I meant an estimate purely on labour to fit these in, excluding transport, parts etc.

The reason behind it is the better handbrake setup from the L/W series and rear swaybar, and better front end feel of the L/W series

Max, I meant an estimate purely on labour to fit these in, excluding transport, parts etc.

The reason behind it is the better handbrake setup from the L/W series and rear swaybar, and better front end feel of the L/W series

Mal would have to fill you in on the time component on that job.

I agree with you that those are worthwhile improvements, but there are other improvements in the TL/TW that would make buying the whole car rather than just the underpinnings, a worthwhile deal - more airbags, lower km for example.
I have both a TJ sedan and TL wagon, engine power and smoothness in the TL is far superior despite its higher km.

Engine power and smoothness is probably due to better condition of the TL as I believe everything is identical in that department.
Either way I already have the KJ2 and if I were to sell and buy another car it wouldn't be another 3rd gen.

I initially got a good deal on both subframes + a quote I was happy to pay to get them fitted, however now that the subframes are at the mechanic's shop he is claiming I didn't tell him what I wanted done (even though I did, and even drove there to explain things better and for him to hoist the car if need be to better assess the quote).
Anyway, now with the claim that I hadn't told him what I wanted he is trying to bump the price up considerably.
I believe it to be a tactic of extortion though, as he initially said the back was not an issue but the front was, but then later in the conversation when I asked for separate costs of fitting each subframe he quoted me more for the back than the front.

Engine power and smoothness is probably due to better condition of the TL as I believe everything is identical in that department.


My TL has 40,000 Km more on it than the TJ, so I'm puzzled at the difference in power.
Probably small differences in ECU ignition and fuel mapping, plus gearbox calibration. Both 4 speed automatics, but the TL is more willing to go up the rev range before changing gears.

Sounds like the mechanic has changed his mind about doing that job for you.

I believe the fuel maps are identical, so much so that they haven't changed since the early models.
Transmission map though has an effect on engine smoothness. I've had my TCU remapped a few times and the engine becomes noticeably rougher when in lower rpm and high load.

In saying that there could be other variances too and degradation of parts.

Well, I am not sure whether it was a genuine miscommunication or whether it is just a tactic to extort more money from me seeing as in his opinion I am at a point of no return since I have had bulky items delivered to his workshop, hence why I am interested to know how many hours this would be and what a reasonable cost would be for the work.