Cost of repair work query

Can anyone give me some rough prices I should expect for some work -
I've tried my local Peugeot garage, but not quite sure of the figures as
the person didn't seem too clued in (lots of maybes and stuff - and the
figures seem high).

Peugeot 306, 1.4l petrol, 1998 5 door hatchback, no ABS.

Replace rear shoes (Peugeot said approx £200)
Replace handbrake cable(s) (Peugeot said parts were £15 a cable (2
apparently, but I'm not certain from memory of what I saw underneath)
but that it would be about £200 to get it done).
Replace nearside CV joint (knocking on left turns from front left side
of car - would this be worn CV joint? Gaiter had leak for a while and
was replaced last year - can't say for certain if knocking wasn't
present before that) - Peugeot said £280 for new driveshaft (I think,
wanting old one for refurb).

These figures seem much higher than what I was expecting - particularly
the shoes and handbrake cables. I was prepared to do the shoes myself,
but was physically unable to remove the hub nut's locking indentation -
and as the handbrake cable needs replacing (MOT advisory about exposure
of the inner cable, just forward of the rear wheels - outer part seems
fine, but looks like 2 cables run into 1 outer at this point, and it's
at this point that apparently they don't look right) I thought it might
be worth getting both bits done at a garage.

Thanks

David

 

I would expect an independent to quote 400 - 500 for the whole lot
inclusive, using pattern parts.

 

Both these jobs are the same as the ZX. About an hour and a half for the
brake shoes, an extra half hour for the handbrake cables. £200 could be
about right if they want to replace the drums as well and charge a
horrendous labour rate.

Find someone else who does the bits.

You want a little set of chisels and punches. I removed the hub nut notch
with a little set of gedore chisels and a lump hammer. Pretty easy when
you've got a chisel small enough to fit in the gap. The hub nut should be
replaced with a new one and notched again to stop it coming undone.

 

Why on earth would you take that to a main dealer?
Of course the figures seem high - dealer labour rates are ridiculously
high, unlike the quality of work.

Find a local independent Citroen & Peugeot specialist (plenty about), pay
less than half the labour cost, less for the parts, and get much better
work.

 

So £200 all in? Peugeot originally thought I wanted cylinders done too
- but these were done at the last shoe change by Nationwide (eughh! see
old posting for that experience!) The price they quoted was, AFAIK, for
just the shoes.

Yeah, the problem I had was my chisels were too wide to fit in, so
whilst I had a go at it, I couldn't get it clear, and it's still well
and truly notched in there, so I had no issue with leaving it be and
keep driving with it.

If I was to get someone to do the handbrake cable, is it worth me doing
the shoes myself, or is there sufficient duplication in the work that
actually, it probably won't add too much to the cost to get the shoes
done too? If it's still worth doing, I'll probably get some more
chisels more suitable to doing the job.

Incidentally, is there any way to know which shoes are fitted without
removing it all? I ask because Peugeot asked whether it was Bosch or
Girling - they can find out from the chassis number. I'd need to get
the right shoes before starting the job!

Thanks

D

 

I was more there for a ball park, upper figure. For example, a couple
of years ago I was stung for a bill of about £460 from Nationwide
Autocentres, which when I got a quote from the Peugeot dealer, was for
£400. I got a price match on it, but certainly didn't want to go back
(not to mention later found front calliper mounting had been stripped
and a slightly oversized bolt used instead, which couldn't be tightened
to correct torque!)

Anyone know of one close to Guildford? I've not seen any in my travels
which clearly advertise themselves as Peugeot specialist. Ideally not
far away, or not far from a station.

There's a very local (small) garage that I've been using recently
(haven't yet asked for prices for this work) which have been good -
particularly for emergency turn up in the morning, get fixed by evening
work (eg. stripped calliper and gearbox oil - see later), but their
hourly rates are a bit higher than the one I used to use - but so far
I've not had to send any work back to them (eg. loose front bushes after
replacement - twice, and gearbox losing all oil after said front bush
replacement).

Thanks

D

 

Not offhand, but I can certainly recommend these guys in Wokingham.
http://www.ptsdevelopments.com/

But a quick google finds http://www.shalfordgreen.co.uk/

 

Well David ,if i was well i would do your car for you at half that
price if you got the parts,and i do it round your home so you could see
what i was doing,(fitting new parts,)
Chris addlestone.

 

You have to removed the hub to change the shoes? That's going to make
a simple job a less of a simple job. CV joints can be a little time
consuming but the price sounds high to me. I do the work myself so
always spit my coffee out when I hear what some people end-up paying.

 

If you use a decent breaker bar & a 3' extension then you just undo the
nut, the noth shears off.

 

Where abouts are you?

 

Try http://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/tradeCategory.php?id=3 there's a few
near you.

 

Guildford, Surrey.