Can’t Align Because of Steering Rack? (1 Viewer)

[gungriffin]

That’s interesting I’m not sure what’s going on but I’m trying my best to clarify details before proceeding. Don’t dealers have a separate pricing system they use as opposed to parts you find on websites like those that are heavily discounted? Also, maybe my location plays a roll in the pricing I’m not sure though? Similar to how the resale price of our trucks differ depending on where you are in the country.

Dealers will often charge MSRP for parts. Doesn't mean that we have to pay it though. I was just pointing out that the price they are asking has quite a bit of margin built in. At a minimum, you might use the quotes given as a point of negotiation.

Also, the bushings are already preinstalled on a new/reman rack.

 

[TheForger]

Dealers will often charge MSRP for parts. Doesn't mean that we have to pay it though. I was just pointing out that the price they are asking has quite a bit of margin built in.

Is negotiating prices with a dealer a worthwhile endeavor to take on? Like I said I do have a good relationship with the service manager and that’s who prepared this estimate for me, but if there’s room to haggle I’m all for saving money.

 

[gungriffin]

Is negotiating prices with a dealer a worthwhile endeavor to take on? Like I said I do have a good relationship with the service manager and that’s who prepared this estimate for me, but if there’s room to haggle I’m all for saving money.

I am not 100% sure, but I would imagine it depends on the dealer and their policy. How good is the relationship if you cannot ask them to offer pricing that is more competitive? If you do ask, the worst answer they could give is that they won't change their pricing. My Mom recently got a better price on some dealer work on her Lexus LS430 when she asked.

Just to make sure you see, I edited my last post to say that the bushings are included on new/reman racks.

 

[abuck99]

Reman from McGeorge is $315 and new is $475. Since they are doing the labor maybe you can negotiate the price on the part down a little. Still prob isn't worth buying the reman.

**The steering rack for the 98-2002 LC (44250-60050) doesn't appear to be sold complete with outer TRE ( that I could find) so you'd need to add those to the rack- better check on that they dont reuse your worn outer TRE.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

Note that regardless of which rack you get, you will still need to buy new outer TREs! The outer do not come with a new rack, only the inners do.

Nevertheless, I agree with others that you’re getting shafted on the rack price quote. Buy a new one yourself from one of the online Toyota sources and take it to your guy to install. Warranty will be the same.

 

[bluecruiser]

Heck yes you should haggle with dealer. That quote is beyond lackluster and they should be fine with you being informed enough to not agree blindly to pay that.

 

[abuck99]

That’s interesting I’m not sure what’s going on but I’m trying my best to clarify details before proceeding. Don’t dealers have a separate pricing system they use as opposed to parts you find on websites like those that are heavily discounted? Also, maybe my location plays a roll in the pricing I’m not sure though? Similar to how the resale price of our trucks differ depending on where you are in the country.

Also, are new bushings included with the rack? I noticed the bushings were left off the estimate so that’s something I need to clear up.

Yes- most of the dealers around here mark up parts 50% over Toyota's suggested retail selling price for retail counter sales!! Its why I seldom use local dealers (with the exception of Toyota South Atlanta- they're pretty good on price and availability, but its over an hour drive to get down there. )

 

[TheForger]

Wow okay well thanks to everyone for helping me get a better idea of what price I should expect! I am yet to haggle with them on the prices since business is closed for the day, but I did manage to hear back that a brand new is $300 MORE so ~$835 for a new one. That’s making me lean a lot more towards buying brand new if I can get that number down. Tomorrow I will attempt negotiating with them and also fish around to other shops for competitive quotes. Also, my outer TRE’s were replaced ~10k miles ago so they are relatively new and are not needing to be replaced.

 

[TheForger]

Usually dealers (at least my local one) will decline to install parts not obtained by themselves. But if I were to buy it from another dealership online and then bring it to them is there any reason they wouldn't install and warranty it like any other dealer installed part?

 

[95Fantasma80]

Seems like a great deal! @geanes did your $2200 steering rack at lexus include a new rack or reman? I know for $2200 you did a little more how much was it for Steering rack and Alignment?

 

[JunkCrzr89]

Usually dealers (at least my local one) will decline to install parts not obtained by themselves. But if I were to buy it from another dealership online and then bring it to them is there any reason they wouldn't install and warranty it like any other dealer installed part?

Most OEM parts are warrantied for 12 months, no matter which Toyota supplier you buy them from or who installs them. I don’t know how a dealer could justifiably decline labor warranty if they install an OEM part, regardless of where the part came from.

 

[MongooseGA]

Usually dealers (at least my local one) will decline to install parts not obtained by themselves. But if I were to buy it from another dealership online and then bring it to them is there any reason they wouldn't install and warranty it like any other dealer installed part?

Most OEM parts are warrantied for 12 months, no matter which Toyota supplier you buy them from or who installs them. I don’t know how a dealer could justifiably decline labor warranty if they install an OEM part, regardless of where the part came from.

This. I would love to be a fly on the wall while a dealer service tech tries to get out of installing an OEM part from another supplier

You can definitely negotiate. I do it all the time with small yet expensive parts from my dealer. Sometimes I only want an OEM part and don't have the time to wait for delivery, and my store can usually have specialty stuff next-day. Definitely helps to tell them what you found online (especially in your case since they want the labor). You may have a good rapport with the service manager but you got the dumb-guy price. Not meaning you're dumb, but they're giving you the first price that pops up thinking you've not done any research at all. It's a good position to be in- either they discount the part and they get the labor, or they don't get any of it. @abuck99 gave you a $475 new price from a Toyota dealer. If you still spend more than $475 on that part for any reason, bless your heart.

 

[TheForger]

Through 6 different sources - Toyota of Dallas, Camelback, McGeorge, Sparks, EB Toyota, and ToyotaPartsDeal - the average cost of a brand new steering rack is $502.26. I'm going to try to use that fact in my favor when it comes to the negotiating tomorrow with my dealership.

 

[MongooseGA]

Through 6 different sources - Toyota of Dallas, Camelback, McGeorge, Sparks, EB Toyota, and ToyotaPartsDeal - the average cost of a brand new steering rack is $502.26. I'm going to try to use that fact in my favor when it comes to the negotiating tomorrow with my dealership.

I don't know if you negotiate often, but giving a concession in your first offer is not the way you do it. Don't use an average, just give them the cheapest price. They're not going to go out and find other higher priced options to counter your figure because you have options, they have you. Don't even mention shipping cost either, not relevant.

 

[TheForger]

I don't know if you negotiate often, but giving a concession in your first offer is not the way you do it. Don't use an average, just give them the cheapest price. They're not going to go out and find other higher priced options to counter your figure because you have options, they have you. Don't even mention shipping cost either, not relevant.

Only times I've ever negotiated was when I went to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic You make a good point though. Thankfully I was hesitant and didn't commit to anything yet. I will report back with how the negotiation goes tomorrow and if they don't go down then I'll go elsewhere. I know the dealer is not the first option for most considering their prices, but it's my first because I like the security of knowing the parts and labor are warrantied for longer then other indy shops in my area. I may not know much about negotiating but I do know how to play hardass with unacceptable or subpar work, and it's easier to play that game with a service manager and get my way than it is with a shade-tree mechanic who would rather fight me in court instead. I've gotten the short end of the stick too many times with indy's and the only one I trusted recently retired after 43yrs of doing phenomenal work.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Heck yes you should haggle with dealer. That quote is beyond lackluster and they should be fine with you being informed enough to not agree blindly to pay that.

You changed your avatar and it doesn't look like you. I mean, I know it's a picture of you, but that's not your avatar and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

 

[TheForger]

You changed your avatar and it doesn't look like you. I mean, I know it's a picture of you, but that's not your avatar and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

I noticed that too but I didn't want to say anything because I wasn't sure if I was imagining things or not

 

[suprarx7nut]

I don't know if you negotiate often, but giving a concession in your first offer is not the way you do it. Don't use an average, just give them the cheapest price. They're not going to go out and find other higher priced options to counter your figure because you have options, they have you. Don't even mention shipping cost either, not relevant.

From a practical standpoint, EB Toyota has a 50% off shipping code. "ThankYou50". Even for a rack, shipping won't be too bad.

I don't get the dealer markups that are so common today. I can't imagine it actually works in their favor. These online dealers are using similar man-power as a brick and mortar dealer. They sell the parts at reasonable prices and it seems to be a very effective business model. The local dealers, like mine and @TheForger 's are losing plenty of business because the pricing is obviously terrible. Even then, most local dealers don't have anything in stock and it's all special order anyways.

The traditional dealer parts-counter system is broken.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

@suprarx7nut I agree. The system is fubar!

 

[Eyedaho]

From a practical standpoint, EB Toyota has a 50% off shipping code. "ThankYou50". Even for a rack, shipping won't be too bad.

I don't get the dealer markups that are so common today. I can't imagine it actually works in their favor. These online dealers are using similar man-power as a brick and mortar dealer. They sell the parts at reasonable prices and it seems to be a very effective business model. The local dealers, like mine and @TheForger 's are losing plenty of business because the pricing is obviously terrible. Even then, most local dealers don't have anything in stock and it's all special order anyways.

The traditional dealer parts-counter system is broken.

I needed an oil pump recently for a rebuild on my daughter's Subaru. I didn't want to wait to get one shipped, and I found it online at my local Subaru dealer for ~$30 more than the cheapest online price. I was ok paying a little more to get it the same day. Fast forward to the parts counter, with the service writer quoting me $80 more than their own online price. I showed him their own website price, and he said yeah but that's only if you order it online. He said they make up the difference on shipping. I said, you would charge me $80 shipping? He just shrugged. I ordered it from the cheapest dealer online for $95 with free shipping and no tax, versus the local dealer's counter price of $185. I still can't believe it, and I still don't understand the model.