Swaying Pathfinder/Replacement of Upper and Lower Rear Trailing Arms
Swaying 1997 Pathfinder/Replacement of Upper and Lower Rear Trailing Arms
I had the typical "Swaying Pathfinder" problem due to worn bushings on the rear upper and lower rear trailing arms.
My extended warranty (AAA Master Care) only authorized 1.8 labor hours for this repair. Nissan claims that it is a 5.0 hour repair (3.1 hours plus an additional 1.9 because of "rusted bolts"), and of course I had to pay the difference.
Is this reasonable for this repair? Nissan claims that it is impossible to make this repair in 1.8 hours. I don't have access to any of the labor guides. What do they say about this repair?
Nissans "rusted bolt labor hours" are most likely BS. I'm sure a decent impact wrench will get all of your bolts off with ease. I would use an average of the two est. hours since Nissan wants to make money and AAA Master Care wants to save money!!!
PathfinderPete, if you are interested in pursuing this further, I would call around to a few local shops and Nissan dealerships and ask them what the "book rate" for this job is. Your local dealer might have charged you more because it took them longer, but there is usually a "book rate" for a job. This is a "time budget" that the mechanics usually have to adhere to, especially for warranty work. For instance, if the Nissan book rate really is 1.8 hours, your dealership can spend all day on the job, but they'd only get reimbursed for 1.8 hours of it...in general.
If you get a smattering of shops and dealers who all claim the book rate is between 4 and 6 hours, I'd take it up with your insurance company. They might blow you off, but that's about as much "proof" as you can reasonably expect to present to them. Who knows...they might reimburse you for some of it if the book rate is really more than double what they allow for. But I bet their info is pretty closely tied to the industry's data...which means it's probably close to 1.8 or 2.0 hours. Your dealership might have just had a tough time getting the bolts out and charged you for it.
The point has been made here several times before (many by me) that reputable trustworthy Nissan dealers are very hard to come by. Maybe if you ask around (even here) for anyone who can recommend a good dealer, that might help. As far as my area, Harry Green sales and parts depts stink. University was a total joke in sales, parts, and service. Wharton in Parkersburg has a good sales dept, but their parts guy is lost in this big world. Service (warranty) there was excellent. Maybe thats why I don't care for OEM parts...
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Aaron Ford
95 2WD Nissan PU E
2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue GX
"The hard part about playing chicken is knowing when to flinch" Scott Glenn in The Hunt for Red October
Chilton/Mtichell Labor guides are "estimate" guides . They dont have to be followed exactly . It is for estimating time only. There are many things in these guides that are correct, Some high, Some low. 5 hours for your rear links sounds about right. They are a big PITA . As for your "Impact" that will easily take the nuts off ... Sorry it wont fit in there . Normally these bolts need to be torched off . Then they wont come out of the bushings because there rusted in them . Trust me they suck ! Aftermarket warranty's only pay book time If there are additional times customer is responsible for it. My suggestion is to buy a factory extended warranty (Nissan Security plus) , Good for you, bad for me .. An example for you. 04 Quest I worked on last week, Sway bar rubbed thru rear ac line that got knocked out of position. "Nissan Says" Remove engine/trans assy, replace lines and reinstall . Anyone care to guess "Warranty time" for this repair ????
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> 5.0 hours ! I would love to see someone do it in that time !
As for your "Impact" that will easily take the nuts off ... Sorry it wont fit in there .
Haven't you ever heard of swivels and extensions?????????? Used three swivels and enough extensions to make it back past the rear wheels while removing bell housing bolts!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spddracer
My suggestion is to buy a factory extended warranty (Nissan Security plus)
Last links I did ... Ummm ... Crapsman Breaker bar broken . 1 Snap on 1/2: Long handle ratchet broken, 1 Bent 17mm Wrench . Big Pipe , 3 Broken 17mm Sockets . A torch, and alot of cussing. These bolts are the f**** tightest, Strongest bolts in the fricking enitre world ! And of course the nuts round right off like there made of lead or something
ROFLMAO you have a variety pack in your tool box!!!! I would have just took the flaming wrench to it after I broke my breaker bar(thats a clear indication to me of "it ain't gonna happen today") and went to town on the rear end!!!!!! Surely you don't justify the Dealership charging him almost 2 extra hours because of rusted bolts??? I call on that!!!!!!!! This kind of thing is exactly why I want to work on fleet vehicles only!!!!!!!! Almost forgot !!!!
Lets break this down a lil . 5 hours labor . I get around $100 of it . for torching 8 nuts and bolts off and about 3 hours of my time . Ya I can justify it
Like I said earlier: This kind of thing is exactly why I want to work on fleet vehicles only!!!!!!!! Almost forgot !!!! I don't like to screw people out of money (what goes around ....) and I don't like getting paid for more then what I've earned!!!!!!!!! Maybe its just me but I like getting paid an honest days pay for an honest days work; I simply refuse to lie,cheat or con anyone out of money they had to earn themselves to pay for a repair but if its under warranty then :bad Fonzi impression: HEEEEEEEYYYYYY!!!!!!! (holds up thumbs). :/impression: its all good!!!!!!
Swaying Pathfinder/Replacement of Upper and Lower Rear Trailing Arms
.. An example for you. 04 Quest I worked on last week, Sway bar rubbed thru rear ac line that got knocked out of position. "Nissan Says" Remove engine/trans assy, replace lines and reinstall . Anyone care to guess "Warranty time" for this repair ???? 
on that!!!!!!!! This kind of thing is exactly why I want to work on fleet vehicles only!!!!!!!! 
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