Second Opinion on a Price

[MJD]

I have a 06 Sentra 1.8l S with about 95K miles on it. A few weeks ago the front suspension started squeaking so I started replacing some parts. I replaced both front struts and both tire rods and the squeaking subsided a bit but not fully. I've figured out that now its the lower control arms, most likely the bushings. Instead of trying my luck with replacing these, I decided I'm going to take it to a mechanic. I went to get a price quote and this is what I got:

$200 for driver-side lower control arm
$160 for passenger-side lower control arm
$320-400 for labor (4-5 hours)
$70 for alignment

Now, I'm less worried about the price he gave me for the control arms themselves, because I have a buddy that can get me them at half price, I just included them to give a baseline for anyone to tell me if he's trying to screw me.

So, is he trying to screw me? I've changed both lower control arms before, in my garage, and it took ME four hours to do it. I'm sort of surprised it will take a mechanic, with all the right tools and a lot more knowledge on the subject than me, to do it in the same amount of time.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[shortfusemonkey]

that to me seems like a fair deal. i know when i had all the struts done on my sentra just the struts ran me about 600ish, then i paid my buddy 300 to install them all. when i was online i checked average time for that and i found it saying 6 to 8 hours total for all. he did it all in 4 hours. so, the time might be smudged a little.

my front end gives the squeek too, so you are saying i should check into control arms? i always thought it was just the struts, but i am no crazy mechanic to know it all

[MJD]

Well honestly, I've replaced everything else that has to do with the suspension in the front and it still squeaks so there's pretty much nothing left but the control arms. My father, who was a mechanic for 50 years, told me that from the beginning, but I, of course didn't listen. So now with the lower control arms, Ill be into front suspension replacements for about $1K. It would have had to be done sooner or later anyway, though. I got this car for my son for pretty cheap and even though its close to 100K miles, that car is gonna last him until he can buy himself another car, thats for damn sure.

[shortfusemonkey]

my sentra has 172,xxx, runs like it has 10,xxx if you ask me. as long as we take care of the car, it will run forever!