6+ Hours to replace Engine Mounts?

[Zba]

I think most people completely understand where DieselElectric is coming from. OP just wants a ballpark figure on time to gauge whether he might consider doing it himself, or whether it is worth the labor and "flat rate" charge at that shop. If OP knows he/she is going to spend 4hrs laying on the ground under his car versus the 6hrs the shop is charging, that makes the judgement call easier.

I understand the premise behind charging flat rate, however even as DieselElectric points out in their example for Explorer ball joints, I don't agree with the flat rate charge for labor being 5x the actual time it takes to do the job. In the case of OP's shop, that is not what is happening.

So if you take it to a shop who has never done ball joints on an Explorer, and it takes them eight hours, should you pay for eight hours of labor? Flat rate ensures that the labor hours being charged are similar across shops. And as mentioned earlier, if a tech or a shop is booking 1:1, you are not making a living. Turning wrenches is like being a waiter.