Has anyone else been quoted at least $500 just for labor?

 

NO way I would pay that much. Do it yourself dude. It isn't that difficult. The ardest part is getting the crank bolt off. Change the front maini seal whatever you do. It's cheap and will only take an extra 20 mins if that!

 

maybe that includes a timimg belt job also. Damn, do not pay $500 that's insane just for the install of a pulley. Go to a different shop and see what they quote. I would recommend doing the job yourself if you can get an impact gun, if not it's going to be pretty hard to get that bolt off. Good Luck

 

You could invest in a nice electric impact gun..MIlwaukee makes a good one for like $250..that's alot better than paying someone $$ labor...and you get to keep the tool.

 

I have an electric impact gun and it's real strong but I don't think it's as strong as a gun working on compressed air.

 

For $250 you can get a compressor and an air gun.

BTW, That front seal is not an easy job on VG's. The seal is behind the timing belt on a VG.

But $500 is WAY to much.

Here's some quick instructions.

1. Make sure you have the belts that UR tells you to have.

2. Remove the passenger side front tire.(Use a jackstand)

3. Loosen the AC Idler pulley. It is located to the left of the front valve cover. There is a nut on the front of the pulley that locks it in place. Loosen this one first. There is a second nut that is on top of the bracket that the pulley is mounted to. When you loosen that one, the pulley should move down some allowing you to remove the AC belt.

4. Get under the car and loosen the alternator adjustment bolt and remove the belt.

5. Loosen the Power steering/Water Pump belt. It is similar to the AC belt, but it is under the car and upside down. (bracket below pulley)

6. Remove the crank bolt (27mm). This is hard if you don't have an impact wrench. If you don't though. GEt in the car and put it into 5th gear. Then have a friend (or a phone book, or a torque wrench or a breaker bar) to hold the brake pedal down. Get a long breaker bar and remove the bolt.

7. After the bolt is off, the pulley should come off (yeah right). I had to use a set of gear pullers to get it off on my VG, but my VE one did just fall off (weird).

8. Put the new pulley on (use anti-seize), and install the new belts and tighten them back up and your done.

 

Yeah on the VE it's much easier than the VG to change the seal. Yeah I will invest in a compressor and air gun by this next summer.

 

I had mine put on when I had the timing belt, water pump, seals, and allt hat good stuff done. If you can wait, it will definitely save you some money in labor.

 

Off topic, but Yo, your wheels are sweet man.

 

Thanks

 

Oops, I forgot to mention the estimate was for installation of timing belt, water pump, thermostat, crankshaft & camshaft seals. Which I would supply. Convienient to do it all at once, but $500 seems steep. Then again I dunno. Another mechanic quoted me $600 without supplying parts. As of right now, I think I am just gonna change the timing belt. I am in the process of transfering jobs so money is tight.

 

I cross-referenced the Gates that UR specifies with Goodyear Gatorbacks. I heard they stretch, but don't they all