That price must be okay... If no one was paying it, they'd lower it. Tells me people pay it... Good deal for the shop
Oh, certainly no argument there. The market always pays what it will bear. And those unable, unwilling, or just not knowledgeable will have to place trust in the hands of people like my local Lube Express. (As I said previously, they are a genuine, family owned local shop and are extremely prideful for very good reasons. They're top notch, hands down)
I don't fault any of them. But here's my only rub, and likely because I am one of those like many BITOG guys and goils... in the know.
Raw material prices are also going up up up and up. But I got it off my local parts chain with a Wix XP, 6qts. of Mobil-1 0W-40 Euro spec lube and a set of updated Felpro gaskets to reseal my valve covers and oil intercooler plate up against the side of the pan just south of $97.
All a DIY job, but only because I know how to, and keep and feed a set of proper torque wrenches. I just got through slinging a set of both forward and rear propeller shaft U-joints on her. Done w/factory OEM parts and a blow torch.
(Thank you GM for nylon injected bearings. No seriously, f**k you and your dog!)
Local mummy-n-daddy, let alone independent won't do same job for under $865. The dollar signs light up when they see your Silverado SS. I didn't bother pricing the local Chevy franchises.
But I did it all-in for just south of $90. Spicer components. No compromise. The only difference is the know- how, DIY angle.
My neighbor watched me. I taught him. If it should ever come up for him; but of course I'd do it happily for him, just buy the parts. No extra charge. (But I do work for beer and pizza!) And it works cross- make and model. Anything with a universal joint. Double Cardone joints? Eeeeeh, different, but the same really, just pay attention to the details.
Fancy-schmancy euro-cars? Same difference, just a whole truck of rubber and nuts instead. (They're actually easier to fix!)
In short; TL-DR: If you know it? Do it. If you're successful? Teach it. If a friend or neighbor can't wrap their mind around it? Again - do it for them, but make them pick up tools and pay you in extra pepperoni Supreme Pizza and a case of Warsteiner Dunkel beer. But take no more! Unless they don't pay for the parts themselves. ;>