If you are perfectly willing to pay someone to work on your car, so that you can spend your time doing other things that are more important to you at the moment, than you have to expect to pay a premium for said work. When you think about it, this person is now spending their time to work on your car, which takes time away from them to do things that may be more important to them at the moment.

I don't so much get high off making repaiurs myself, as I enjoy getting things done, PROPERLY, without having to pay someone ridiculous amounts of money to do so, as you have now realized.

If you do not think I am a knowledgeable "Volvoist" (btw, it's Volvophile), then that's fine. You are more then welcome to check the archives for my contributions to this fine board.

When it comes to getting people to work on your car, especially dealerships, you have to expect inflated prices. If you can't accept that, then your only other option is to get it done by someone that isn't as knowledgeable about your car, or do it yourself. Yes, often times, there are independent garages that are great with Volvos, or even dealerships like the one I go to, that do great work, at reasonable prices. But they are rare, and still should be used for jobs that require more time and effort then a simple rotor and pad replacement. As I had said before, you may not want to tackle the CV boot yourself, but due to the labour involved, you have to expect a large sum. At average labour rates of $65-85 per hour at dealerships, $250 isn't that bad.

And now that I have reread my post, and yours, I've realized just how much time and effort I have wasted on you by trying to help you out in explaining just why the CV boot costs so much to repair, what tools you would need to do your brake job properly, sources, both in hardcopy and electronic, to get information on how to do the repair yourself.

You can argue with me all day. Since you have not been around long enough on this board, or be associated with the Canadian Volvo Club, you don't know of my reputation regarding Volvos. I'm not trying to talk down to you at all. I'm just trying to make sure you watch where you step, when you're the new kid on the block. You are obviously not very knowledgeable about the 850, and are admittedly a "newbie" on this board. There are many Volvophiles, master technicians, and SAE Engineers on this board, and some of them are not nearly as tolerant as I am to ungrateful "askers of help" that have yet to be "providers of help." Realize, at this point, you are a taker, and not a giver YET. Hopefully, in time, you will appreciate the help you have received, and contribute in turn. Which I doubt will happen if you insist on paying inflated prices to others to do the work for you. You have to remember, YOU, are asking for help. It isn't the other way around. I as well as all those on the board, appreciate thank you notes, as you included at the end of your post, even when they aren't directed toward themselves, because often, people that do provide help, do so purely out of the goodness of their heart, to try and help others, while taking time out of their day.

I hope you don't get screwed by "inflated" prices. That could either mean you finding a shop that does good work, for reasonable rates, or you doing it yourself.