Good Afternoon!

I've been given a quote by a body shop to replace my crossmember on my 1998 Honda Accord. I was told a new crossmember is $2000 and a used part is $150 and the labor is $1000 because the engine and the transmission has to be dropped. Does this sound accurate?

 

The engine/transmission do not need to be removed, but they do need to be supported. Front and Rear mounts are attached to the crossmembers, but the left and right mounts are attached to the engine and transmission, which are attached to the body, not the subframe.

They should be able to support the engine transmission, remove exhaust, and radius rods and drop the front beam and remove the rack and pinion for rear beam out for replacement.

What is the reason for crossmember replacement?

 

Thanks for replying Mad_Mike My cousin drove my car and hit something so hard that it damaged the crossmember, knocked my right brake loose and dented my right rim. He has had the brake, tire and rim replaced/repaird. He won't say what he hit but I could tell when it got into my car to drive that something was wrong. I took it into a shop and that is what I was told. Although I'm not paying for the rear I still do not want to get ripped off. I'm a college student and my mom bought this car for me
It was is in excellent running condition.

 

If only the front 'beam' crossmember needs to be replaced, the engine/trans/rack and pinion/exhaust does not need to be touched.
Just the front mount, bolts and remove the nuts and front bushings to the radius rods.

I would highly suggest going to a frame shop and not an auto body shop.

Full retail the front beam(crossmember) from Honda is;
2.3 - 50250-S84-A00 009 001 BEAM, FR. $936.18 or from Majestic Honda for $627.24.
3.0 -50250-S87-A00 009 001 BEAM, FR. $985.82 or from Majestic Honda for $660.50.

If you have some tools, you can remove the lower cover(#5) and check that the radius rod bushings are not destroyed.
If the front beam has been shifted rearwards there should be witness marks with the bolt heads and the leg(s) that attach to the rear beam will be bent or crumpled.