Thrust bearings are a bit of a bugger. The gearbox needs to come out to get at them... also when a thrust bearing goes, its usually a good indicator that you clutch is on the way out as well.
A replacement clutch kit comes with a new thrust bearing & would probably be in the vicinity of $2-300. Labour, you might be looking at $3-400 to swap it all out. If they want $2500 to fix it, tighten your seatbelt, you're about to be taken for a ride. 2nd opinion time
That is hugly expensive i had the same problem and im doiing it when i replace my clutch ceramic
only cost me $450 for clutch and bearing $300 for flywheel thanks bennoz and $70 for flywheel bolts and i also found out i have a lsd wohooo but its pretty easy to do if you have some mechanical knowledge use pauls blog that was a good help. All you need is another pair of hands and it takes only a few hours to take the gearbox out and a few more to put it back in with all the new goddies 2500 you could buy a half cut for that much and change it over yourself and get a new engine while your at it i hate doggy mechanics they give the whole trade a bad wrap IT is not as hard as people say it is i was really surprised just why not give it a go yourself but a friend is defenitly a good idea
I agree, you are being had. There is a thread around here somewhere of recommended places to take your car to if you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra. Failing that, im sure someone can recommend a place not too far from where you are that arent going to rip you off
If your in brissie/gold coast, ill do it for $250 you suppky the parts
CHRISTIANITY: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree...
I'll do it for $2300 
