Do you need new UCA's for a leveling kit on a 16 SR5

J

jb24dolphins

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I have heard mixed reviews on this...I am not going to be using the truck too much off road except on dirt roads or a little mud or snow play if the situation presents itself. I was quoted $700 for parts and install of a procomp kit, but it raises the front only....any advice on which kit would be best would be appreciated. If I have to do UCAs I will just wait until I can afford a full ICON kit, but that maybe a while....I just want her riding higher!
 
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$700? That's a rip!

You can get a full Bilstein 5100 setup with OME lift coils (2884 front and 2895e rear) for less than that. You don't even need UCA's because a competent tech can get at least 2.5 caster with that setup.
 
jb24dolphins said:
I have heard mixed reviews on this...I am not going to be using the truck too much off road except on dirt roads or a little mud or snow play if the situation presents itself. I was quoted $700 for parts and install of a procomp kit, but it raises the front only....any advice on which kit would be best would be appreciated. If I have to do UCAs I will just wait until I can afford a full ICON kit, but that maybe a while....I just want her riding higher!
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$700 for parts and install is a little steep for just the front only. I would wait and save for a full kit otherwise you are paying for labor twice. Get a full kit, find some local members who can help you install it, provide beer and pizza. That's my advice.

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In answer to your question. Typically you don't need UCAs for a front lift of 2" and under. Some have had luck going a little higher and still getting within specs on stock UCAs. Generally for 3" and over, it is recommended to use aftermarket UCAs to get more adjustment.
 
I got the cornfed 3/2 installed and aligned. UCA's are still in the future though. Probably a toytech lift as well haha. I just had to remove some of the soccer mom look.... also did the dif drop. The angle looks better, although some say it's not needed.


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seriouscoin1 said:
I got the cornfed 3/2 installed and aligned. UCA's are still in the future though. Probably a toytech lift as well haha. I just had to remove some of the soccer mom look.... also did the dif drop. The angle looks better, although some say it's not needed.


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Did you do the install yourself, or have a shop do it?
 
Seattle206 said:
$700? That's a rip!

You can get a full Bilstein 5100 setup with OME lift coils (2884 front and 2895e rear) for less than that. You don't even need UCA's because a competent tech can get at least 2.5 caster with that setup.
Click to expand...

They told me $200 for parts and $500 for install and alignment and said it would take 4-5 hours of labor

If I go the Bilstein 5100 route and spend $400 on the adjustable front shocks to level it at 2.5" and keep the stock spring in the rear, they told me it would cost $600 for labor with an alignment....any advice here would really help me out....plus I am in Northern VA...nothing is cheap up here
 
jb24dolphins said:
They told me $200 for parts and $500 for install and alignment and said it would take 4-5 hours of labor

If I go the Bilstein 5100 route and spend $400 on the adjustable front shocks to level it at 2.5" and keep the stock spring in the rear, they told me it would cost $600 for labor with an alignment....any advice here would really help me out....plus I am in Northern VA...nothing is cheap up here
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I would suggest finding a more competent shop. A shop should be able to do the fronts in a couple of hours at max...... not 4-5.
 
OP, the price is about what you can expect from a professional shop. No UCAs needed with a decent alignment tech.

srsrogerissrs said:
I would suggest finding a more competent shop. A shop should be able to do the fronts in a couple of hours at max...... not 4-5.
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They aren't charging actual hours - it's their labor chart, which most shops use.
 
jb24dolphins said:
They told me $200 for parts and $500 for install and alignment and said it would take 4-5 hours of labor

If I go the Bilstein 5100 route and spend $400 on the adjustable front shocks to level it at 2.5" and keep the stock spring in the rear, they told me it would cost $600 for labor with an alignment....any advice here would really help me out....plus I am in Northern VA...nothing is cheap up here
Click to expand...

I always recommend DIY but I know the majority of people don't. You'd save $$ and learn more about the functionality of your rig. Installing these suspension parts is very simple. Just a matter of removing and replacing parts. You can have the shop assemble the new shock/coil assembly if you don't have a spring compressor or just won't feel comfortable doing it. Just my two cents...
 
jb24dolphins said:
They told me $200 for parts and $500 for install and alignment and said it would take 4-5 hours of labor

If I go the Bilstein 5100 route and spend $400 on the adjustable front shocks to level it at 2.5" and keep the stock spring in the rear, they told me it would cost $600 for labor with an alignment....any advice here would really help me out....plus I am in Northern VA...nothing is cheap up here
Click to expand...

$500 for install is still pretty steep. After helping my buddy install my Toytec lift, I'm sure I could have done it myself with the right tools. It took us roughly 5 hours to install the lift with UCAs. We also mounted and balanced tires as well. I paid my buddy $400 then another $100 for the alignment. A shop would have charged me about 850 for everything which is reasonable for what I paid for the lift but $500 for install for $200 worth of parts is a bit much.

Again, try and find some members local to you on the forums and have them help you install it. Most are good with beers and pizza. Get your hands dirty, get to know your car and save yourself some money for other mods.
 
bofa said:
OP, the price is about what you can expect from a professional shop. No UCAs needed with a decent alignment tech.



They aren't charging actual hours - it's their labor chart, which most shops use.
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Yea I have called around about the Bilstein install and most shops in the area want around $600-750...so for $600 with an alignment from a shop that specializes in toyota lifts I don't feel is that bad a deal on the $400 shock package...unless anyone lives in Northern VA and wants to do a side job that has a lot of experience!
 
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