Hey guys - I know it's easy to install wheel spacers but I do not own a jack for a lifted 4runner or a torque wrench. It might be worth buying them and doing it myself but does anyone know the cost for a shop to do it? I'm thinking a 20 minute job right?

Get the jack and torque wrench. The shop will charge you for more than 20 minutes. I don't know what labour costs in your area but even if it's less than the tools I'd want to get the tools myself. Especially running spacers. I'd want to know they are done right and done to spec. I'd also want to recheck them myself.

You've spent how much on your truck already? $200 for tools and peace of mind is nothing.

How do you plan to change a tire if you get a flat?

Either have the shop who did you lift do it or maybe take it to a Discount Tire for a tire rotation and have them add them while they're working on it. My local Discount Tire always torques the spacers on my Jeep whenever they do a rotation.

The typical hourly shop rate in California is around $100 per hour.

Yes, it could (and probably will) take as little as 20 minutes, however it would take longer to do the job properly.

Personally not a fan of spacers, but you didn't ask.

I wouldn’t mess with spacers if I couldn’t check the torque myself, especially if I get a flat.

A 4x4 piece of wood, or a phone book can resolve the oem bottle Jack situation.

Save the $70-100 you would have spent once on a mechanic and get yourself a decent torque wrench. You should be checking torque routinely anyway.

Edit: I’ve run spacers on other cars for almost 20 years.

Get the jack and a torque wrench, you'll need to check/re-torque after 500 miles or so - I wouldn't be comfortable taking the word of a tech alone, I'd need to have hands-on confirmation myself.

Or the fact that the gargoyle at Discount Tire will probably install them with an impact gun and call it a day.

Mounting spacers and putting tires back on should be billed as 2 tire rotations. Nothing more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

do it yourself... otherwise, one day, you might be doing a 3 wheel motion on the freeway.

1/2" drive torque wrench = $90.00 Assuming you own a 1/2"drive metric socket set
3 ton floor jack .............= $150.00 Harbor freight
pair of 3 ton jack stands =$30.00 (Don't buy jack stands at Harbor freight)
You will be surprised how many times you will need this set up to work or inspect your OFF ROAD VEHICLE.
I always carry the torque wrench in the truck.
Time to tool up

Ok I figure most people here will say just get the jack and tool. But in response to what do you do when you get a flat- I’ve always had AAA but now I probably need to get a jack. Are you guys talking about the jack that some people mount on the car? I’m assuming you guys don’t put an oversized jack stand in the trunk. Maybe my post should be what floor jack do I get and how do I keep it with me the whole time?

I'm not a spokesperson for AAA, but I'm pretty sure that they sell themselves as a "Roadside Assistance" service. Not an "Offroad Assistance" service. But maybe you don't plan on doing any offroading...

That is a high lift jack, and no not that. Useless unless you have jack points on the vehicle. Your 4R came with a bottle jack that you use while on the road, so no need to carry a floor jack unless you really feel like it. Saves you the time waiting for AAA, that's for sure. I do recommend getting a floor jack and jack stands for home use. You'll use them more than you think. If you are going to spend money on anything to keep in the 4R I'd recommend getting an electric impact gun and an 80lb torque stick. Even with your factory bottle jack you can have a tire changed out in 2.5 minutes.

Call a shop and ask what they'd charge. Make sure they use the provided loctite and torque properly. I doubt it would cost much.

I use a Unijack: Powerbuilt 620471 Unijack - 6000 -Pounds Capacity, Air Compressors & Inflators - Amazon Canada

I have two small pieces of 2x6 cut for the base to use on uneven or low ground. A bit bigger than the supplied bottle jack, obviously, but much smaller than a true floor jack as well it's faster and easier to use.

The locking mechanism is just a bit of extra safety when working roadside or trailside where you're unlikely to have an actual jack stand.

It's also the jack I'll use in the garage.