Icon Stage 2 Install prices?

SteelStacks said:
So my icon stage 2 came in and I'm looking around for a shop to do the Install. Can anyone tell me how long shops usually take to do the Install?

I'd like to know for a reference point when I'm calling different shops. One place I called said around 8-9 hours with alignment. So at $100/hour labor I'm looking at around $1000 after taxes.

Does this sound reasonable? I have a 2016 trail with KDSS. Thanks in advance.


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Takes 4 hours if your taking your sweet time on a lift
Takes me 5 on the ground in my garage taking breaks, taking my time.
8-9 hours is crazy for a 4Runner
It takes 7 to do a 8 inch on a Chevy ifs and those are very involved kits.
When I worked as an installer at a shop yes we would quote 8 hours but trucks would sit at the alignment shop for 2-3 hours until they could get it on there rack. And then alignments only take about 30 min if that.
Then the truck would come back to me for final wipe down. Make sure no finger prints on anything and everything is clean.
When I worked at a shop with an alignment rack in house I completed a 4 runner lift 4 hours start to finish with alignment done completed.
These lifts aren't hard at all but a shop needs to make there money and pay all there employees, so that's why they add the extra hours.
 
MarkamisPrime said:
I'll do it for $570 with alignment
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But the flight from Napa to Miami and hotel will be much more expensive during this time of year :thumb:

I may end up asking a buddy that owns a auto repair shop. They installed my DS lift a while back. I'm sure it will be a lot cheaper than the quote I got. I'm hoping for $300 or less.
 
pipo6007 said:
But the flight from Napa to Miami and hotel will be much more expensive during this time of year :thumb:



I may end up asking a buddy that owns a auto repair shop. They installed my DS lift a while back. I'm sure it will be a lot cheaper than the quote I got. I'm hoping for $300 or less.
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Just search a lift thread on how to do it and invite your buddy over.
Maybe search on here for someone closer willing to help. I've done a few lifts for members on here for a case of beer and a helping hand. [emoji1417]
You tube search Timmy the tool man and very soon there will be a video up of him and I doing a 5th gen lift with KDSS in my garage.
His videos are detailed and a bit long but shows you how to do everything from start to finish, from taking the wheels off to putting them back on and torque specs for it all.
 
MarkamisPrime said:
Just search a lift thread on how to do it and invite your buddy over.
Maybe search on here for someone closer willing to help. I've done a few lifts for members on here for a case of beer and a helping hand. [emoji1417]
You tube search Timmy the tool man and very soon there will be a video up of him and I doing a 5th gen lift with KDSS in my garage.
His videos are detailed and a bit long but shows you how to do everything from start to finish, from taking the wheels off to putting them back on and torque specs for it all.
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I hear ya, but in my case he has a lift, all the tools including the machine for the strut assembly and 20+ years experience. His time and facility are worth some money and I trust him.
 
Last edited:
carlomagne said:
The only people that should be commenting about their quotes on install are others with KDSS too.

At the time, I was quoted about 700 from demello without buying the suspension from them. That didn't include alignment and I'm sure that didn't include tax either.

Luckily for me, had a cousin help me out and did it for free.
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Which if we added tax, and convert to CAD, will be very close to (or even over) the OP's $1000 estimate.

Again, I think it's quite fair.

nb rob said:
price included tax as well.

We pay 15% sales tax :(
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Yeah, you guys get wrecked on the provincial tax out there.

Gotta keep Canada beautiful!
 
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Thank you for all the great responses. That is why I love this forum.

The $1000 quote I got was from an American overlanding shop in Pennsylvania. This is before tax and they told me 8-9 hours including 4 wheel alignment.

I agree with 1engineer and would love to be able to work on the Install myself, but my garage is tiny and my rig barely fits in there. I also don't know many people in Canada to help me with Install or lend a garage or shop because I'm fairly new to Toronto. I'm from Pennsylvania originally. That is why I was calling for quotes there because I will be home for a week for the holidays and I had my lift shipped there for free. There also isn't a very large 4Runner community in Toronto that I could reach out to.

I've gotten quotes for $1000 in Canada also so I may just end up doing it here because of how terrible the CAD is right now. That is my dilemma.


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I don't think the price is that unreasonable. I've done lifts on several 5th gens. It's very easy work in general, but problems do arise sometimes. Simple things that took 2 minutes on one truck can be an hour on another. A jammed up tie rod end or stripped shock mount bolt from some joker before...for example. These things happen even when you know exactly what you are doing (especially on older trucks). UCAs... are a two man job usually. I have done them myself, but it's not easy to line things up without a helper, so if doing solo that can result in some serious time burned. Some rear springs require the rear LCAs to be disconnected... then it takes some force (straps...) to get the axle lined up again. The key is taking your time and doing it right and not rushing. I do all my own work, but if I was to ever use a shop, I would much rather pay a little extra and have them not be in a rush. The price is much less important than the quality of the work and the attention to detail. A lot of shops won't use thread locker or tq to spec simply because it takes time and eats into profit.... This is why doing things yourself is usually better. The time spent on those little details can make a big difference.
 
So I finally got the lift installed. My measurements are as follows:

LF 37.5
RF 37
LR 40
RR 39.5

I don't know what the front coilovers were set at but I was hoping it would be closer to level with the rear. I know the rear springs have to settle but 40 and 39.5 seems really high. How much do the rear springs usually settle?


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Did you opt for a "HD" rear spring set?

Hopefully you can just adjust your front coils. If not and you ordered standard rear springs, I've had it happen to me on my '78 Bronco a few times where someone goofed and put the wrong part in the correct box.

Otherwise, throw some weight/heavy items in the back for a while to help them settle.

Good luck with everything.
 
SteelStacks said:
So I finally got the lift installed. My measurements are as follows:

LF 37.5
RF 37
LR 40
RR 39.5

I don't know what the front coilovers were set at but I was hoping it would be closer to level with the rear. I know the rear springs have to settle but 40 and 39.5 seems really high. How much do the rear springs usually settle?


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You need to purchase a spanner wrench (icon sells them) and have the person who installed the lift adjust the front coilovers. The front coilovers can have up to 2.1 inches of threads showing from the top down. That will level her out :)


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Last edited:
I got the regular springs from icon. I do have the spanner wrench also, but I wanted to wait and let the springs settle a bit. I was just wondering how much they will settle and how long does it take?

And thank you for the link! I definitely will do that today.

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SteelStacks said:
I got the regular springs from icon. I do have the spanner wrench also, but I wanted to wait and let the springs settle a bit. I was just wondering how much they will settle and how long does it take?

And thank you for the link! I definitely will do that today.

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I have the same lift as you. I adjusted he front coilovers to 2.1" (as far as they go, and realigned) 9 months ago and the front end is about 0.5" lower than the back. I will think it is perfect. Looks level at rest and doesn't rake back too much when I drive.


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SteelStacks said:
I got the regular springs from icon. I do have the spanner wrench also, but I wanted to wait and let the springs settle a bit. I was just wondering how much they will settle and how long does it take?

And thank you for the link! I definitely will do that today.

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My rear icon springs took about 2 weeks for them to settle.
 
Went to firestone and got their lifetime alignment today for $120. This is the printout:

e150fb616f9573e8f9213bd6d8eea54c.jpg


The numbers seem to look pretty good. However, the back cam bolts don't mirror each other. Aren't they supposed to? I will upload a picture in the morning because I forgot to take a picture while it was still bright out.



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Ok here is the driver side back cam bolt:

e397aa7c45e9d2bf011e138aec13f444.jpg


And here is the passenger side back cam bolt:

d79b869b69b7ea2cbf1eeb668fbb25b1.jpg


They don't mirror each other. Just wondering if that is ok or is it bad?

I also am experiencing very stiff steering and the wheels don't go back to center after a turn. I researched about this and it seems other people have experienced this with icon UCA's because the uniball is very stiff and that it's supposed to loosen up with time. Hope that is the case.


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