Just ordered lift and tires, but quick question on install

[flying fuzz]

Just ordered lift and tires, but quick question on Toyota installation pricing

Ok so I ordered
OME: 884 coils in front with shocks
OME: 2889 medium coils in back (overland/expo so going to have junk in the trunk)
Rear shocks: OME 60080
No diff drop

Tires: Cooper ATP 285-70-17
Stock SR5 wheels until I buy the TRD rock warrior wheels

Toyota wants $640 to install/align, to me this seems a bit ridiculous. I am the Depts. Helicopter mechanic so I am mechanically inclined but I've never installed a suspension kit but seems straight forward, I don't have a garage/lift (I rent a townhome and can't work on the car in the carport) or coil spring compression tool (which I know I can rent), we don't use pnuematic tools on aircraft so I don't have impact guns or air ratchets.

So my question is, is it that important for Toyota to install this? Can you haggle pricing with them on installs or is this the going price? There's a Dept. friendly auto garage here but I have their phone number at work so is this something that any shop can tackle if they've never installed a lift.

Might seem like dumb questions but having the knowledge to accomplish the task but not having the resources I am pretty anal on who touches my vehicle...

Would you guys be comfortable with the work from a tire company like Discount tire installing a lift while they mount my tires? When I got out of the military I was trying to figure out what to do with life and I was partying/having fun not saying "Sir yes Sir" so I worked at a tire company (Les Schwab for about 6 months) and I'm just not sure how confident I am in their abilities. No disrespect to anyone on here that works as one just being honest.

Thanks for the info!

Tom

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Discount Tire would not be touching a thing but the wheels and tires on my rig! If your not comfortable of do not have the tools to do the work yourself, maybe find a shop that does a lot of suspension work on 4x4's or off road trucks???

Quick thought, better make sure your tire shop will mount 285's on you 7" wide SR5 wheels. I know it is possible to squeeze a 285 on a 7" wide wheel but a lot of tire shops will not do it because it is out of the "recommended" wheel width range.

 

[flying fuzz]

Quick thought, better make sure your tire shop will mount 285's on you 7" wide SR5 wheels. I know it is possible to squeeze a 285 on a 7" wide wheel but a lot of tire shops will not do it because it is out of the "recommended" wheel width range.

Yeah when I told him to order the tires I said "I'm mounting them on my stock 17x7 wheels, is that a issue?" He said not a problem.

Good looking out though

I just hate paying for sh!t I have the brain power to accomplish, $640 is a chunk of change

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Yeah when I told him to order the tires I said "I'm mounting them on my stock 17x7 wheels, is that a issue?" He said not a problem.

Good looking out though

I just hate paying for sh!t I have the brain power to accomplish, $640 is a chunk of change

Feel the same way. Try and do everything myself if possible, sometimes even if its not possible :roadkill:

 

[deekoi]

Similar boat, just ordered my lift kit and I'm not planning on doing it myself but at a local car shop that all my friends highly recommend and highly trust.

I haven't had the chance to go in for a quote but just from asking around, a fair price I've been hearing is roughly $300... Dealerships have always been known to charge a premium for not always premium work... But if you like and trust the guys over by your dealership then whatever makes you comfortable.

The guys I've been working with at the dealership have done a great job for me so far. Best of luck!

 

[FactoryRide]

$640 sounds a bit steep for labor to me. If you are talking about labor only right?

Shop will bend you over every chance they get. Found out one of my distant cousins got a TE like mine, and paid that same price for a Daystar spacer lift and installation. I paid 135 for the same lift and did the install myself. I'm not mechanic by any means, but I can turn a wrench. Everything itself is pretty straight forward.

If you could get access to some jack stands, and the basic tools you need, and a work space, then you are golden.

Best of luck, and lets see some pics when it's done!!

 

[j_shoe99]

Everything seems pretty easy.

The only thing that worries me is the coil spring compression!? I have no clue how to do that. I'm leaning toward calling some auto shops to see if they can install the spacers onto the coils for me, then I'll just bolt everything back up.

 

[Jtraskell]

You might have a problem with that proposal. Liability stuff. They worked on your vehicle, yet you did not bolt it up right causing a problem, accident and or injury....can you see why they might say no?

 

[flying fuzz]

$640 sounds a bit steep for labor to me. If you are talking about labor only right?

Shop will bend you over every chance they get. Found out one of my distant cousins got a TE like mine, and paid that same price for a Daystar spacer lift and installation. I paid 135 for the same lift and did the install myself. I'm not mechanic by any means, but I can turn a wrench. Everything itself is pretty straight forward.

If you could get access to some jack stands, and the basic tools you need, and a work space, then you are golden.

Best of luck, and lets see some pics when it's done!!

Yeah just the price for labor, which was why I asked because that seems steep. Like I said I'm a mech and can use the Depts. hangar, I have metric tools just nothing pneumatic (which speeds things up greatly) but after you wrench on helicopters for 40+ hours a week, turning wrenches on your day off isn't exciting and I hate working on cars.

 

[j_shoe99]

You might have a problem with that proposal. Liability stuff. They worked on your vehicle, yet you did not bolt it up right causing a problem, accident and or injury....can you see why they might say no?

Yeah, I can see the liability issue coming up. I'll figure something out.

Flying Fuzz,
I'd continue to shop around a bit. $640 seems pretty steep....

 

[FactoryRide]

Yeah just the price for labor, which was why I asked because that seems steep. Like I said I'm a mech and can use the Depts. hangar, I have metric tools just nothing pneumatic (which speeds things up greatly) but after you wrench on helicopters for 40+ hours a week, turning wrenches on your day off isn't exciting and I hate working on cars.

Air tools definitely helped speed up the process when I did mine. Hate working on cars or not, $640 is plenty of reason as to why I'd use up a day off.

I love working on mine though. It's my stress relief after a long week.

 

[RubiconSS]

Did OME lifts on my Rubicon, 2 FJCruisers and my Gen 4 4runner, by myself with no pneumatics either. Didn't get to the allignment shop soon enough on my first one (the Rubicon) my only mistake.
Rented and got the $$ back on the coil compressor at Advanced Auto. Guess it was more a deposit than a rental fee.
Was easy. Didn't drink beer until finished. Great to get under your own rig.
Highly Recommend!

 

[snow&surf]

Similar boat, just ordered my lift kit

Nice Reinland! What did you end up getting? Did you get new tires too?

 

[Vegas]

Did OME lifts on my Rubicon, 2 FJCruisers and my Gen 4 4runner, by myself with no pneumatics either. Didn't get to the allignment shop soon enough on my first one (the Rubicon) my only mistake.
Rented and got the $$ back on the coil compressor at Advanced Auto. Guess it was more a deposit than a rental fee.
Was easy. Didn't drink beer until finished. Great to get under your own rig.
Highly Recommend!

Hey...might be a stupid question withstupid:like a lot of mine are:withstupid but what do you mean "you didnt get to the alignment shop soon enough?" Is that something I need to know about??? You pro's on this board are suppose to be lookin out for dumb newbs like me and protecting me for breaking my truck... So I am in the process of buying Icon stage 2 lift (((just have one last part to decide: Upper control Arms trying to read every post about what it the difference between light racing and new tubular or total chaos... So far sounds like the amount of maintenance and possible squeaks?))))
But to my original question so after I attempt the lift at home my plan was to drive it to get the alignment done... Do I need to pick a shop very close to home? is there some damage I can do to the truck or compontents by driving to far to a shop?

 

[ATL4R]

Hey...might be a stupid question withstupid:like a lot of mine are:withstupid but what do you mean "you didnt get to the alignment shop soon enough?" Is that something I need to know about??? You pro's on this board are suppose to be lookin out for dumb newbs like me and protecting me for breaking my truck... So I am in the process of buying Icon stage 2 lift (((just have one last part to decide: Upper control Arms trying to read every post about what it the difference between light racing and new tubular or total chaos... So far sounds like the amount of maintenance and possible squeaks?))))
But to my original question so after I attempt the lift at home my plan was to drive it to get the alignment done... Do I need to pick a shop very close to home? is there some damage I can do to the truck or compontents by driving to far to a shop?

As long as your lift isn't extremely radical, the only thing you will be hurting is the tires. I put about 500 miles on mine after the 2 inch lift to allow for settling (another debate) and didn't notice abnormal tire wear. If i was installing brand new tires with the lift, i might go less than 500.

If you have adjustable coiloves just get the alignment right after the lift. Measure the height and drive 500-1000 miles and re-adjust to that measured height and you should be good.

 

[ZJumper]

You're a helo mechanic? Installing a lift will be a snap.

I've seen the butt-pain involved in R&R of some of the parts (engine/trans) on a helo and I wouldn't want anything to do with it.

Dont' sell yourself short...compared to a helo, installing a suspension system is a piece of cake.

 

[flying fuzz]

You're a helo mechanic? Installing a lift will be a snap.

I've seen the butt-pain involved in R&R of some of the parts (engine/trans) on a helo and I wouldn't want anything to do with it.

Dont' sell yourself short...compared to a helo, installing a suspension system is a piece of cake.

Yes I am, like I stated I'm not afraid of the task and I know I can do it but after turning wrenches everyday whether it's on turbine engines or airframes, on my day off it's the last thing I want to do... unless I had to fab something up because I love working with sheetmetal. I Talked to another Toyota dealer, installed for $480 out the door, going on Friday at 0700.

Thanks for everyone's input