Lift Install Estimate?

[ieatfish]

I just pulled the trigger on a Dobinsons lift setup to replace my failing XREAS and spacer lift.

Any general idea what I can expect a shop to charge to install it? Considering doing it myself but want to get a quote or two before I decide. I’d did the spacer lift and it took me about a full Saturday.

Also, how hard is swapping the front axles (or rebooting)? I’ve never done that before but figure it would be a good time to do it.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

It depends honestly, some companies/dealers will quote labor at "accessory pricing" for example so they can be somewhat competitive. They might offset the lower labor cost by adding an hour or two to the actual time they're quoting.

But usually I would say something like 5-7hrs (not including an alignment or tire/wheel mounting) should be about par for the course for just a standard coilover lift kit? Most of the time strut replacement is about 3hrs for both, an hour or so for the rear shocks, and another hour for any miscellaneous things to be trimmed/adjusted/etc. There could be additional labor if you're doing upper control arms, tires/wheels, other bits, etc.

Post Note-

Rebooting CV axles isn't bad, it's just messy tedious work. It's probably not as easy to do on jack stand; but it's doable. I would recommend using a roll of those disposable shop towels, a good contractor bag, and having a bench vise helps a bit. You should also invest in the proper tools for clamping the CV boots, I believe on a 5th gen all you'll need is the generic "crimp" tool.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

for me

1. I had a shop install install bilstein 5100s on all 4 and re-use my existing shocks - they charged me about $550 including alignment. That was my expectation going forward and think they were just very good and may have under charged me based on what other shops

2. I later had a shop upgrade my coils/ springs on all 4 corners - they charged my $1200 for that, I was not happy.

3. I upgraded my shocks again. I had the shop just install the coils on the strut and that was ~ $175 and then ~ 90 for an alignment

I think youre probably looking at 750-100 for the install and alignment would be a good price. Over that, id feel that I gotten taken advantage of, they were being slow, etc etc, but there are a number of other factors. Are your alignment bolts seized, do they have to assemble the coil overs or as they already together

 

[MinnesotaKingpin07]

I did a suspension lift and they quoted me about $600-700. But, I also had upper and lower control arms replaced, all new bushings, alignment bolts etc. plus there were some seized bolts they had to work on, as I live in Minnesota and EVERYTHING rusts. Parts and install on that fiasco was over 2k. Oof.

 

[Boort]

[MENTION=592269]ieatfish[/MENTION]

I looked up the receipt for my lift install.
Had the job done down in Golden Co. by Slee Offroad in 2018 so I'd expect the costs today to be 10% higher

INS-SUSP-4R-... 4RUNNER - 3GEN / 4GEN - SUSPENSION / UCA INSTALL. 567.00
LBR-ALIGN-IF SOF Alignment - IFS with Zero Point Calibration for vehicles fitted with UCA. 145.00
SOF Alignment - IFS - Check and adjust alignment to vehicle spec.
Reset Steering Angle /Zero point calibration.
LBR-TIRE Mount and Balance - New Tire. New Valve Stem, Per Tire. Includes $21x4 = 84.00
State Mandated $1.50 Waste Tire Fee (HB)14-1352

Slee was not the lowest cost option down in the Denver area. Given the issues my brother has reported with the lift work done on his Tacoma, and stories of others who outsourced the lift to shops around town I'm still very glad that I chose Slee.

A piece of advice given that your storage box and sleeping setup looks a lot like mine. Make sure that it is in the back and loaded when you do the work so that they can make adjustments to the suspension for the weight.

Hope this helps
Boort

 

[Loose Axles]

What did you end up doing? I had a really good time ripping out the XREAS myself and installing everything. Learnt a ton this time around.

 

[ieatfish]

What did you end up doing? I had a really good time ripping out the XREAS myself and installing everything. Learnt a ton this time around.

I decided against assembling the struts on my own with a rented spring compressor and found a local shop that did them both for like $75 a piece. Dropped them off on a Friday evening and they said they'd have the done first thing in the morning.

Then I got up early on Saturday determined to do the rest myself. Figured I'd do the rear and then go pick up the struts. Second bolt on the rear shock I spent 45 min trying to get off and could not do it. Breaker bar, impact wrench, etc. And since it was my only mode of transportation, I wasn't prepared to break it and not be able to go get a replacement.

So when I went to pick the the struts, I asked them what they would charge. They said $637.45 and that included the strut assembly. A no-brainer so I let them install it, told them the rear parts were in the back seat. They said they could have it done by end of day but called later and asked to hold it until Monday, which wasn't an issue.

I show up Monday and pay and open the rear door and, lo and behold, the rear springs and shocks were still sitting there. 2 hours later and they had those installed too. Somehow they didn't use the new washers and bushings on the rear so they were mismatched right and left and missing parts. I fixed that as much as possible and am having my trusted shop give it all a once over just to make sure they didn't do anything else wrong. They also assembled one strut without the dust guard over the shaft which isn't a huge deal but I guess I got what I paid for...

The Dobinson's lift is perfect and the Exit Offroad experience was great. Wish I could have gotten that bolt unstuck though...

 

[vermontmike]

Be careful. Some shops do not charge a "package" install and instead piece meal the install meaning one separate charge to do uca, one sperate charge for the front coilovers, etc. $1500.00 for all 4 corners plus UCA's. He wonders why I looked at him like he was high. 4WheelParts shop quoted me $850 total for all unless the UCA were heim joints and then it was $150 more.