Lift Kits vs Stock Replacements - Cost Differential Reasons??

[Sporin]

My apologies if this is a weird question/thought but after doing a lot of shopping, I've got a (possibly rhetorical) question...

How come a lift kit costs so much more than stock replacements?

Bear with me.... I'd like to replace my stock XREAS that has 150k on it. I can get complete fronts (shocks & springs assembled) for $100 per corner, stock rears are even cheaper (MOOG, Rockauto.com)

So how come a set of taller shocks and springs is 2-4 times as much? Yes, I understand that there is some quality difference and yes I understand that there are differences like increased carrying weight, etc.

But I still can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that a shock or spring costs 4 times as much to create and produce as a stock height versions.

I'm not trying to start an argument, or slander any of the awesome vendors who produce quality products. But I thought it might be and interesting discussion.

Thanks.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

you hit on it a little in your post, but the performance of the parts and capabilities are inherently different between stock replacements and aftermarket lift kits. if you're selling stock replacement parts, you don't want to have a high price and you really can't, or else you're not going to hit your target, who are the diy'ers that are replacing their own parts to save a few bucks. the aftermarket off road and performance oriented suspensions are directed at an audience that wants a higher performance product in shocks and springs, and is willing to pay for it.

in addition, comparing a company like old man emu to monroe or kyb is apples to oranges. they both produce shocks and springs, but comparatively ome is much smaller with more overhead cost worked into their products, where monroe or kyb make shocks for every make and model, have tons of sales, and can price products lower

 

[LobstaMobsta]

Youre also looking at aftermarket retailers that may not be the same toyota parts for those factory replacements….toyota wants over $300 per shock that does not include coil springs….it is really about the same cost to do the lift kit…i mean you can buy some cheaper kits, like the 5100 kit is cheaper than those ome's….you pay for what you get basically, more you spend the better quality youre going to get…take out the stock xreas and lay it on the floor next to a badass icon or fox kit and you will laugh and say oh thats why

 

[Dylan]

Factored in is a lot of R&D too. You're not just stamping out the OEM size/shape over and over with already determined specs. You're designing a new product for the most part. Add in better quality/capability of those products and you can easily see the price go up. Demand can manifest a positive bias in the price too, as there is a demand for lifts, etc.

 

[S p a r k y]

I'll take this one!

I can compare my 2004 4Runner to a 2004 Kia Sorento and ask why one is more expensive than the other! When in reality they both drive, have seats, seat belts, 4 tires etc. End of day you get what you pay for!

 

[Lolrax]

It's like others said above, there is an R&D cost perspective. There is also the fact that they can overcharge because they know enthusiasts will pay to make their trucks the way they want.

 

[Sporin]

I'll take this one!

I can compare my 2004 4Runner to a 2004 Kia Sorento and ask why one is more expensive than the other! When in reality they both drive, have seats, seat belts, 4 tires etc. End of day you get what you pay for!

Obviously that works fine for something as complicated as an entire car. On a spring of wound steel though? On a shock? Much simpler items to manufacture and I don't think that comparing cars is the same argument.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in, this was all generally my thought as well, a combo of things including R&D, Marketing, increased complexity and strength, economies of scale, etc.

I would still hypothesize that the manufacturing costs for the pieces aren't dramatically different no matter what the end price is, but I'm not an expert so it's just a guess.

I also wonder if some of these things aren't all manufactured by the same group of core companies (like car batteries). Is OME twisting their own springs in their own factory? Or are they having the same company that twists the Moog springs twist the OME springs but to a slightly different set of parameters?

I don't know, just something I've been thinking about as I've been researching and shopping all the options out there. And again, not slagging any of these manufacturers for making a buck or anything, it's nice to have the options.

 

[LobstaMobsta]

obviously that works fine for something as complicated as an entire car. On a spring of wound steel though? On a shock? Much simpler items to manufacture and i don't think that comparing cars is the same argument.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in, this was all generally my thought as well, a combo of things including r&d, marketing, increased complexity and strength, economies of scale, etc.

I would still hypothesize that the manufacturing costs for the pieces aren't dramatically different no matter what the end price is, but i'm not an expert so it's just a guess.

I also wonder if some of these things aren't all manufactured by the same group of core companies (like car batteries). Is ome twisting their own springs in their own factory? Or are they having the same company that twists the moog springs twist the ome springs but to a slightly different set of parameters?

I don't know, just something i've been thinking about as i've been researching and shopping all the options out there. And again, not slagging any of these manufacturers for making a buck or anything, it's nice to have the options.

i think youre underestimating the quality and manufacturing processes for these….each of these components are made specifically for this one shock, while yes some of these are manufactured by the same core group of companies but they are still extremely specific and built with quality materials…read through some of the real technical specifications. My fox setup has eibach coils….these arent standard domestic vehicles that they stamp out from cheap steel….everything about most coilovers are clearly superior to the stock setup...want a cheap lift kit go buy a chevy lol

 

[S p a r k y]

i think youre underestimating the quality and manufacturing processes for these….each of these components are made specifically for this one shock, while yes some of these are manufactured by the same core group of companies but they are still extremely specific and built with quality materials…read through some of the real technical specifications. My fox setup has eibach coils….these arent standard domestic vehicles that they stamp out from cheap steel….everything about most coilovers are clearly superior to the stock setup...want a cheap lift kit go buy a chevy lol

This made me think of knives, kind of in the same comparison to springs shocks etc. Quality of the steel and how they are hardened or manufactured makes all the difference in prices.