Philly Mechanics for 4 runner suspensions .....suggest please!!!

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beliy25

New member
HI all,i am going to need a good mechanic who has been doing or did aftermarket Suspension upgrades in Philadelphia....

i am looking to change my stock UCAs on a new ebay UCAs and i need new allignment.

i dont want to take it to a guy i usually take the car to because he only does oem parts and he will start suggesting the opposite from what people suggested here.

if you know anyone who knows what he/she is doing with 4 runner suspensions ,please let me know the info so i could call and speak about schedule and prices and etc.

Thank you all a lot again.
 
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Honestly, I wouldn't take eBay UCAs to a mechanic, unless they knew exactly what they were doing. They're certainly not a complicated task, there are just a few things to watch out for.

The eBay UCAs typically do not arrive in bolt on form. They require some modifications to the sleeves that sit inside of the bushings, and also require retapping and reinstalling the grease fittings.

The overall install is actually quite simple. It is much more simple than installing, say, struts or LCAs. I had mine swapped over in an hour (total work time), and I had never pulled my UCAs before.

I would suggest that you go with a bolt-on ready UCA, rather than one that requires modification before installation.
 
[MENTION=78378]beliy25[/MENTION] [MENTION=124672]snowboardwcu[/MENTION]

I'm installing a 6112/5160 combo on GX prob July/Aug. Not doing the UCA but if you guys want to see how easy/hard it is to DIY, happy to join the fun. Don't think it's that bad.

I've done swaps before (not on a 4th gen) and just drive to the alignment place afterwards. As long as you don't drive like an @$$hole the way there and roll it, you should be ok.

Haven't researched alignment or suspension shops but will post up what I find.
 
ZiaMan said:
[MENTION=78378]beliy25[/MENTION] [MENTION=124672]snowboardwcu[/MENTION]

I'm installing a 6112/5160 combo on GX prob July/Aug. Not doing the UCA but if you guys want to see how easy/hard it is to DIY, happy to join the fun. Don't think it's that bad.

I've done swaps before (not on a 4th gen) and just drive to the alignment place afterwards. As long as you don't drive like an @$$hole the way there and roll it, you should be ok.

Haven't researched alignment or suspension shops but will post up what I find.
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tel the exact date time and location when you will know it and then we will figure something out,if i will be in the city and not at working trip,ill join the fun ...
thank you.
 
dkyleb said:
Honestly, I wouldn't take eBay UCAs to a mechanic, unless they knew exactly what they were doing. They're certainly not a complicated task, there are just a few things to watch out for.

The eBay UCAs typically do not arrive in bolt on form. They require some modifications to the sleeves that sit inside of the bushings, and also require retapping and reinstalling the grease fittings.

The overall install is actually quite simple. It is much more simple than installing, say, struts or LCAs. I had mine swapped over in an hour (total work time), and I had never pulled my UCAs before.

I would suggest that you go with a bolt-on ready UCA, rather than one that requires modification before installation.
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i am fully aware of the modifications required to do before the install,i can not instal regular UCAs because they will not make me a proper allignment with my lift.My front is lifted with billsteins al the way up.

i know where to buy sleeves and fittings and all the required stuff for them for extra 56$....

i am just afraid to start the installation myself ,i dont have a garage,and if something goes wrong,i wont be able to unscrew something or if something will be frozen,i will be stock in the middle without any help and ability to drive ......

but on the other hand,if you say its as easy as one hour for first timer,it makes me wanna try it)))

thats basically why i started this thread so i wouldnt have to take it to a regular mechanic but the one who actually has done something like that before...but it seems like there are non or no one knows one.....
 
beliy25 said:
i am fully aware of the modifications required to do before the install,i can not instal regular UCAs because they will not make me a proper allignment with my lift.My front is lifted with billsteins al the way up.

i know where to buy sleeves and fittings and all the required stuff for them for extra 56$....

i am just afraid to start the installation myself ,i dont have a garage,and if something goes wrong,i wont be able to unscrew something or if something will be frozen,i will be stock in the middle without any help and ability to drive ......

but on the other hand,if you say its as easy as one hour for first timer,it makes me wanna try it)))

thats basically why i started this thread so i wouldnt have to take it to a regular mechanic but the one who actually has done something like that before...but it seems like there are non or no one knows one.....
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I meant buy a TC or SPC UCA or something of that nature, not an eBay one that requires modifications.

Why don't you just modify the ebay ones yourself then bring them to a mechanic? Or bring him the parts and explain what the issue is. This is a very basic operation and any mechanic should be able to figure it out.
 
dkyleb said:
I meant buy a TC or SPC UCA or something of that nature, not an eBay one that requires modifications.

Why don't you just modify the ebay ones yourself then bring them to a mechanic? Or bring him the parts and explain what the issue is. This is a very basic operation and any mechanic should be able to figure it out.
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if no one will suggest any mechanic here thats what ill end up doing ......
 
I don't live anywhere near Philadelphia, but I would suggest looking for a good, respected 4wd shop in the area. When it comes to modified suspensions, the 4wd shops do this all the time to 4runners, and will understand exactly what you are trying to do. Other independent mechanics will be less comfortable with this sort of thing, and the Toyota dealers simply won't touch it.

I'd google "4wd shops Philadelphia" and see what comes up, and then start vetting them.
 
RonJR said:
I don't live anywhere near Philadelphia, but I would suggest looking for a good, respected 4wd shop in the area. When it comes to modified suspensions, the 4wd shops do this all the time to 4runners, and will understand exactly what you are trying to do. Other independent mechanics will be less comfortable with this sort of thing, and the Toyota dealers simply won't touch it.

I'd google "4wd shops Philadelphia" and see what comes up, and then start vetting them.
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top results for '4wd shops Philadelphia' return AutoZone and a motorcycle shop.

while i appreciate your sentiment, and perhaps others wont share my cynicism, but we're talking about Philadelphia here. This place is full of scumbags.

Of course there are good people out there, and we are trying to find them. a simple google, an in depth google, review reading, etc etc is not going to find what we are looking for. Honestly I can't even find a place I'm comfortable doing to for tinting my front windows.

I have a trustworthy mechanic that works on my Honda and the woman's VW. he works on Honda/Acura/VW exclusively. He's great. Only found him through reputation through a friend that lives in the area. I drive over 30min to drop the vehicles off to him.

I want that with my 4Runner. Someone who has inherent knowledge of the vehicle, its problems, solutions, etc. So far, I'm the best I've found. And by me I mean the people of this forum. But in my rental with no garage and a damp basement of tools there's little I can manage on my own.

Anyway, gonna keep looking for good recommendations. Thanks all.
 
I've found a mechanic that does work on the side. I don't want to burn him on the forum, but we'll just say he knows this brand. Shoot me a PM and I'll pass on his information. Pretty sure he's going to be doing my suspension if I don't get a location to do it myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Wanted to give an update here.

I had Paul's Auto in Conshohocken assemble my 6112s. Going with the 2nd from the bottom setting and he had no problem assembling but cannot install them.

Also did research for 4x4 shops and from the Jeep forum, this is the list:
dndoffroad.com, Jeff Daniel's Jeep Customizing, OK 4wd & Auto, Jeeperz 4wd, and The Jeep Shop. I personally don't know any but will be calling for alignment recos.

[MENTION=124672]snowboardwcu[/MENTION] this is the tint shop you should be calling: oakesdetail.com | Home
Another full disclosure, they recommended AMS Auto Body for my GX after I did $15k in damage responding to a fire call. Great work from both shops.

I have no interest in any of the above companies aside from 2nd hand recommendations or first hand experience as noted.
 
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Another update. Tried installing my 6112s on my own this weekend and got close but wasn't able to. The GX's have electronically controlled shocks that allow you to set them from soft to not so soft. The problem I ran into is the shock controller is right on top of the strut mount! This not only blocks the back strut nut, but the controller is also threaded to the top of the strut. 4runners would be much easier as you should have enough space to reach all the strut nuts and the lower shock bolt is easy to take out.

As a side note, my passenger side strut is totally blown and I'm riding on the bumpstops. No wonder it rides like garbage.

Will be going to Mainline Overland this week for install and alignment. Not sure why I didn't see them earlier but found them on google after my failure yesterday. Come to update everyone and bugeye reco'd them 2 weeks ago!

Hopefully will be posting my 6112/5160 review this week!
 
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sorry to hear about the troubles but let us know how everything goes over in WC. would be nice to have two good recommendations for this work. thanks.
 
snowboardwcu said:
sorry to hear about the troubles but let us know how everything goes over in WC. would be nice to have two good recommendations for this work. thanks.
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I finally got my 6112/5160s installed a couple weeks ago at Main Line Overland. These guys did awesome work and am happy with the setup. As the wife says, she can do her makeup and not worry about what the road is like.

About as good as it gets!

FYI labor and alignment was about $600.
 
ZiaMan said:
I finally got my 6112/5160s installed a couple weeks ago at Main Line Overland. These guys did awesome work and am happy with the setup. As the wife says, she can do her makeup and not worry about what the road is like.

About as good as it gets!

FYI labor and alignment was about $600.
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wow i haven't logged in for a few days and you literally posted just in time for me to see the notification.

great news! thanks for the update. I'm slowly getting convinced I dont need new suspension, but that makeup comment kinda fires me back up (not kidding lol)
 
JpAdct said:
I've found a mechanic that does work on the side. I don't want to burn him on the forum, but we'll just say he knows this brand. Shoot me a PM and I'll pass on his information. Pretty sure he's going to be doing my suspension if I don't get a location to do it myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Howdy! Did you ever find a good mechanic in Philadelphia area? Looking to upgrade the suspension on my 00. Would like to get a good recommendation from someone.
 
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