Received this quote from my local shop today. Seem reasonable?

[ECT_Gumby]

Received this quote from my local offroad shop. I have a $2500 budget to lift and put 33" tires on my daily driver.

Just looking for feedback / input / flames.

$210 ARB OME Front Coils
$378 ARB Front Strut Nitro Charger
$210 ARB Rear Springs
$258 ARB Rear Nitro Soft Valving Shocks
$179 Daystar Front / Rear Spacer Kit
$350 Installation
$89 Alignment
-----------------
$1800 after tax

Thanks!

 

[NHRunner]

Why is there a spacer kit in there? The coils that you pick should account for all of the suspension height you need.

Also, if you use any popular online vendor like Toytec or Wheeler's, then those coils are online $169, not $210. And the shocks shouldn't be that expensive either. If I recall correctly, all of those OME parts should only total ~$850. You may want to look into that.

 

[derpiful]

Also think that it's a little overpriced, like NHRunner was saying. Pricing them out at Wheeler's definitely shows cheaper.

Other than that...

Shouldn't need the spacers, the install isn't unreasonable, and the alignment is about right.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yikes! Ever thought of trying to do some of the work yourself? You could do a lot with $2000. But the labor and alignment are about right, pricing wise. They are definitely marking up the parts though.

Maybe buy them yourself and then ask the shop to install them.

 

[absalom]

+1 for doing the work yourself. There are tons of how-to's on this forum and you'll have a blast learning along the way.

Also, I'd recommend LC springs out back instead of OME's. Oh and skip the spacer lift, you'll hate the ride quality after.

Here's my budget as I'm lifting mine right now:

TRD coils - $85 shipped
Tundra 5100's - $177 shipped
LC Coils - $105 shipped
LC Monroe Sensatracs - $40 Autozone
Adjustable panhard bar (unless you want your truck to sit crooked after) - $90
Alignment - $75
Install (DIY) - $0

Lift Components Subtotal - $623

She'll ride like a Cadillac, have plenty of flex and leave plenty of room for other mods. Since a lift places a lot of stress on old steering components, I recommend going on RockAuto and filling your shopping cart with the following:

2x Moog Inner Tie Rods
1x Moog Left Tie Rod
1x Moog Right Tie Rod
2x Moog Lower Ball Joint

Steering Components Subtotal - ~$275

I also recommend getting new steering bushings from Energy Suspension ... massive difference. Finally, since there's still room in your budget, I also recommend getting Light Racing upper control arms for $379 from FatBob'sGarage. These will allow you to get factory alignment specs as you won't be able to otherwise after lifting.

Grand total - $1,277

 

[ECT_Gumby]

All, thank you for the replies! A few follow up comments here.

I should have disclaimed that it isn't really feasible to do the work myself. Believe me I understand they joys of turning wrenches! I've been reading these forums for two years and it has held my hand through a few different repairs. :kiss:

Why is there a spacer kit in there? The coils that you pick should account for all of the suspension height you need.

Yeah that is one reason I'm posting it as it didn't seem right to me. They were telling me OME couldn't get me the full 3" I needed to fit 285/75/16s. And I remembered looking at the kit on Toytec and seeing a spacer: Complete OME suspension for 96-02 4Runner

I expect some markup from a shop. Is it bad form to buy your own stuff and then ask the shop to do it? I guess giving them business is still giving them business?

 

[KidVermicious]

I expect some markup from a shop. Is it bad form to buy your own stuff and then ask the shop to do it? I guess giving them business is still giving them business?

Markup over cost can be expected from a retail establishment, but that's because they need to cover the cost of maintaining inventory. Your shop doesn't have those on inventory, and any markup they place on the parts isn't justified. On the off chance that they aren't marking them up and are just too dumb to get a good price, you should show them the actual retail price and ask them to match it. Or offer to buy the parts yourself and have them dropshipped.

If they insist on charging you overmarket, or even get grumpy about charging a decent price, consider taking your business elsewhere. I wouldn't give a dime of my money to a shop that wanted to rip me off like that, and I wouldn't want work done on my truck by a shop that was grumpy about our transaction.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

It looks like their markup is fair. For example, Wheelers has the springs for $167, but you have to add shipping, which will probably be $15-20, so that makes them about $185. They should make at least 20% for handling (money cost and profit - and they SHOULD make some profit on parts, as well as labor - 2 different categories) so that makes $222, so their $210 price looks more than fair to me. If they a dealer for OME and buying at dealer price, it might be a little high, but still pretty fair (they still have to pay shipping to get them, and they still have to make some profit).

 

[98OzarksRunner]

I expect some markup from a shop. Is it bad form to buy your own stuff and then ask the shop to do it? I guess giving them business is still giving them business?

A lot of small shops will do that. It wouldn't hurt to ask. If it were my shop, I would probably add some labor (another hour anyway - for handling YOUR parts). I would also say warranty issues are between you and the manufacturer, since you supplied the parts - call them if it fails, not me.

 

[eanema]

This is an interesting topic. the last time I brought my truck to the shop they charged me $65 just to download the codes. I kinda figured that should have a been apart of the diagnostic labour charges so I figured I'd download the codes myself before brining it in and save $$$. I do like the idea of acquiring your own parts even if you don't intend to do the work your self.

 

[ECT_Gumby]

I would also say warranty issues are between you and the manufacturer, since you supplied the parts - call them if it fails, not me.

OzarksRunner I'm glad you said that as I just discussed this with a co-worker Wednesday. I'm a CYA (cover yer butt) kind of guy and like the idea of being able to point back to the shop in the extreme case that something failed and hurt someone. If I brought them my own parts then they could always point back to me. The nature of my job has made me paranoid of lawsuits I guess.

The estimate I got clearly states that the vehicle must come back in two weeks or 500 miles for a re-torque or the warranty is voided.

 

[adkins]

+1 for doing the work yourself. There are tons of how-to's on this forum and you'll have a blast learning along the way.

Also, I'd recommend LC springs out back instead of OME's. Oh and skip the spacer lift, you'll hate the ride quality after.

Here's my budget as I'm lifting mine right now:

TRD coils - $85 shipped
Tundra 5100's - $177 shipped
LC Coils - $105 shipped
LC Monroe Sensatracs - $40 Autozone
Adjustable panhard bar (unless you want your truck to sit crooked after) - $90
Alignment - $75
Install (DIY) - $0

Lift Components Subtotal - $623

She'll ride like a Cadillac, have plenty of flex and leave plenty of room for other mods. Since a lift places a lot of stress on old steering components, I recommend going on RockAuto and filling your shopping cart with the following:

2x Moog Inner Tie Rods
1x Moog Left Tie Rod
1x Moog Right Tie Rod
2x Moog Lower Ball Joint

Steering Components Subtotal - ~$275

I also recommend getting new steering bushings from Energy Suspension ... massive difference. Finally, since there's still room in your budget, I also recommend getting Light Racing upper control arms for $379 from FatBob'sGarage. These will allow you to get factory alignment specs as you won't be able to otherwise after lifting.

Grand total - $1,277

Ive been piecing and pricing a lift for my 99 limited and was about to order thr full setup from SS. Then i saw your list. Are you getting this parts used or were you able to find that good of a deal?

 

[clarkkey594]

Ive been piecing and pricing a lift for my 99 limited and was about to order thr full setup from SS. Then i saw your list. Are you getting this parts used or were you able to find that good of a deal?

These must be used parts. There's no way that you can get TRD springs or an adjustable panhard bar for those prices.

 

[BrianSD_42]

ARB springs?

never heard of it. Is anyone here running them?

have you looked at Sonoran Steel's website?

I have the SS 1.2 with Landcruiser Shocks in rear and adjustable Bilstein plus Tundra coils in the rear. It works great.

 

[Chuckles89]

ARB springs?

never heard of it. Is anyone here running them?

ARB makes Old Man Emu springs :tea:

 

[IBallEngineer]

It seems to me that too many people posting on this list don't realize no shop is in business to do favors. They aren't there to build the coolest trucks, they are there to make money. If they provide a quality service, they are entitled to try to make money. I get that we are driving 15-20 year old trucks not worth much money, but you can't blame the shop owner for that.

There is an old saying, and I do mean old, in the automotive world.

You wouldn't bring your own eggs and bacon to have the restaurant make you breakfast, why do you think it's ok to take away part of the shop's profit.

The internet age has changed things, and this is a much more accepted practice. But it is a false economy. More an more small shops just can't survive, so we ALL will be forced to visit the well capitalized shops and pay more for less. You can bet they won't allow you to bring your own parts in either.

Get's off soapbox.

:frusty:

 

[BrianSD_42]

ARB makes Old Man Emu springs :tea:

Do they make them or just rebrand them?

For $1800 I don't think an OME lift is the best for your money.

Why not go with Toytech if you have that much cash. Seems like a much better use of your money.

 

[Chuckles89]

Do they make them or just rebrand them?

For $1800 I don't think an OME lift is the best for your money.

Why not go with Toytech if you have that much cash. Seems like a much better use of your money.

I always thought that ARB made them, but I'm not sure...

 

[D Farms]

adjustable panhard is not nessesary the shift is less than half an inch and with lc shocks youll bash your gas tank. i can see $2500 as a fair price if it includes new tires, which is what you said initially. personally i wouldnt trust a shop to do a lift for me unless i personally knew the owners and people in the shop. my lift cost me $475. i pulled trd springs and bought used lx coils. all shocks were new and i reused the top plates and added a new tundra coil isolator.

anyways do what you need to get it lifted but if your asking here for advice most people will tell you to save your money and do it your self.

 

[absalom]

Ive been piecing and pricing a lift for my 99 limited and was about to order thr full setup from SS. Then i saw your list. Are you getting this parts used or were you able to find that good of a deal?

TRD and LC springs will be used. EVERYTHING else I listed will be brand new. You get twice as much with this list than SS, including a completely brand new front end steering system.

These must be used parts. There's no way that you can get TRD springs or an adjustable panhard bar for those prices.

The panhard bar price is for just the materials. Find a buddy w/ a welder or befriend a muffler shop. I can upload the shopping list that you'd take to your local metal supply shop. You could do it for even cheaper if you shop around.

adjustable panhard is not nessesary the shift is less than half an inch and with lc shocks youll bash your gas tank. i can see $2500 as a fair price if it includes new tires, which is what you said initially. personally i wouldnt trust a shop to do a lift for me unless i personally knew the owners and people in the shop. my lift cost me $475. i pulled trd springs and bought used lx coils. all shocks were new and i reused the top plates and added a new tundra coil isolator.

anyways do what you need to get it lifted but if your asking here for advice most people will tell you to save your money and do it your self.

Adjustable panhard bar isn't needed if you don't mind your truck doglegging down the road. A 1/2" shift along the hypotenuse makes a big difference in how the truck sits. My LC shocks never came to my gas tank ... weird. Perhaps you had the wrong part #?