SF Bay Area

[rochmpr]

I don't know most peoples skills, but a suspension install can easily be done with pretty basic hand tools and no real specialty tools. Everything bolts / unbolts, no welding, cutting or fab work is required. Plus, with all of the documented information on installing lifts on this website, it makes installation really straight forward. I may seem like a huge undertaking, but, in the long run, not only do you get the savings of doing it yourself, you gain some knowledge of the suspension and future maintenance needs and how to go about it. Even better when someone volunteers to help, provided there's some liquids involved. Then you get the benefit of someone else's expertise, you also get to learn at the same time.

A lift can be accomplished in a day at home.

Just my opinion.

 

[Xtremluck]

I always wanted to try this place when I lived in the Bay Area (didn't have my 4runner yet, but wanted to do some stuff with my Subaru). Evidently its a professional garage where you can rent the work bays and lift, they provide all of the tools and professional advice on installs/repair work. Looks like a cool place if you wanted to learn to work on your car with someone looking over your shoulder to help.



https://www.yelp.com/biz/pit-row-santa-clara-2



Pit Row

I second Pit Row, it's a fantastic facility and the owners are awesome. This is where I do all of my work! A member here met up with me there to help me install my lift kit and it was a fantastic learning experience.

OP, I need to change out one of my rear shocks in a couple of weeks so I would be more than happy to lend a hand while I'm down there. Would be great to pay it forward.

 

[kpinthebay]

Theres a shop in Livermore called The 4x4 Shop. Owner quoted me about 450 for a full ome install. Plus 125 for alignment. Not too shabby.

 

[kuato]

I always wanted to try this place when I lived in the Bay Area (didn't have my 4runner yet, but wanted to do some stuff with my Subaru). Evidently its a professional garage where you can rent the work bays and lift, they provide all of the tools and professional advice on installs/repair work. Looks like a cool place if you wanted to learn to work on your car with someone looking over your shoulder to help.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/pit-row-santa-clara-2

Pit Row

I called them today, and they said flat out they do not help with installing lifts. Sounds like the people there don't have the skill set to help with with that kind of job. The lady I spoke with suggested taking it to a place that specializes in installing lifts. Sounds like an interesting place though. I may check them out for some other jobs down the line.

I don't know most peoples skills, but a suspension install can easily be done with pretty basic hand tools and no real specialty tools. Everything bolts / unbolts, no welding, cutting or fab work is required. Plus, with all of the documented information on installing lifts on this website, it makes installation really straight forward. I may seem like a huge undertaking, but, in the long run, not only do you get the savings of doing it yourself, you gain some knowledge of the suspension and future maintenance needs and how to go about it. Even better when someone volunteers to help, provided there's some liquids involved. Then you get the benefit of someone else's expertise, you also get to learn at the same time.

A lift can be accomplished in a day at home.

Just my opinion.

Ideally, I'd love to do the job myself. However, time is a factor. I can only work on this on the weekends but I have little time to spare on weekends as of late, and I'm trying to prep the vehicle for an up coming trip.

I got my suspension installed and alignment done at SWAT Customs. Could not have been happier. They even offer a free retorque of the bolts after 10 days driving and settling in period. If you want more opinions, you can read the 52 - 5 star reviews on Yelp.

Looks like I'm sticking with SWAT Customs. Made an appointment for Tuesday. $650 for the install plus alignment. Does that sound reasonable?

For comparison, I also called Shaffer Offroad and they estimated about $640 ($540 for install if 4 hours labor and $100 for alignment).

 

[cutty01]

Looks like I'm sticking with SWAT Customs. Made an appointment for Tuesday. $650 for the install plus alignment. Does that sound reasonable?

That is what I paid but it included disconnecting and tying off my xreas lines. The alignment is the most expensive part and you can get it done cheaper elsewhere if you wish. However I figured that I would save myself the hassle of making an appointment somewhere else and waiting for the work to be done, so I just did it all at SWAT. Plus I had 275s on there and I wanted someone who had a lot of experience adjusting caster to prevent rubbing.

 

[3sash3mi]

Ben Lifted experience

This weekend I ended up going to Scotts Valley to get my UCA replaced and alignment done at Ben Lifted. Thank you for recommending them. It was a great experience at a very reasonable price compared to others around here. Highly recommended, especially if you are close to Los Gatos or West San Jose. Ben specializes in Toyota and got a chance to look at his 86 4runner turned into a rock crawler project. Pretty sweet.

 

[jameygraham]

Looking for 4WD shop in South Bay Area to do suspension/lift work

I have a 2016 Trail and was surprised to find very few 4WD shops in the Bay Area –*especially in the south bay. I live in San Jose and have found –*so far –*4Wheel Parts in San Jose "challenging" to work with. To be fair, so far I have only talked with them a few times but I've read other comments which indicate that a bit of competition here in the souther part of the Bay Area would be good for us consumers. Anyway, I'm looking to do the lift/suspension work and trying to find a place that understands the 4Runner, KDSS and suspension for these rigs really well. I would also rather not have to drive more than 30min if possible. Thanks for the help!

 

[tristero]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Mudrak. I know it's all the way up in Sonoma, but this guy is pretty popular with the LC community. Mudrak Custom Cruisers Sonoma, CA

 

[Snow-Jet-MK5]

I have a 2016 Trail and was surprised to find very few 4WD shops in the Bay Area –*especially in the south bay. I live in San Jose and have found –*so far –*4Wheel Parts in San Jose "challenging" to work with. To be fair, so far I have only talked with them a few times but I've read other comments which indicate that a bit of competition here in the souther part of the Bay Area would be good for us consumers. Anyway, I'm looking to do the lift/suspension work and trying to find a place that understands the 4Runner, KDSS and suspension for these rigs really well. I would also rather not have to drive more than 30min if possible. Thanks for the help!

There is a shop in Fremont called SWAT customs that you can check out. And if you're in the north bay you can check out shaffers. They will be installing my lockers and regear when I order them in the next month.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[3sash3mi]

I found Ben Lifted in Scotts Valley area of hwy 17 to be very nice to work with. Only challenge is the location and arranging for ride back and forth.

 

[JSparky]

I found Ben Lifted in Scotts Valley area of hwy 17 to be very nice to work with. Only challenge is the location and arranging for ride back and forth.

I've heard good things too, but yea with 17 being a mess it could get complicated.

To jameygraham, if I wasn't knee's deep in work right now I'd have you come over and we could do the install together. Shoot me PM if you're timeframe for installation isn't immediate.

Otherwise, Custom Alignment in Mountain View has been amazing for me with numerous vehicles. They work on some serious vehicles, a 4Runner is no problem for their staff. Custom suspension setups, coilover tuning, brake work, etc they can handle it. They are the only shop in the valley I have alignments done at as well, so it's kinda two in one.

 

[jameygraham]

I've heard good things too, but yea with 17 being a mess it could get complicated.

To jameygraham, if I wasn't knee's deep in work right now I'd have you come over and we could do the install together. Shoot me PM if you're timeframe for installation isn't immediate.

Otherwise, Custom Alignment in Mountain View has been amazing for me with numerous vehicles. They work on some serious vehicles, a 4Runner is no problem for their staff. Custom suspension setups, coilover tuning, brake work, etc they can handle it. They are the only shop in the valley I have alignments done at as well, so it's kinda two in one.

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll give both SWAT and Custom a call. No time (nor motivation) to do this myself but thanks so much for the offer! Just want to get it done and done the right way. Getting conflicting info from 4Wheel Parts in San Jose at the moment – hoping for better advice from SWAT and Custom.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I have a 2016 Trail and was surprised to find very few 4WD shops in the Bay Area –*especially in the south bay. I live in San Jose and have found –*so far –*4Wheel Parts in San Jose "challenging" to work with. To be fair, so far I have only talked with them a few times but I've read other comments which indicate that a bit of competition here in the souther part of the Bay Area would be good for us consumers. Anyway, I'm looking to do the lift/suspension work and trying to find a place that understands the 4Runner, KDSS and suspension for these rigs really well. I would also rather not have to drive more than 30min if possible. Thanks for the help!

Can also try Toy Connection in Santa Clara.

 

[perf0rmance]

subscribing for future use

 

[TheKent]

I went to SWAT in Freemont. No issues.

 

[antemeridian]

Glad I found this thread even though my needs currently are small.
Am in SF, and want to have a 1" diff drop removed from my 2009. Lift up front only totals 2.5" (or maybe less after slight sag) and I think I've come down on the side of "No i don't want/need it". There's interesting debate elsewhere in this forum, but for me I'm not-so concerned about the ultra-long term, and the diff skid plate acting as a crop harvester offroad is already old.

Will report back if I find any helpful local shop feedback.

 

[mlzmfln]

I went to California Wheels in Campbell to install the Toytec Ultimate kit on my TEP with KDSS. Tommy, the owner, and his team got it done quickly and took the time to make sure I was happy with the ride quality. It's been a little over a year and I've had zero isses. Another plus is that the total cost including alignment was less than what SWAT quoted me for install alone. I highly recommend for folks in the South Bay.

 

[jameygraham]

I went to California Wheels in Campbell to install the Toytec Ultimate kit on my TEP with KDSS. Tommy, the owner, and his team got it done quickly and took the time to make sure I was happy with the ride quality. It's been a little over a year and I've had zero isses. Another plus is that the total cost including alignment was less than what SWAT quoted me for install alone. I highly recommend for folks in the South Bay.

Thanks for the pointer to a south bay shop. I have used SWAT and was very happy with them (they did my lift) but since they are in Fremont, it's a small pain to get there when I need work done.

 

[3sash3mi]

I went to California Wheels in Campbell to install the Toytec Ultimate kit on my TEP with KDSS. Tommy, the owner, and his team got it done quickly and took the time to make sure I was happy with the ride quality. It's been a little over a year and I've had zero isses. Another plus is that the total cost including alignment was less than what SWAT quoted me for install alone. I highly recommend for folks in the South Bay.

Thanks for this. I get my 4runner washed right next to that place will definitely talk to them. I need to deal with my scraping and little bit of extra lift and realignment. Thanks again.

 

[METIS]

Custom Alignment in Mountain View, another forum member directed me there and I won't go anywhere else now. They helped out with my land cruiser and I plan on having my tacoma worked on there as well.

One of the best alignment shops around. Used to be the best, but there's a couple other places I'd trust my cars to these days as well. Typically more the technician than the shop.