Suspension Install Pricing.
- Thread starter Rysandro
- Start date
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there really isnt a labor benefit to doing them at the same time unless you cant get the alignment to spec out right... then you would be paying for another alignment after the fact...
that said a shop may cut you a break on labor if they are doing it all at once but that would be up to their discretion
that said a shop may cut you a break on labor if they are doing it all at once but that would be up to their discretion
mrvandelay
New member
I paid my 4x4 guy about $400 to install Radflo Coilovers, Diff Drop, Swabar Relo, LRUCAS, Rear Springs and Rear Bilsteins. Included an alignment.
harper7
Senior Member
If I was the mechanic charging you would save about half doing it all at once.The hardest part is getting it up on stands or a rack and taking the wheels,sway bars, ABS lines,brake lines ect loose.
Depending on which suspension.....twice as much to do it twice unless you have externally adjustable CO's maybe a little less.Then the CO wouldn't have to come back out to adjust it to match your new rear spring height.Any time you change a CO or a UCA you'll need an alignment with or being the key word there.Even adjusting the CO's will throw the camber off a little.
If you talking about the 3 position Billy 5100's then the mechanic has to take the CO back out to adjust to new height setting and that basically equals starting over again for his labor......and needs another alignment.
So a front coilover and UCA install does overlap In Labor? As does a rear shock and spring?
Or are the savings mostly from only having to do alignment once.
harper7
Senior Member
Yep ,still have to put it up on the lift or jackstands again,take off the wheels,ABS lines,sway bars , take the upper ball joint loose ,ect and then putting them back on and retorquing is what's a PIA to me.The actual 4 bolts that hold the CO on and the 2 that hold the rear shock on is the gravy.
Once you have the CO out it's easy to install the UCA as the upper ball joint is already separated from the spindle. There's just the one nut on the long bolt thru the shock tower holding it then and literally takes 5 minutes to change at that point.
sounds average to me. I paid $375 for front and rear 5100s with rear add a leaf and alignment on my tundra
Jesse1983
5th Gen Moderator
agree 100%. If you're changing CO's and UCA's it only makes sense to do them at the same time. With the UCA out of the way it's easier to swap CO then if the UCA was there. And once new CO is in it's no problem installing new UCA.
Ducmonsta
New member
Pricing should not be compared here. There are different demographics to be dealt with. A shops labor rate in the Washington DC area can go from $90-$150/hr. The middle of Kansas could be as low as $60/hr.
I believe what the OP wants to know if there should be a break or discount in doing this all at once. The answer has been given multiple times. Generally, if you're working on the front of the vehicle, have everything related to the front suspension done. Ditto for the rear.
IMO, save your money and do everything at once. If you're questioning putting LR UCAs but don't have the money now, wait and get it later. Decide what tires you're going to ultimately have and lift accordingly. It's worth waiting another couple paychecks to only have to go once. There's a lot less room for error.
I often see too many people get excited about getting parts for their truck only to see them weeks later to change something up. Buy once guys.
I believe what the OP wants to know if there should be a break or discount in doing this all at once. The answer has been given multiple times. Generally, if you're working on the front of the vehicle, have everything related to the front suspension done. Ditto for the rear.
IMO, save your money and do everything at once. If you're questioning putting LR UCAs but don't have the money now, wait and get it later. Decide what tires you're going to ultimately have and lift accordingly. It's worth waiting another couple paychecks to only have to go once. There's a lot less room for error.
I often see too many people get excited about getting parts for their truck only to see them weeks later to change something up. Buy once guys.
Desert Fox
New member
If you do any wheeling spend the money and get the lifetime alignment from Firestone. I get an alignment after my runs.
If you have any mechanical skills at all and the tools you should do the work yourself. I dont know about the area you are in but the folks here in Colorado are more than happy to help with stuff like this. Just post a " Mod Day- need help installing lift" and see who responds.
If you have the skills but not the tools, buy them. If you wheel you will probably need the tools at some point. You could buy the tools for the job at the cost of paying a mechanic to do it.
This is the kind of answer I got when I was 16 and asked a mechanic what he would charge to do some work on my car. He was a Fonzie kind of guy and pushed me to do my own work. I am real glad he did.
Having a cool lifted vehicle feels good. Doing the lift your self- feel awsome.
If you have any mechanical skills at all and the tools you should do the work yourself. I dont know about the area you are in but the folks here in Colorado are more than happy to help with stuff like this. Just post a " Mod Day- need help installing lift" and see who responds.
If you have the skills but not the tools, buy them. If you wheel you will probably need the tools at some point. You could buy the tools for the job at the cost of paying a mechanic to do it.
This is the kind of answer I got when I was 16 and asked a mechanic what he would charge to do some work on my car. He was a Fonzie kind of guy and pushed me to do my own work. I am real glad he did.
Having a cool lifted vehicle feels good. Doing the lift your self- feel awsome.
mrvandelay
New member
It was about the going rate around town. I've given this guy a lot of business since I got my T4R - it's his first Toyota too! He's usually a Jeep guy.
