Anyone paid to have a leveling kit installed?

Got a Daystar 2.5" leveling kit for the TR4 and was going to install it myself this Sunday. But, I was diagnosed with a bulged disc in my back the other day and was warned to take it easy.

Watched some videos on doing the install and it doesn't look too bad, but more involved than what I originally envisioned. My son-in-law may be able to help.

So, was thinking about just having a shop do it, but there are no off-road shops around here. Just Meineke Muffler (who installed some Bilstein 5100s on my Ram) and some tire shops that have a suspension shop.

Most sources say the the install time is about 2.5 hours, so at $100 an hour shop rates, that could get spendy pretty soon. Alignments run about $100 as well.

Just wandering if anyone has had the leveling kit installed by a shop and how many hours they ended up charging you for.

Don't need a lecture on spacers vs. suspension lift. I did my homework and spacers will be just fine for what I do.

 

I regret to say that yes, I did have a tire / suspension shop (not off road oriented) throw a Cornfed spacer on my wife's former 2017 SR5. I'm lazy, what can I say. They charged me 1.5 hrs labor, it was like $90 or so. It can be done pretty damn fast, just not by me. And you should get an alignment, but I noticed little deviation in the settings after the install. It's raising the front an inch. If you are on a super budget there won't be any emergency in getting alignment done.

 

I paid to have mine installed, only because they quoted me a good price. Also I don’t have suv jack stands or alignment rack.

I had the following done all in one shot.

1. Cornfed spacers
2. New wheels
3. New tires
4. Alignment

 

If I can get it installed and aligned for $300 or less, then I'd let a shop do it. My son-in-law is texting me and really wants to do it. Looks like we'll tackle it Sunday morning. Son-in-law has a Suzuki Jimny Scott Edition and enjoys wrenching.

 

Have your son in law do it for the price of a sixpack.

You can still be a gopher and not strain your back. Gophers need love too.

 

Mine was just a bit less then $300

 

Vet your shop. I'm in Chicago and in the end found 1 shop that does Toyotas. Spent over a grand at another vouched for shop and they screwed it up

 

I'm no mechanic, but I only pay for installs on things that are way above my level of comfort, or when I just dont have the time.

300 bucks is 300 bucks. I say you just pick a day, take some ibuprofen, and get busy.

I have bulging discs and arthritis too, definitely can throw a wrench hehe in your installation, but if your son in law is willing, have him do the difficult stuff.

 

I had a full suspension system installed with UCAs for $285 with an alignment at a local tire shop that’s somewhat off road oriented. I don’t see it being more than that, if it is have your relative do it!

 

I have done a lot of suspension work but never on a vehicle with KDSS and I did not want to mess with it. I paid to have my spacers installed along with new tires. Front and rear spacers + 5 tires + installation + balancing + alignment was about $2200 IIRC. I think I was into it for about $1800 in tires/parts if that helps.

 

Had my Eibach Pro Truck lift installed by a shop that specializes in lifting / lowering vehicles in Springfield, MO. I supplied the suspension lift.
http://www.bkstrucks.com/

They charged me $450 which included the Alignment.

 

Boy, that sounds cheap to me! I would expect to pay at least a half day worth of labor for a full lift and UCA's. I can only guess that maybe that shop was familiar with 4runners and knew they could get it done quick. Sounds like you got a great deal!

 

They installed a lift on my previous vehicle which was a Tacoma, at that same rate and it took them about 3 hours. They do lifts often so that might be why. They also only charged me $250 for a BMC, so $550 for full suspension lift install with UCA’s and a BMC on both sides which was an 8-5 job for sure (also mounted wheels to tires and installed them). Local shop for the win!

 

It's good to have a shop like that! I don't know exactly what my BMC cost because I had a custom skid plate built at the same time. I paid about $700 for that, which I thought was reasonable because they had to cut my non-KDSS-compatible skid, and built the new one exactly how I wanted it. They also painted everything they had to cut.

 

I was going to have the local Desert Rat store install my Eibach struts & shocks last spring, they quoted $330, I believe, including alignment. COVID delays having their shop backed up, and the parts sitting around my house, inspired me to do it myself. I would gladly have had them do it for the price.

 

Got it done. Front was much harder than I anticipated. We did it at my parent's house since it was in a town with a hardware store and I figured dad would have better tools than I had after 70 years of collecting them. He did not.

Ended up spending most of the time trying to find tools and ended up going to the hardware store to buy a 19mm socket and a 14mm ratcheting wrench.

After 4 hours, the front was done and son-in-law had enough and went home for dinner. I finished the rear in about an hour; super easy.

Very happy with the way it turned out. Ride seems the same, but it feels more like a truck now. Looks much better.

Before:


After:

 

I paid $550 for the kit, install and alignment. It took the suspension shop an hour and half. They did a great job and didn’t have any problems.

 

I did it myself. I thought it was pretty easy, but I had all the tools already.

I paid $240 for a pair of Eibach adjustable front shocks and used my stock coils. Left the rear stock for now.

$180 for a lifetime alignment.

$420 total and I can get it aligned whenever I want.

 

Hey I know I'm digging up an old post but since you've done exactly what I'm aiming to do I wanted to ask what tools you used? Did you use spring compressors or do the jack method? I've seen video's about needing a 1/2" impact wrench and that's been my biggest hold up because I'll only ever use one for this job (that I know of). Thanks!

 

Glad you got it DUN

 

No, I used the "no compressor method".

I did not use an impact wrench. I used a socket wrench set.

Follow this and you'll be good. Instructions are for a Tacoma, but the 4Runner has the same suspension set-up.

https://youtu.be/5E6u7dC7EHg

https://youtu.be/jo0FJSi-KYs