Lift Kit Quote

Hey All, long time listener, first time caller here. I know this has been covered in other places, so apologies about creating a new thread (didn't know if I should pile onto a new one or not?)

I have a 3rd Gen 4Runner with about 170k miles on it. I don't need a HC overland or off-road rig, but need something semi-capable and reliable (lots of road trips, some light off-roading, don't plan on carrying too much weight ever). After a ton of research and talking to people, I decided on 2" OME kit.

I'm in Boston and there aren't too many Toyota specific shops around here. I got a quote from a place I thought would be perfect, but the quote was way more than I expected from my research on here and talking to a few people. Also, shop uses SPC UCA (which look like they might be for a Tacoma? Need to check on that).

Am I missing something?

Any advice would be helpful! Thank you!

Saif

 

Holy fuck that's a lot of money for a basic kit.

 

No worries.

Tons of threads on the same info, at least you did some searching and actually chose a kit versus asking "what lift kit"

You only need a quality set of tires. These vehicles are much more capable in stock form than most drivers.

Even on stock suspension have I seen people crawl effectively; experience and line choice trumps bolting on upgrades.

It's a 4Runner, not a Land Cruiser.

It's as basic as a vehicle gets, and you are only suckering yourself into thinking it's anything more than that. What I mean is, you are already convincing yourself that a 'Toyota' shop is needed to work on said vehicle.

Again, basic vehicle.

Those SPC UCA's do indeed fit your vehicle, but with a 2" lift they are completely unnecessary.

As for the labor? Do it yourself.

I installed my King 2.5 coilover fronts, King 2.5 rears, OME rear coils, Sonoran Steel panhard bar, Resz custom rear lower control arms, and Durobump stops all on crappy asphalt in the open at my old house a month after I was diagnosed with sciatica (leaving me practically unable to walk at many times).

Install is super easy, and if you have some basic tools you can do it yourself.

Just too bad you're not in CA; I'd help install it all for some pizza and a beer.

 

Here you've got over $4k worth of parts, much higher quality than OME (also rebuildable) not to mention will ride and handle washboards, hard drops, bumps, etc way better than your above kit ever will, and cost me nothing for install cause I did it myself.

Also, I'm not familiar with the cost of OME shocks but can tell you those SPC arms are like $450 for the set. You're paying almost triple.

 

Yeah you're easily getting overcharged by $400 for the UCA's - just look online they go for $695. And yeah, with 2" you could just try to skip them and if you have any alignment issue then get them. TBH the over 2k for install is what seems way overboard, I paid $650 last June for a similar full set up like that installed.

 

The arms sell for less than that.

It's known that the Rockauto Mevotechs are actually rebranded SPC's. Even the ball joints that are installed have the SPC logo.

They're cheaper there, and paired with the online discount code, they're a great cheap upgrade.

 

Thanks so much for the support and advice! I couldn't believe 16.5 hours for labor?

Also, apologies for putting this is the wrong forum! Probably should go in "suspension" - newbie mistake and I'm an idiot and can't figure out how to delete a post!

 

No you're correct to put it here.

Many times, even in this section, you will have 4th or more often 5th Genners coming in posting pics or even part numbers with no regard to the section they're in. This often confuses the original poster as he or she is here new and looking for suggestions and can be lead astray with parts that do not exist for their generation vehicle.

 

If anyone has recommendations for shops in the New England area that you trust, I'm in the market for a new trusted place. Appreciate it!

 

Just do it yourself.

As for shops, you shouldn't pay more than 4-5 hours of labor.

Rear is easily done with minimal effort.

Front just depends on how seized up bolts are, especially getting an upper control arm off if you're going that route.

Also, hope you didn't buy those parts because the SPC's alone are marked up about $650 over cost.

 

1k for SPC control arms

 

I’m listening in on this one, too. Live in Maine and have a reliable mechanic, but options never hurt.