WHY INSTALL LIFT KIT YOURSELF WHEN IT'S CHEAP?

Just curious why a lot of people post about "how to's" on a full suspension setup. Got quoted 300 bucks labor for a full icon setup with progressive add a leaf. Spacer kits are a different story, but for a full suspension install w/ warranty, I don't see how you can go wrong with that. If the shop screws up, its on them. Input appreciated.

 

because people enjoy working on their own cars

 

because
A.) $300 isnt cheap to everyone, and is actually on the lower end of labor costs. I was quoted closer to a grand for the suspension installation. why pay someone else when you can do it yourself for free?

B.) installing the parts yourself means you know who did what, when, why, and how.
"Meh, I'll just bring it to the cheapest shop I can find"
then your leafs fall off, your rear axle turns into a propeller and you may have just killed someone
(Taken to the extremes, but you get the point)

C.) Lots of people, myself included, just like doing it ourselves because it's our hobby.

 

$300 is a great price considering a professional install from 4 wheel parts really. Much more than that, you must be doing heavy front end work, or like a 6" kit that requires more serious modifications. Pitman arms, idler arms, tie rod ends, etc., by themselves are easily done at home in a garage. Tuning a suspension I'd rather leave to the experts...

 

What do you mean by "tuning a suspension"?

 

What kona said basically covers why a lot of people do it themselves. I personally like to do everything myself because of those reasons, and because it really means something when I can honestly say that all those mods on my truck were either built or installed by my own hands, as compared to the cookie cutter truck that someone with cash to burn paid to make it that way. Im not against having a shop do all your work, as there are good reasons to have a shop do the work, but at the same time, when you spend hours under the hood putting that supercharger on or a weekend trying to fix that damn noise that you cant find, it just gives you a sense of accomplishment, that you can really say I did that. Too many people don't take pride in what they do anymore, especially when it comes to their vehicles.

 

on another note, don't even let 4wheel parts within a 100 yards of your truck... ive seen a lot of bad reviews about them, as they are really hit or miss with their work. Ive seen some good things here or there, but many more horror stories about shitty customer service or bad installs. id take your truck to a private shop, your more likely to get a good quality install with them than 4wheel parts.

 

What I meant by "tuning a suspension'', was that having a shop properly install and suggest the suspension so it works like the customer wants it to, and doesn't suggest something that's going to ride like my CJ. I know a decent amount about suspension setups, but when you have a shop suggesting and selling you a setup that rides like you want it to, that's what is important. If you tell them you want a progressive or digressive setup, they should know the difference. And if it rides like turds, it's on them to make it right.

 

or it's on you to do your own research on what you want, and to source parts accordingly. there will rarely be a situation where 100% liability will rely on the shop alone

When you start getting into actual shock valving territory, not the type of shock, is when i'd start taking advice from shock shops

 

As do I . But if you are putting a suspension on your truck that is going to affect your driving, i'd rather have a shop be responsible for any damage. But if it is minor repairs, lets do it!

 

Thanks for the heads up. I wouldn't mind doing the suspension myself if I had a lift, but I don't . Guess it wouldn't hurt to look around, although several of my buddy's have had their truck worked on there, with no problems...

 

yeah, its pretty hit or miss form what ive read, some shops are golden, others are what the cat just drug in off the street....

 

I believe "install from 4wheelp parts" pretty much answers the question, now of course doesn't apply to all. Paying for an install is easy but learning how to install always pays in the long run.

 

I would ask the opposite. If you have the know how and the ability, why are you willing to pay someone else to tear your vehicle apart and trust them to put it back together correctly? Your the one driving it, not them. If something fails it's your life, not theirs.

I'm confident in my ability to work on my vehicle, and I'm careful to reassemble and torque everything. Unless it's your buddies shop, you don't know who's working on your vehicle.

 

$300 bucks is a cheap price for new suspension install but you got lucky. Most of the time shops charge in the range of $700+ for front and rear suspension install. Did you buy your parts from 4wheel parts? If so, That's why they gave you a good price on install. At the same time how much did you pay for the parts?

$300 bucks saved by doing the work yourself is more money for future mods. For example... With the $ your paying 4WP you could have retro fit your headlights with parts from TRS

Also, a lift is not necessary when replacing suspension parts. Can be done in a driveway with a jack and jack stands. Plus doing the work yourself is much more fulfilling. And then you and your truck become one, lol

 

It cost me $40 to install my OME lift. That is on base at the Auto Hobby shop using their lift and air tools. In my opinion it was money well spent.

 

I needed to have some exhaust work done and new rear icon shocks put in. The old icons I was going to salvage and rebuild.
The dealer quoted me in excess of $2000 for the work.
A local shop that's done good work for us in the past charged me $700 or so.

Good deal right?
Maybe not...I asked them to preserve my old icon shocks so I could rebuild them, but they cut them to hell removing them. Now I probably can't salvage the shocks. The exhaust they put in drones like a bastard. I've driven the truck two miles and it's awful. It was cheap, but it's awful.

The cautionary tale is - you get what you pay for.
Also - no one cares about your shit the way you do.

Put it in yourself. You'll be glad you did.

 

Man, I was quoted $600 just to install rear leaf springs. $300 bucks is hell of a deal.

The knowledge I gained from installing my UCAs, coilovers and leaf springs was invaluable. That experience transferred into being able to better maintain my lift components. I trust that I will not take any shortcuts.

 

I would rather do it myself because I know it was done right plus I could use that money that I would spend on labor on something else

IMO don't always go for the cheapest possible when it comes to suspension work

 

The same reason people wash their own cars instead of paying someone else to do it. Also the same reason people cook their own steaks at home instead of going to a steakhouse.