Lift Install Price Good or Bad??

allscan · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:27 pm

I went to the local dealer/4x4 shop (they only sell Jeeps, and even sell them new with lifts) and got a quote on a lift. They will install a Rusty's spacer lift for $525. That is not including the cost of the lift, but it does include the after lift alignment. Is that a good price or not. I'm leaning towards the not myself.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:49 pm

a little steep if you ask me,ask some of your local lost members to give ya a hand,then you only have to pay for an aligment,I got quoted $300 & aligment on rustys full suspention lift (springs & all) from somebody I talked to

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:09 pm

There are several Mid Atlantic LOST members in your area that have come and installed lifts at my place. Maybe you can get an install party going "down south". Sorry, I don't like to travel to put in lifts and such. I like having the array of bent pipes and big hammers at my finger tips, that seem to be laying around the garage! If it don't fit, use a bigger hammer :roll:

Holy flying kj's batman! $525 to install. Let's see the fastest I put a lift in was around three hours, maybe less. About $70.00 an hour for the going rate, thats $210, say $250. Another $65 for the wheel alignment, and there you have it...$315 to install the lift, and another hour or $70 for a learning curve, you get $385, without tax. Maybe I should start charging more than a pizza and a dozen good bagels!

Good luck! You need advice, I am just an e-mail away! As I say, my advice is free and worth every penny!

Al

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:42 pm

Quote:

As I say, my advice is free and worth every penny!

Never heard that before...

I have heard "My advice is free and not worth a penny more"

But I agree with Al... That guy is trying to rob you!!!

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:47 pm

Try your local shock & muffler shop on a price quote. Installing that kit dosn't take a degree in rocket science, so you don't need a 4X4 shop to do it. You'd be amazed at how simple it is. You don't even have to take the front struts apart on that kit, and the rear is really simple.

$525.00 = a tranny skid and a set of rock rails!!! Save your money and do it yourself, or get a lift party going.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:59 am

heck, you can do the alignment yourself with a yardstick, angle gauge, plus various wrenches and sockets.

First you need the stock specs for the KJ (no I dont have them, ask somebody with a service manual)

check tire pressure, add or remove as nessecary. Remove any weight that isn't normally in the vehicle when you drive

Measure the distance that the front of your wheels are apart and compare that to your Toe-in measurement. Loosen the jam nuts on both of your tierods. move the adjuster nuts untill Toe-in is with factory specs.

Then place the angle gauge on your tire. In order to adjust this, you loosen the part where the strut is connected to the knuckle, adjust in small icrements untill it is in factory spec. Yes you need to raise and the front end of the vehicle each time.

Your caster shouldn't change on the KJ. I don't believe it's adjustable without a framerack. The back wheels don't change with the lift (I have the same lift but there are no adjustments in rear unless you have the rubicon express control arms).

Test drive the vehicle after everything is tight, if the vehicles pulls, it means you have high camber on that side that it pulls to. I Just saved you $300. With a basic socket set, floor jack, and jackstands you should be able to install this lift yourself. It took me all of 1 hour to do it. You save $525 my way-enough to buy a good set of tools, a jack, jackstands, and a tool chest.

spoonyG · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:35 pm

The install price sounds a little high.
I just had my local shop install the Daystar 2.5" kit on my CRD. $600 got me the kit, installation, alignment, and necessary wheel well trimming for 245/75/16 MTRs.
If you don't feel comfortable installing the lift yourself, check another shop for a price or talk to a trusted mechanic in your area. See how their labor costs would compare.

FL RENNY · **Joined:** Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:30 pm **Posts:** 458

Thats REALLY expensive in my opinion. I talked to many 4X4 shops before having someone install my RRO OTT Spacer lift (similar to Rusty's). The most I was told was $225 for around 3 hours of work. And they would do the alignment for $39.95........

Whats really great is that I found a private who lived down a dirt road about 2 1/2 miles in to the woods who had an install shop he called "Aggressive 4X4." He gave me a flat price of $175 no matter how long it took, he backed up his work. And if anything EVER happens with it..he'll fix it for free. NOW THATS SERVICE!!!! So $175 + $40 (alignment) = $215 for complete installation.

My advice is to find someone like that........they are around I'm sure.

zeero · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:34 pm

Yeah you can't go wrong if you do it yourself.....I saw the spacer kit on the Rustys website for $159..dirt cheap, so give it shot...I plan on it.....just out of point though, you guys would never guess what the local 4X4 shop here is charging just for the parts in a 2.5" Spacer kit....plastic ones at that....$570!!!! :shock:

Without the installation either, I nearly had a heart attack, and surprise surprise, they are THE ONLY 4X4 parts dealer withn an hours drive.....so internet order it is from Rustys! :wink:

GPR65 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:20 pm

What i did with my spring lift was had the front installed $120 and did the rear my self and had it aligned for 60. Under 200 bucks and i am proud of myself. (of coarse the place that did my install said they would charge double next time cause it was a pain in the booty.) One more thing i explained the cleavis lift to them and told them i wanted it 3/8ths of an inch and they did that also.

Chris

Lift Install Price Good or Bad??

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