Just got a quote from a shop for installing 2 in spacers up front and rancho shocks all the way around. They quoted me $686 for everything, including alignment.

Well, I have been doing some reading on the forum, some say alignment, some say no alignment.

Should I really pay these guys to install this stuff or can I do it myself? I'm pretty handy with a wrench, just never worked on suspensions. I want to make sure everything is straight and true after the spacers go on.

 

If you have tall enough frame stands and have good quality coil spring compressers then i would do it myself... just be carefull if a spring gets loose it could take your head off...

 

You wont even need coil compressers if you unhook the sway bar end links from the axle...the axle will then drop enough to even do a 4.5" spacer...

 

Well thats good to know as my 2 inch leveling kit just showed up today..

 

I agree, they are a snap to install, jack up the front of your truck, place tall jack stands on your frame just behind where the lower link attaches to frame. Make sure your jackstand on frame are high enough to allow for full droop of suspension.

1. Remove wheels
2. with suspension still compressed, unbolt (top) swaybar links
-remove 3 nuts off shock tower bolts (each side)
-*Optional- unbolt brake line from frame- to allow for full susp. droop
- remove lower shock bolt
3. Lower truck down on jacks stands for suspension full droop
4. Remove shocks & springs **Important**
** place scribe marks on ower part of springs/spring pocket to ensure proper factory spring alignment
5. Bolt in spring spacers
6. Replace coil springs- aligning scribe marks
- if coil spring is tight fit, try jacking up opposite side- this will lower other side
7. Jack front end up- compressing suspension
- ensure you align sway bar links- re-attach sway bar ends
8.Replace shocks ( boot Up )
9. rebolt brake line to frame (if removed)
10. retorq everything to touched
11. get an alignment- it will be off
Your done! its really a snap, its a one person job, but two is always better.

 

I got the same estimate!
Do It Yourself...... It was well worth the money saved.
I could get a round trip plane ticket and help you do it, take my wife to a fancy dinner and a night out on the town for $700.

 

I agree - do it yourself, no problem!!
Only problem I had was hooking the track bar back up, would have been an easier job hooking it up with an extra hand!!
Didnt need an alignment after and you probably wont either, my steering wheel wasnt even misaligned as some people say but, if it is its an easy fix
Somebody is trying to take advantage of you for an install for $686, not much more work than replacing the front shocks and you wouldnt pay that much to have somebody replace those shocks would you??
Good Luck

 

My brother in law and I did it on a Saturday afternoon. It was a nice to have the help. Just go slow and read the directions and you will be good to go.