Lift install

A

american_zero

NAXJA Forum User
Location
San Jose, CA
Hey guys. I did the lift install on my old XJ, but my situation has changed since then and I may or may not do it myself this time around. Does anyone know what it costs to get a standard lift installed at a competent shop? It's a '93 and I've got used OME springs with new Bilstein shocks ready to go in, so I would just need labor. Any suggestions on a shop to do the work?

Thanks. :repair:
 
they will charge you alot.

just coils/shocks/lcas/leaves ? maybe trackbar and brake lines?

do you have basic tools, some 1/2 drive stuff, pb blaster, and about 2-8 hours, floor jack, and decent jack stands?
(it wont take 8 hrs but set the time aside)
 
Last edited:
Maybe you can get a weekend set up with some guys willing to help, I can donate some time if you get some pizza and Sam Adams. :)We like to get drunk first THEN wrench, haha jk.
 
My guess is that a shop will charge you between $600 and $1000 (6-8 hours of labor) to install a lift. Save your money and have some guys help you install it. Pick a day, send out a notice, and ask some people to help you out. Pizza and beer always help get people motivated.
 
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


do it yourself.

my lift sat in the garage for 3 months until I had time.

its worth it, then you will know all the ins and outs and details of your vehicle.
 
Let me know when you have time, and I'll see if I can get away from the Wifey for a few hours and help out. I'm just over in Santa Cruz and really haven't had a chance to meet a lot of Naxja'ers.

PS I enjoy beer and pizza too . . . wierd right?
 
Geeze...lots of dough. I was hoping with a lift and all the tools at their disposal, they could get it done pretty quick. Just springs and shocks at this point. I can manage a track bar, brake lines, and disco's on seperate days with a minimal time commitment.

Maybe I am just too concerned about the time committment because my last Jeep was a rust bucket and I broke the front leaf eye bolt off in the frame and had to special order a bolt and use a big e-z-out to get it done. That was a nightmare to work on and left me with 4 or 5 days of down time and a bad taste in my mouth. This is a CA only Jeep and seems pretty clean underneath, so hopefully not such a headache. Plus, I bought leaf spring bolts just in case.

I think you guys have a good idea with the pizza and beer thing. Jeep guys are easy, right? Little pizza and beer and you're all hands on deck. :roflmao: I'll keep thinking about it and maybe I can get it done after the holidays. How much pizza and beer would be required to use someone else's driveway? Hahah. My parents place is a mess and I live in a condo that I could never do it at.

Thanks guys.
 
if youre worried about rust hit it week ahead of time:
mix vinegar and canola oil in a spray bottle
spray all the bolts for a week
also throw some pb blaster in there.
also hit em with heat here and there too. and big hammer. do it nightly for a week. worth the 5 minutes a night.

my solution for day of work rusted bolts:
1.be patient
2.heat for a minute, spray with penetrating oil, smack it with a BFH,
3. repeat 10 times. literally 10 times.
4. then put a half inch socket with a the longest breaker bar you can fit
5. never break a bolt
6. drink beer and rejoice


if it doesnt come, do it again, this has worked for a few jeeps ive worked on from Sonora that were pretty bad as far as rust.

id help out if i ever get time away from my 3 projects
 
american_zero said:
Geeze...lots of dough. I was hoping with a lift and all the tools at their disposal, they could get it done pretty quick. Just springs and shocks at this point. I can manage a track bar, brake lines, and disco's on seperate days with a minimal time commitment.

Maybe I am just too concerned about the time committment because my last Jeep was a rust bucket and I broke the front leaf eye bolt off in the frame and had to special order a bolt and use a big e-z-out to get it done. That was a nightmare to work on and left me with 4 or 5 days of down time and a bad taste in my mouth. This is a CA only Jeep and seems pretty clean underneath, so hopefully not such a headache. Plus, I bought leaf spring bolts just in case.
Click to expand...


adjustable track bars are easy with a friend

coils springs are easy if you disconnect the sway bar and steering you can drop the axle out pretty far.

shocks can be done last when everything is bolted back into place

disconnects are easy

leaf springs are easy, just use some penetrating oil and a little heat.

good luck.
 
american_zero said:
I'll keep thinking about it and maybe I can get it done after the holidays. How much pizza and beer would be required to use someone else's driveway? Hahah. My parents place is a mess and I live in a condo that I could never do it at.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

My guess is that if you had 2-3 guys helping, you could knock it out in a matter of 4-5 hours. A case of beer and 2 pizzas would probably set up nicely.

There's plenty of people near San Jose who have driveways to borrow - the next step is finding someone and setting a date.
 
I was adding a 2hr buffer for the inevitable "drinking beer with Mr. Ed" portion of the install. Or brakelines/trackbar/bumpstop/swaybar stuff.
 
the last two 3-4" lifts i did were with me plus one more

coils, shocks, leaves was like 2-3 hours without using air tools.

we did another 3 hour day with two of us on one of them (including running to AZ to buy a durango rear line) and made some sway bar discos, installed longer brake lines and bled, made some longer bump stops, installed longer shackles, cut and rolled fenders, and installed longer rear shocks.

do it all in steps
 
the_weirdo said:
I was adding a 2hr buffer for the inevitable "drinking beer with Mr. Ed" portion of the install. Or brakelines/trackbar/bumpstop/swaybar stuff.
Click to expand...

double your estimated time if mr. ed is "helping" Hasta
 
the_weirdo said:
My guess is that if you had 2-3 guys helping, you could knock it out in a matter of 4-5 hours. A case of beer and 2 pizzas would probably set up nicely.

There's plenty of people near San Jose who have driveways to borrow - the next step is finding someone and setting a date.
Click to expand...

we could bang it out fast if i am on a roll & in a good productive mood at the fun factory...but i usually like to meet people off site before inviting them to the fun zone. :eyes:
 
This has turned into a pretty good thread. Sounds like Ed has earned himself a pretty good reputation for his 'help'. :greensmok
 
My uncles old shop would charge around 250 - 300 for simple bolt on lifts and this was a custom 4x4 shop that could knock it out for ya in a day and get it computer aligned ... it was not so much the time factor but the sheer volume of parts/ sales and then install packages so it was the going rate a couple years back... that is if all goes smoothly... my local jeep mechanic around here would be a little more (per hour for labor is how it would be done which adds up quick)...

get some beer, some friends and a clean concrete pad/ shop/ area and knock er out in an afternoon--> evening... more fun that way
 
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