Can Spring Install Be Done At Home?
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: VA
Can Spring Install Be Done At Home?
I am really surprised how much shops in the DC area are willing to charge for installing lowering/sport springs on my RX350. I have been quoted around the $550-$650 plus another $100 for alignment!
I know a guy who is fairly experienced with spring installs and I asked him if he could help me out. He said that all the jacks that he has will not work on an SUV. Standard jacks will not raise SUVs far enough to make enough clearance for doing suspension work. Is this true? Does this mean that I definitely need to go to a shop where they can use a lift?
Kan-O-Z
I know a guy who is fairly experienced with spring installs and I asked him if he could help me out. He said that all the jacks that he has will not work on an SUV. Standard jacks will not raise SUVs far enough to make enough clearance for doing suspension work. Is this true? Does this mean that I definitely need to go to a shop where they can use a lift?
Kan-O-Z
The thing is, with an SUV, the ground clearance is higher that most passenger cars. Your jack will have to be extended a lot higher just to lift the RX off the ground.
I personally never used jack/jackstands on an SUV before because I dont have one that could lift it up.
I personally never used jack/jackstands on an SUV before because I dont have one that could lift it up.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
-hass
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
A while back we had a similar discussion in RX-300 forum. One member was resolute in doing the spring change himself. Others and I tried to point out the risk vs savings.
Your quote is slightly higher than expected. I would have put it between 4 to 6hrs of labor (depending how extensive a change you are doing). $360 or so. Check independant garages and not necessarily speciality garges.
Salim
Your quote is slightly higher than expected. I would have put it between 4 to 6hrs of labor (depending how extensive a change you are doing). $360 or so. Check independant garages and not necessarily speciality garges.
Salim
The $100 for alignment is on par. The spring installation quote IMHO is high. I've done my own suspension on all my cars starting from my old Integra, to Acura Legend, to my NSX, and to my RX330. They are all easy. I have a spring compressor and air tools. The spring compressor is a must. The air tools is not, just makes things go faster. I've done suspension changes for my friend's cars as well for free. If I were a pro I probably would charge about $200. If everything goes smoothly it shouldn't take a pro any longer than 2 hours. They can probably get it done in an hour.
As for the jack, I can't see why a regular floor jack and jack stands can't work. I use a low profile aluminum race jack. If you jack the rear up fron the center diff point as instructed in the owners manual you have more than enough lift to get the tires off the ground and install some jack stands on the frame rail. The floor jack lift points may be a little different between AWD and FWD so check the owners manual as the instructions are in there.
So yes, it is possible to do the installation at home. I did it in my garage by myself. Had to take it out for alignment though.
As for the jack, I can't see why a regular floor jack and jack stands can't work. I use a low profile aluminum race jack. If you jack the rear up fron the center diff point as instructed in the owners manual you have more than enough lift to get the tires off the ground and install some jack stands on the frame rail. The floor jack lift points may be a little different between AWD and FWD so check the owners manual as the instructions are in there.
So yes, it is possible to do the installation at home. I did it in my garage by myself. Had to take it out for alignment though.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: VA
The $100 for alignment is on par. The spring installation quote IMHO is high. I've done my own suspension on all my cars starting from my old Integra, to Acura Legend, to my NSX, and to my RX330. They are all easy. I have a spring compressor and air tools. The spring compressor is a must. The air tools is not, just makes things go faster. I've done suspension changes for my friend's cars as well for free. If I were a pro I probably would charge about $200. If everything goes smoothly it shouldn't take a pro any longer than 2 hours. They can probably get it done in an hour.
As for the jack, I can't see why a regular floor jack and jack stands can't work. I use a low profile aluminum race jack. If you jack the rear up fron the center diff point as instructed in the owners manual you have more than enough lift to get the tires off the ground and install some jack stands on the frame rail. The floor jack lift points may be a little different between AWD and FWD so check the owners manual as the instructions are in there.
So yes, it is possible to do the installation at home. I did it in my garage by myself. Had to take it out for alignment though.
As for the jack, I can't see why a regular floor jack and jack stands can't work. I use a low profile aluminum race jack. If you jack the rear up fron the center diff point as instructed in the owners manual you have more than enough lift to get the tires off the ground and install some jack stands on the frame rail. The floor jack lift points may be a little different between AWD and FWD so check the owners manual as the instructions are in there.
So yes, it is possible to do the installation at home. I did it in my garage by myself. Had to take it out for alignment though.
Kan-O-Z
CK6Speed are you saying that if the jack lifts the car enough to get the wheels off the ground that's all that's needed to do suspension work? Also you mentioned jack stands. Do you definitely recommend jack stands or can a nice jack just be used to lift one wheel at a time and work on the car?
Kan-O-Z
Kan-O-Z
If you are going to to one wheel at a time, maybe you could just buy 1 set of jack stands. I believe they come in pairs. You don't have to have the entire car lifted. so a pair will work.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
