Leveling Kit Horrible Dealership Price

Just bought my second Taco; a 2013 Access Cab SR5 V6. I'm wanting to put a leveling kit on and have been researching prices. The dealership said they would be able to do the lift and cover it under the truck's warranty. However, when they came at me with a $1200 fee plus another $800 for tires, my heart sunk to my toes. I know there are a bajillion threads on here bout this, but let me get everyone's advice.

The dealership wants to install a 2.5" leveling kit in the front, blocks in the rear, new shocks in the rear, alignment included, diff. drop, and the labor is about 3 hours per wheel. Does this sound right?

Am I better off just having a local shop do it? Is the diff drop a must? What prices can y'all shoot my way so I can have an apples to apples comparison?

 

Don't do it! The lift kit that the dealership is going to install sounds like spacers up front and blocks in the rear. It is a very cheap lift and they are charging you an assload of money for it. Check out Downsouth Motorsports and Toytec Lifts (online companies) to get an idea of what types of lifts are out there for your truck. For $1,200, you can do much better. I would check out Bilstein 5100 shocks for the front and an add-a-leaf for the rear for a budget friendly lift.

 

3 hours per corner I can do a spacer lift in under 3 hours total with hand tools.

Don't do it like pugga said look into the 5100's

 

Dealer by my work does the same shit. They want 46k for a Limited with spacers, blocks, bull bar, wheels and tires.



http://www.shoretoyota.com/new/Toyota/2013-Toyota-Tacoma-Mays-Landing-5a2bcb380a0a00e00110341160bae75a.htm

 

That is ridiculous. I guarantee the lift they want to put on is shit, worth about $100 retail (spacers and blocks, aka the bottom of the barrel for lifts). And there is no way it takes 3 hours per wheel. Look around on here in the suspension forum. For $1200, you could get a hell of a lot better lift. Check out toyteclifts, downsouthmotorsports, 4wheelparts, etc. on this site. Tons of people on this site have dealt with these companies. There are tons of suspension lift options. I do know you can get a leveling kit, spacers and blocks for about $100, and they are trying to get you to pay waaay more than that. You definitely want actual suspension components, not just spacers and blocks that prop your suspension up higher and make the truck ride like an old wooden wagon. You want new shocks, coils, leaf springs, etc. And there are even true 3" lift kits with real suspension parts for under $500. Of course you can spend as much as you want, but the point is that you can lift/level your truck with a true lift for so much cheaper. I think they are trying to sell you on the gimmick that "it's the dealer, so they will do it right" and the fact that they say you can keep your warranty if you let them do it. I will tell you that spacers ride like crap because I used to have them, but if you do insist on the leveling kit, you can at least definitely get it for much cheaper than the dealer is trying to sell it to you.

 

I can't remember who told me this, but it was someone who used to work at 4WP who does the lifts for most the dealerships around here. He said that the majority of the cost was buying additional warranty coverage so that your lift and everything associated with it will be warrantied. If you go the route of having someone else do it or doing it yourself, you may have to battle with the dealership over CV failure, drive line vibes, and or front diff bearing issues that might arise due to lifting the truck. this doesn't explain the stupid labor rates as Jerry said it can be done fairly quickly with experience. I'm not advocating having the dealer do it, just playing the devils advocate.

 

You will more than likely have to do battle with them over those failures even if they do the install so you might as well save the money up front. Just because the dealership does the install doesn't mean the factory warranty will cover it. The verbage of the factory warranty does not change.

 

For what they are charging you could almost do a UCA replacement and an adjustable coilover system that is way stronger.

 

He specifically mentioned that they were going to cover it as well as i mentioned that what i had heard is that the cost included additional warranty coverage.

OP if you go the dealer route because of warranty, make sure to get the warranty in writing.

 

Where in PA and what dealership?

 

Words are cheap... Say the CV's blow 2 years down the road, the service manager (or the salesman) has moved on, quit, retired, whatever, how do you prove that they said they'd cover the aftermarket parts? Unless they're changing the wording on the warranty itself, assume you'll have to do battle if something goes wrong.

 

Hey, I'm not arguing with you. I would never get a dealer installed lift. I was just mentioning that it might make things easier if you get warranty in writing. I was just mentioning that i had heard somewhere that the high price was also due to extended warranty coverage purchase. I honestly cant remember who told me this. I do remember they worked for the parent company to 4WP. It might have been and FJ person... Who knows..

 

I completely agree with you if, and only if, it's in writing. That was the point I was driving at. I still wouldn't pay it but it would at least explain the ridiculous price since they're just covering their ass.

 

Thanks so much. The Toyota dealership is in Hanover, PA. I'm def thinking of checking out the local 4WD shops.

 

You do not need a specialty 4WD shop. Find a good shop. It's just a matter of swapping out front coils and shocks. Skip the diff drop, it is useless on a 2nd gen Tacoma.

 

Scary huh?! When I was shopping for my taco I saw them too and stayed far far away from them

 

Dude don't find a specialty shop. Our local tire shop can do it, as well as the local mechanic shops. Go to your local AutoZone, and ask them who they recommend for suspension work. Chances are they deliver to most of the shops in the area or know someone who is qualified to do it. You're wasting time going to like a 4WP center.

 

Why do you diasable all comments on your youtube vids mang?!!

 

So i visited a local shop and they said they would do a 2.5" lift in the front using the spacers and that's it. The mechanic said I could fit 32" tires on. He also mentioned that if I did not like the rise, I could come back in for blocks in the back.

Any other advice from the Taco world? I'm not planning on doing much offroading, but want the higher aesthetics.

 

Everybody already told you. Buy a real lift from toytec or downsouth motorsports. Then find a shop to install it for you, or better yet- find another local taco owner to help you install it.