Lift install estimate and questions

I contacted a local reputable 4x4 shop to start getting estimates on installation for a small lift.
Bilstein 5100's in the front set at 2 inches and an add-a-leaf in the rear, plus an alignment and 5 tires mounted.
Installation, alignment and tires mounted (i would supply the 5100's, leafs and tires) was quoted at $1300 which seems high to me (using a round guess as $100 per hour labor rate).
The shop also recommended uca's,sway bar relocate, needle bearing delete, and new rear shocks.
Ive been browsing and searching 3rd gen lift threads and figured id be good with a 2inch lift in the front with just the bilstein 5100's and a 1.5 inch lift in the rear with an add-a-leaf with no other parts replaced that the shop recommends. Are the ucas, sway bar relocate etc the shop is saying i need required? I dont believe ive seen many posts here referencing thise with just 2 inch lifts/ bilstein 5100's etc...
My new tires were only going to be 265/75/16 on stock trd off road wheels

 

UCA, needle bearings, and rear shocks to match the front you should do.
The bearings will fail, might aswell do it while its all apart. The UCA will help fix the caster (I didnt and my truck wobbles all over) and the rear shocks should just be done to match the front.

Many shops will charge you more if you bring your own parts, they rely on mark ups of parts to make more money. If you take that mark up away from them, they will try to get it from you another way.

 

FWIW with my 2” lift I haven’t touched my UCAs or had to “relocate” the sway bar. Also running stock needle bearing and after almost 3 years no issues whatsoever considering my front wheels were airborne a couple times off-road.

Running OME 2” lift and dobinsons medium leafs.

 

Time to find some local wrench turners, buy a few tools, pizza and cold drinks and dive into the DIY world.

Tire mounts and alignment you'll not be able to do, but you don't need a specialty 4x4 shop either.

Looks like you'd have an extra G in your hand to me.

 

I would separate them out. I think I paid Discount 50 bucks to change four tires.

A suspension swap plus alignment should run you around 500. That's what I got quoted by my local shop. I didn't like that price so I watched a video and did it myself. In the end I paid 100 for the alignment, 50 for the tire mount.

 

I don’t remember what I paid for the install of my 5100’s but I have stock UCA’s and have not done anything to my sway bar or needle bearings and my truck rides great, no issues at all.

 

I run the 5100s on the top setting for 2 inches of lift and a 1 inch rear block, no relocation brackets or uca. I did have the needle bearing changed to the ecgs clamshell, did a front diff and rear carrier drop, no issues. I run a 285/70/17 om 4Runner SEMA wheels and a hypertech speedometer calibration. Very smooth, no issues in 4 years.

 

$1300 is a lot. I did my 5100s and AAL myself5100s all around and AAL. It treated me well for 3+ years. It was a very mild lift that didn't require extra stuff to be reliable. I also didn't relocate my swaybar. But ya, most shops will charge more labor if you don't buy the parts from them.

It wasn't until I went w/ Fox 2.5s (more lift) and 35" tires (more caster) that I opted w/ aftermarket UCA's. I also did the needle bearing while I regeared my truck to 5.29.

 

I paid $800 to have my old front shocks and shock spacers replaced with new bilstein 5100s front and 1 inch block spacers at rear axel. This included alignment. I then installed rear 5100s myself for the cost of $90 each shock. So $980 for everything. I have 265/75/16 tires. All good.

 

Thanks for the replies.
I did watch some install videos of the factory trd lift install which is 2 inch in the front via new shocks and that does not include uca's and did not show any dicking around with sway bar.
The shop that quoted me has a few tacoma builds on their site and all have new uca's so i dunno if everyone just walked in and slapped down a blank check without asking questions or what.

 

2" front lift is kinda the cuttoff between needing UCA's or not. Some wont notice a wandering effect w a lower caster and some do.

Needle Bearing is also a case by case thing. Some Tacoma's get the vibes right away and some don't get it until later, and some never get it.

I would get a break down on labor vs, alignment vs, tires being installed.

I would replace the rear shocks with 5100's so they all matchy match though.

 

I paid $500 with an alignment for my icon stage 3 kit years ago when I didn’t have the time or desire to lift. Now, it’s all me because I have the time and desire.

 

When it’s all said and done a couple hundred dollars either way for peace of mind to make sure it’s done right seems worth it. I would do what’s required without taking shortcuts. I’m not very knowledgeable about specifics and final adjustments, so I just trusted the shop. I told them I wanted front approximately 1 inch lower than the rear, and they selected the correct notch in the 5100s upfront. I think they did me OK. I’m probably 1 inch to 1.5 inch higher than factory all around. Happy with the way it looks and rides.

 

Brah, these are fair prices for what you're asking. I will say, you don't need new upper control arms or a needle bearing technically. Uca's not so much. But the needle bearing is an almost must do if you lift the truck. 1" to 12 " that bearing will need to be replaced at some point. Which requires removing the entire suspension and axle on the drives side. So, fix it now before it costs you twice as much