So I went out and bought the 1.5" Daystar leveling kit for my 09 2wd CC. I am by no means mechanically inclined so I called up a place here for a price on an install and they quoted me $320 plus tax (including alignment). I really didn't think it was gonna be THAT much for an install of a kit that is just a couple of spacers.

So my question is, I know a local place that will install it for a lot cheaper, but they don't have the equipment to do a wheel alignment. I live outside of San Antonio, so if I got them to do the install I'd have to drive about 40 miles into town to get an alignment. Is that 40 mile drive without an alignment gonna mess something up?

OH ya, and if anyone knows any other places in San Antonio to get this kind of work done please let me know. Thanks.

 

I called my buddy at Maximum Altitude and his price was $250+ alignment (around $80). The kit is very easy to put in, I have done 4 myself.

 

Why are people charging so much for such a simple install?

 

Most places are around $80/hour labor... so it seems to make sense. I know it won't take them 3 hours to do the install (probably an hour and change)... but that's what the typical spacer install is listed at, so that's what they charge. Alignments are about the same rate - and take 1 hour... so the quoted labor seems pretty fair.

It's a pretty easy install, mostly just a lot of disassembly and reassambly of other parts to get the strut and spacer in there.

 

I just installed a McGaughy deluxe drop on mine this past weekend which was spindles in the front and new springs in the rear. It was a fairly easy install. All you really need is a floor jack, jack stand, and socket set with 18mm, 13/16, & 15/16 sockets. I've driven 200+ miles on mine and still haven't had time to get an alignment done, most of that on the interstate.

 

The local place that I talked quoted me $200 for the install with the alignment. However, it's kind of a small shop and when I took my truck in they said they couldn't do the alignment because I have the 20" rims and they don't have the equipment for that. So i'm assuming if I get them to just install the kit it's gonna run me like $125-$150. Then if I take it somewhere else for alignment I can get one for about $75 or $80, which still puts me about $100 cheaper than these other places. I'm just worried about the 40 mile drive in between when I get the kit on and before the alignment.

 

Maybe I should give it a shot on my own. I'm not completely incompetent. I just don't want to get started on it, and then realize i'm in over my head. Even then I would have the same drive for the alignment. From what ya'll are saying it sounds like you don't think the short period without the alignment is that big of a deal.

 

I give good direction from a lawn chair with a beer in my hand. I called another buddy that owns a shop and he said 2 hours labor $150 for the install only. I'm in the Helotes area how about you?

 

I'm in the San Antonio area as well. I've been planning on getting the McGaughy drop kit had having it put on. I spoke with the guys at 4 Wheel Parts and they said they could do the install and do an alignment, even with the stock 20" wheels. They didn't give me a price, but so far it's the only San Antonio shop I've found that was willing to mess with it.

sking, would your buddy do a drop install as well?

 

Sking I'm down in Floresville. 150 for the install is not bad. Whats the name of your buddy's shop and is it in Helotes?

BTW, 4 Wheel parts is the place that quoted me $320 for the install and allignment.