Okay I'm really contemplating dropping my xB . I have a few brands picked out that I would chose and thats not the problem. But how much generally is everyone paying (if you went to a shop) to get this done? I suck mechanically so thats not an option in the driveway of me installing. I just kind of want to get an idea on how much everyone payed in labor to drop their car. It will be determining whether I lower it or not. Thanks ahead of time

Scott

 

i second this question

 

The places I checked said between $250-$400 to install. I'm not very mechanical either, but I did it with a buddy and it only took 1hr. It is actually very easy, there are step by step directions on this site by Randode. You will save a lot of money doing it yourself. At least check out the instructions and see what you think before you pay for it. Here is the link..... https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20769

 

Personaly do it yourslef w/ a friends help. I am sure there are other scion owners in the area that would be more then happy to give you a helping hand. Just think of the other mods you could buy with the money saved from instal costs

It actualy a VERY easy install.

2hours it took me, that was including set up and clean up.

It scary how easy the rear is. Jack it up, pull out 1 bolt, remove spring, put new spring in, rebolt, let down.

Front is east also. 3 bolts off teh strut top hat, 2 off the hub. remove strut. Un bolt top hat, remove spring. and put it all back together.

Ofcourse there are a few other small steps in there. But its something I think anyone with some tools can do.

 

yeah don't be scared it really is easy to do even by yourself, the hardest part is putting the front struts back into place....I just called randy of randole and he said just push down harder and he was right. follow his instructions which are very good....and the install should only take 45 min to an hour in the front and about 15 min in the back.

Good Luck.

 

The tutorial was actually written by nacy333. Randode does make a cameo appearance, though.

I did the spring install on my car with hand tools. I did the rear alone (with my little sister around just in case the car fell on me). For the front, I didn't have enough leverage with my socket wrench to break the 19mm bolts free so I had a friend stop by with his breaker bar. He also helped me with the 17mm bolts on the struts along with putting the struts back in...

 

The xB is actually one of the easiest cars to work on. If you choose not to do it yourself, a competent shop can do it in less than an hour. Technically, a shop shouldn't charge you more than $60-70 for the spring swap.

 

That's what they should charge, but they will still try and stick ya with $250++

 

Sorry :oops: I guess was trying to give my Cousin credit he didn't deserve.

 

Randode holds the record for most spring installs in a day, and total spring installs.

 

Any shop that charges that much is a dealer. Don't go to a dealer, go to any shop that has done lowering on a daily basis and just time them. They shouldn't charge you more than an hours work.

 

unfortunately doing it myself isn't an option... living in the city w/ no garage, no friends w/ garages, etc. kind of kills that notion quick...

just trying to decide now what springs (pothole friendly) to get and what shop i trust enough to put them on. this whole car mod-ing thing is very new to me :D



p.s. can't WAIT. damn me for being impatient!!

 

u can do it on the street. when i lower cars it mostly gets done in my driveway.

 

i got a major question....... when ur doing the rear, is there a possibility that the spring can pop out, and by that i mean when you are unbolting the rear shock the spring will pop out from being compressed, and is there a possibility that u can get F****ed up or what......cuz ill do it if nothing like thatll happen, hell ill do it anyways, but people are bugging over me doing it myself cuz of horror stories they hear.......plz help

 

thought the shop SHOULDN'T charge more than amout of hours of work performed, they will. Thats how the mechanics make thier money if they are good. If it says in the shop manual or online or where ever they look it up, 2.5 hours, thats what you get charged wether it takes them 15 minutes or 5 hours. My friends father owns his own shop and my friend is the service writer.
Like many have said in the thread, try it yourself, i helped my fiance lower his show car and it was pretty easy (with air tools) just make sure you understand how to work a spring compressor, so you don't hurt yourself. Good luck and give it a shot.
Good Luck, Jessica

 

In my experience, no, they didn't pop/shoot out. If anything, they'll fall out. Mine didn't fall out, but I pushed the assembly down and took out the springs...

The front struts shoot out, though. Just untighten the 17mm bolt into a box and you should be fine.

 

i like to put my floor jack under the bottom of the spring pocket, jack it up a little to make the shock slide off of the mounting stud easier, then lower the jack. the spring will then fall out of the car, roll down the driveway, and und up in the gutter.

 

i paid randode to do it, paid 40 bucks i think, took 28 minute from time of tools coming out, to car driving out, its not hard to do at all, if i had the right tools at home i could do it in less than an hour, most other people that i know charge about $100 to do it, but its worth it

brent

 

mayn, that was a long time ago. hows it going Brent?

 

okay the only thing mechanical ive ever done is intake. how would you compare a spring install to an intake install? harder? easier? i know i can afford springs, but i dont know if i can afford installation