suspension pricing?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Newark, DE, USA
suspension pricing?
I went to my local customization shop and got a price quote on a belltech 2"/2" drop for my L. This was for coils, hangers, and 4 shocks all around. It was something like $450 for the kit, and like $470 for the labor. All together it was $920 and done in one day. What do you guys think, is this a reasonable price? This place is pretty well known in my area and does good work. Inside the shop, there are signs posted that thier labor rate is $62/hour. I'm in the wrong business!!
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: NJ
With some tools and patience you could do the drop yourself.
Have you considered the Hotchkis kit, the basic kit is replacing the front springs and rear leaf springs. As time goes by Hotchkis is releasing front and rear swaybars for the kit (like real soon it's being released) and custom valved blistein shocks. SO you could do it all in steps.
Check out this for some more info or use the search feature for more on lowering.
$450 seems about reasonable for springs, hangers, and shocks. But the labor seems high for something you could possibly do yourself
Have you considered the Hotchkis kit, the basic kit is replacing the front springs and rear leaf springs. As time goes by Hotchkis is releasing front and rear swaybars for the kit (like real soon it's being released) and custom valved blistein shocks. SO you could do it all in steps.
Check out this for some more info or use the search feature for more on lowering.
$450 seems about reasonable for springs, hangers, and shocks. But the labor seems high for something you could possibly do yourself
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Newark, DE, USA
I have considered doing the drop myself. Between my father and I, I'm sure we have the right tools. The only thing i was concerned about was a spring compressor. I've been told that i would need one of these to remove/reinstall the front coils? I have looked at the Hotchkins kit but i was looking to go a little lower than that. Maybe even a 3"/3" drop. 
Other than that, is the installation that hard? Also, would i have to install a camber kit with the belltech? The owner of the local shop said that with belltechs quality, I would not really need one. Sorry for all the questions, but does anyone know if the belltech kit comes with the driveshaft shim? Any input would be great, thanks.
Other than that, is the installation that hard? Also, would i have to install a camber kit with the belltech? The owner of the local shop said that with belltechs quality, I would not really need one. Sorry for all the questions, but does anyone know if the belltech kit comes with the driveshaft shim? Any input would be great, thanks.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: NJ
Raise up the front end and put in on stands, then use the jack to slowly uncompress and recompress the springs.
As far as I know you need the camber kit for any kind of drop b/c of the the re-alignment.
As for a 3" drop in the front your gonna need more than springs. Remember that the L is dropped 1" from the standard F-150, and since most drops are for the F-150 and not Lightning specific we get a 1" drop less in the front and rear. So if a kit advertised 3" drop in the front for a F-150 then the L will only get around 2" from it.
As far as I know you need the camber kit for any kind of drop b/c of the the re-alignment.
As for a 3" drop in the front your gonna need more than springs. Remember that the L is dropped 1" from the standard F-150, and since most drops are for the F-150 and not Lightning specific we get a 1" drop less in the front and rear. So if a kit advertised 3" drop in the front for a F-150 then the L will only get around 2" from it.