Had a local spring/suspension place quote me 525 for an AAL. is it just me, or is this high? I know that having a shop do it, the will repack the whole leaf assy, and give me a smoother ride, but I can get the autospring one for under 200 and do it myself. He quoted me the same price to install a RideRite system as well, btw.

 

525 seems a little high? its definitely to high. it cost me $110 for my AAL and installed it myself. fx4 life 79 just paid 100 for install and that included his longer u-bolts. i would not pay over $225 for the leafs + install

 

The ones you can do by yourself really easily is the shorter length ones, and the longer ones are more difficult and give better ride. I got my long AAL for 80 from 4WP and installed for 70 bucks, so 150 total.

 

Heck, I got my Skyjacker AAL form 4WP for way less than $100 (can't remember the price) and installed it myself.

 

Way to high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That seems really high, even for the RideRite System. I got a Skyjacker AAL for $110 and my local alignment shop installed it along with with the 2.5" AS level kit and a front end alignment for under $250.

 

Yeah that is extremely high. I paid 250 installed. And that is in Canadian Funds.

 

Way too high!! Buy a AAL for $100 and do it yourself. AAL's are very easy to install. Even for the bags, most places sell the Ride-rite kits for $230-260. And install only took me 1 hour from start to having everything plumbed and tools put away.

MNponds, too bad that you are up by the citys. If you were closer to me I would help you get everything installed.

 

I own a spring shop and I charge $290 installed for any 1/2 ton even though the 04+ is harder than any other 1/2 ton because of the double center bolt so it takes a bit longer and if you have to be exact when punching the holes. Advantage with a spring shop is they arch the new steel to be the exact arch of your existing which will generate a smoother ride than a one size fits all because not all of the 04+ have the same springs on them. With that being said $525 is obviously much higher than $290.

 

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it. How much more of a PITA is it to install the long leaf versus the short? I understand that you have to pry the leaf pack apart and then reform it to account for the increased thickness? Is this done with a torch and a BFH? I am kinda leaning towards going the shorter route for ease of installation. Thanks again!

 

The shorter spring is a little easier to install since you then only have to take the bottom of the leaf stack apart, but you also get a rougher ride with short spring. With the longer leaf, most of the time just under the main leaf of the stack, so it is a little harder to install but the ride is generally better.

I have found that when you put the stack back together a pair of C-clamps comes in very handy. This is what I have always done when installing a AAL. Jack the truck up and put it on jack stands and take the tires off. Jack the truck up a little from the receiver hitch just to take a little weight off the axle but not enough that the axle actually comes off the stands. Now cut the alignment pins in the leaf stack, once cut jack the truck up until you can get leafs out. (I don't remember if the 04-08 F150s have straps that hold the leafs together also, if they do then these will also have to be cut, usually a cutoff wheel works good for the cutting that has to be done) Once you have the leaves out, except the main leaf of course, assemble as much of the stack on the ground as you can. Then place the stack back under the truck and useing the C-clamps and alignment pins together tighten the stack back up, just make sure that you don't over tighten and snap the alignment pin. Now lower the truck back down so that the full weight is sitting on the jack stands and double check that the pins are tight, cut off the extra pin that is sticking up past the nut. Put your tires back on and take the truck off the stands.

Of course do one side completely then do the other. Sorry if I didn't describe this very well, I am better at showing someone how to do something than I am telling them, especially over the computer.

Hopefully this helps a little bit.