Labor cost for Clayton 2.5 install

[Scottz]

I'm looking to get my 23 Diesel Willys lifted sometime before next summer. I'm interested in the Clayton 2.5" ride right, , Bilstein 5100s, new front driveshaft and bumpstops Talking to a local shop, they're quoting me $1700-2000 for labor and alignment. This seems pretty excessive since the lift itself is supposed to be a 5 hour job. Thoughts? It appears they want $200-300 an hour for labor

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[Minty JL]

Nope, that's about right since you bought you're own parts. If your never owned a shop or worked in one......this is about right. Gotta pay to play if you don't want to do it yourself.

 

[Scottz]

Nope, that's about right since you bought you're own parts. If your never owned a shop or worked in one......this is about right. Gotta pay to play if you don't want to do it yourself.

That's not buying my own parts, that's their labor after they obtain the parts I want. Which he didn't quote me on. I don't know how much markup they're going to put on the parts.

 

[Minty JL]

So the shops price for parts will differ from your cost. But that comes down to warranty issues and assurances

 

[Scottz]

So the shops price for parts will differ from your cost. But that comes down to warranty issues and assurances

My question is on their labor quote.

 

[Reddout99]

Seems expensive for just the labor, IMO. But I haven't had to have anything installed in quite a while.
If you haven't already, check around, compare prices, keeping in mind, that the cheapest price doesn't always equate to the same quality as a higher end shop

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

It’s probably about right. If it seems expensive, well, that’s probably right.

I paid about half that to have my Clayton 2.5” ride right installed, but that was over 3 years ago and I thought I got a good deal.

 

[Billyj7175]

That does sound high. $1700 for 5 hours comes out to $340 an hr.
My 3.5" Metalcloak GameChanger labor install was 11hrs and cost $1320.

 

[DankjeeP]

Seems about right, I paid $1300 without alignment.

 

[Dogbane22]

I was quoted $2310 and $2850 in Denver metro for Clayton 2.5”. Quotes also had a few $k in parts markup and $400 alignment. 2023 Diesel Rubicon.

I decided I was just going to install an AEV kit myself like my last Jeep, but last minute decided to have the dealer install a MOPAR kit for $3k including parts and labor. Alignment checked fine.

It’s actually worked really well on the trails here along with 35x11.5 tires.

 

[Dougstdig]

Go to Harbor freight get a floor jack and some jack stands. You probably already have the tools needed in your garage. If you don’t pick up a set while you’re at Harbor freight. Don’t forget the torque wrench that goes up to 250 pound feet..


Watch a handful of install videos for Clayton and other manufacturers install is the same. Get a buddy to come over and help you over a weekend it’ll cost you a couple meals and some drinks and you’ll have the satisfaction of doing it yourself when you’re done take it to get aligned.

The first lift I put on was on an 89 Cherokee. I did it by myself with my left arm on a wedge pillow, cause I blew out my shoulder.. then that was before the time of YouTube. Have a good copy of the instructions take your time and enjoy..

 

[Scottz]

I was quoted $2310 and $2850 in Denver metro for Clayton 2.5”. Quotes also had a few $k in parts markup and $400 alignment. 2023 Diesel Rubicon.

I decided I was just going to install an AEV kit myself like my last Jeep, but last minute decided to have the dealer install a MOPAR kit for $3k including parts and labor. Alignment checked fine.

It’s actually worked really well on the trails here along with 35x11.5 tires.

That's what the Golden dealer quoted me for the Mopar. I may just go with it, maybe add an adjustable front track bar. Do you have an aftermarket bumper and winch? When I added mine, it resulted in about 2.5" of rake. I want to reduce my rake as well as lift it.

 

[Billkowski]

Ultimately, I did my 2 inch lift myself, but in a lazier moment I got a labor quote to install it and it was 600 bucks from a well-respected shop....in hindsight I should have let them do it, it was a pain in the hiney.

 

[OM Jeep]

Where are you located?

 

[Sweetums]

I'm looking to get my 23 Diesel Willys lifted sometime before next summer. I'm interested in the Clayton 2.5" ride right, , Bilstein 5100s, new front driveshaft and bumpstops Talking to a local shop, they're quoting me $1700-2000 for labor and alignment. This seems pretty excessive since the lift itself is supposed to be a 5 hour job. Thoughts? It appears they want $200-300 an hour for labor

That sounds about right. With some basic tools you can install your lift at home in the driveway for the cost of some pizza and beer. Call some friends and knock it out in a weekend then take it in to your closest 4WD shop for an alignment and have them double check your axles are centered and pinion angles are correct.

Pull up the installation instructions now and read through them in detail to make sure you don't need any more tools. My wife and I knocked out my 2.5" MetalCloak lift in a weekend, and that was with knocking off mid-day for 4 hours at a time because it was blazing hot outside.

An impact driver is really helpful to get stuff apart and worth the purchase price. Also make sure you have a flare-nut wrench to swap out the brake lines; we used a vacuum bleeder from Harbor Freight to bleed the calipers.
I'd recommend a floor jack, Harbor Freight's Daytona and Bandlands jacks are just fine. I've been using a HF floor jack for over 15 years and it's still working great. I'd get the Big Red jackstands from a parts store or Home Depot, HF has had problems with their stands.
I have a mix of hand tools, Husky from Home Depot is great value for the money and uses Snap-On tooling. GearWrench and Tekton are also good high-end tools for home use, but Harbor Fright Icon tools are also way better than most people think; like Husky, they swing way outside their class.

Also grab some wheel chocks, I did each axle one at a time to make the truck more stable while I'm working.

The biggest PITA on my lift was the front passenger upper control arm frame bolt. The suspension is put in after the exhaust, so getting that F@#%^er out is a struggle. My lift came with a replacement so you could cut off the OE bolt and replace with one going the other direction.

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