Can't buy help to remove a body lift
- Thread starter jrmcafee
- Start date
You guys in USA must get shop work done pretty cheap!
I dont think the cost quoted is that excessive and would expect the same kind of cost if I booked in to have a body lift put on or taken off.
An oil change plugging in a OBD reader kicking 4 tyres vacuuming the inside and a magic tree costs up to $300 every 3-6 months here.
I dont think the cost quoted is that excessive and would expect the same kind of cost if I booked in to have a body lift put on or taken off.
An oil change plugging in a OBD reader kicking 4 tyres vacuuming the inside and a magic tree costs up to $300 every 3-6 months here.
burdetter16
Member
I took a 3" BL off my TJ when I got it. Its not hard but it took me about half a day but I also had a couple things slow it down. My radiator had been lowered and getting those bolts off and back on was a pain. I think I ended up just CAREFULLY taking a sawzall to cut off one of them. My gas filler neck had also been extended but the extension had got really stuck on there and I had to buy a new hose for it. Lastly, I did have a transfer case linkage drop I had to remove.
Its not a hard job but make sure you look over the jeep thoroughly so you don't miss anything that you'll have to remove or replace. And like @Rubicon88 said this is a job that something could easily go wrong. Fortunately, I live in the south and rust isn't really an issue so I got lucky that I didn't have any real problems on this job.
Its not a hard job but make sure you look over the jeep thoroughly so you don't miss anything that you'll have to remove or replace. And like @Rubicon88 said this is a job that something could easily go wrong. Fortunately, I live in the south and rust isn't really an issue so I got lucky that I didn't have any real problems on this job.
OP
Really appreciate the shared knowledge here. Most of it tracks with what I’ve read previously throughout the site.
@Midtenn I’m two hours west of Nashville off I-40 in Jackson. I would love to meet but would never drive that far in this Jeep in its current condition. Part of the imperative to get the damned lift and 35” MT’s off.
@Rubicon88 some valid points you’ve made. I do hope your use of “you” is indeed in the plural because I’ve never publicly or privately “ripped” on any mechanic. Many of my extended family are in this line of work and live over south of @Midtenn. I have a huge degree of admiration for the work they do and sensitivity to the challenge of quoting business. The intent of my post was to help my preferred mechanic have a sense of orientation and comfort level with trying this project. Rough Country is about an hour north of me and they were going to call some contacts in Dyersburg to ask for advice. I’m perfectly fine with their hourly on-the-rack rate of $100 and if it reaches 9 hours, I’d rather give it to them than the off-road shop (who quoted $900) because any time I’ve spoken with them they have been pretty elitist about what they do. They may do exceptional work—however I know of no one who has had a great experience with them.
@Midtenn I’m two hours west of Nashville off I-40 in Jackson. I would love to meet but would never drive that far in this Jeep in its current condition. Part of the imperative to get the damned lift and 35” MT’s off.
@Rubicon88 some valid points you’ve made. I do hope your use of “you” is indeed in the plural because I’ve never publicly or privately “ripped” on any mechanic. Many of my extended family are in this line of work and live over south of @Midtenn. I have a huge degree of admiration for the work they do and sensitivity to the challenge of quoting business. The intent of my post was to help my preferred mechanic have a sense of orientation and comfort level with trying this project. Rough Country is about an hour north of me and they were going to call some contacts in Dyersburg to ask for advice. I’m perfectly fine with their hourly on-the-rack rate of $100 and if it reaches 9 hours, I’d rather give it to them than the off-road shop (who quoted $900) because any time I’ve spoken with them they have been pretty elitist about what they do. They may do exceptional work—however I know of no one who has had a great experience with them.
OP
35/12.50/15
On a 2.5L, no less. It's re-geared but still, built in a very wrong sort of way for road-driving.
Rubicon88
TJ Addict
I can't speak for any shops down your way...
That said I wasn't picking on you...just using the generalized example of what all goes on in my world....daily...and can certainly appreciate why a shop, particularly on the east coast, would quote 9 beaners on a job like that.
Even at 9 strong it could be such a loser of a job.
If the worst scenario showed up...nobody wants to break news like "in order to get to it we need to cut your ride open...remove...install new one...now weld a new in there, peel your Jeep body back in position, then weld that back up."
Unless you wouldn't care...but even so no self respecting garage owner wants to even be tied to a scenario like that. The job itself just wouldn't feel like a nice clean repair or in that case a nice clean uninstall/install.
Then you throw in the customer (not suggesting you'd do this) who can say sure no big deal yet turns right around and burns the rep of said shop. Yes there are people who do that. Once you start a job like that you're forever married to the outcome. Hell there are some customers who associate a garage with a bad part. The very reason we refuse to even use any of the house branded products. They're vastly inferior and again to many people you're married to them. Like I'm standing on the assembly line making shit ball joints before we install them.
We just won't use garbage parts and are always up front and clear with any job. Sadly there are still some people that no matter how far above and beyond you go for them it doesn't matter.
I wish you the best in your quest.
OP
Sorry to say but I can understand hesitation by shops and a very high cost.
I'm swapping out my JKS 1.25" BL to a Savvy BL. Snapped 3 bolts. I managed to get two of them out by welding on a new nut. The last one would not come out that way.
I have about 4 hours into cutting out the old bolt and welding in a nut attached to a thick washer to replace it. It was just a lot of time with a Dremel in a very small space.
I'm swapping out my JKS 1.25" BL to a Savvy BL. Snapped 3 bolts. I managed to get two of them out by welding on a new nut. The last one would not come out that way.
I have about 4 hours into cutting out the old bolt and welding in a nut attached to a thick washer to replace it. It was just a lot of time with a Dremel in a very small space.
I would buy a savvy 1.25 and this would be very easy,I did mine plus brown dog mm/lift and I inch steering shaft riser all in a night after work,and was done by midnight.
OP
Ok I entirely understand the feedback about seized bolts and how the scope of the job could quickly escalate.
Can we pin that whole discussion for a moment? Per the carfax this Jeep has always lived it’s life in West TN/north MS and it’s pretty clean for a 23 year old Jeep. Definitely a possibility but I have another question here. Given the pics above, do the suspension wizards here feel like I could likely pull out the BL without having to replace springs and shocks or am I replacing everything?
Can we pin that whole discussion for a moment? Per the carfax this Jeep has always lived it’s life in West TN/north MS and it’s pretty clean for a 23 year old Jeep. Definitely a possibility but I have another question here. Given the pics above, do the suspension wizards here feel like I could likely pull out the BL without having to replace springs and shocks or am I replacing everything?
The body lift has no impact on the suspension components. The springs and shocks connect the axles to the frame and the frame connects to the body, making the frame the bologna in the sandwich. Unless you live in the north, then it is the swiss cheese in the sandwich.
I don’t think it’s been mentioned, but it looks like you are running a 35” tire. That is likely why the 3” body lift was added in the first place. Remove it, and the 35’s will not work with the remaining 4” suspension lift. Were you planning on a smaller tire, or a larger lift? Or going to a 1 or 1.25” body lift? Could be another reason the shop was shying away from the work.
OP
Update here: since my original post I have swapped out the 35” MT’s for 33” BFG ATs on 17” JK sports. Much better ride and now I’m on to pulling out the BL. I’ve decided to proceed with the local off-road shop and they have adjusted their range for the job to $540-720. Much better than $900.
My job at this point is to locate a stock fuel filler neck. Seeing a lot of different parts that correspond to that description. Can the group educate me on which part I’m purchasing here? I know a portion of the tube/pipe was cut and extended to accommodate the lift. What do I need?
My job at this point is to locate a stock fuel filler neck. Seeing a lot of different parts that correspond to that description. Can the group educate me on which part I’m purchasing here? I know a portion of the tube/pipe was cut and extended to accommodate the lift. What do I need?
When I bought mine it had a body lift. The filler tube was cut and had a metal pipe to extend it. Just get a shorter pipe and put it back together.
OP
Sorry for the thick-headedness here but semantics...
Pipe = rubber tube, or are we talking about an inner channel that would run inside rubber tubing?
Pipe=metal pipe
Tube =rubber tubing
Get a shorter piece of brass pipe of equal diameter as what was used to extend the filler tube.
Have you tried to put a wrench on any of the bolts. If you can loosen them its problem like an hour or so job. If not, try a shop.
What he said . I e installed and removed body lifts. Granted I’m in the Northeast but it’s taken 2 hours with cleanup amd it’s extended three weeks due to unforeseen cutting and welding requirements
OP
Yeah, I’m one of those who would rather take a bet on paying when I could have done the work myself on the reasonable chance I get to bolt 10 of 11 and it seizes while I have everything unbuckled. If I had a group of 2-3 guys with nothing better to do and as many floor jacks, I might give it a go. Instead I’m taking it on Tuesday to the local off-road shop and taking my butt whooping like a man.
