I finally gave in this morning and hit the "submit order" button on Stillen.com for a set up Eibach Pro Kit springs and a Stillen front splitter (both on sale w/ free shipping, FYI). I have absolutely no clue where to even start when it comes to finding a reputable shop to install the springs, perform the alignment, and paint the splitter.

I just moved to Dayton, OH, so I don't know anything about the local shops around here. Everyone said the dealership is a rip-off, but how much should a reputable shop charge me for the installation and the alignment? I really don't want to, but how bad of an idea is it to go to a major chain (Pep Boys, Goodyear, Firestone, etc)? When I'm shopping around, what should I look for to know if a place is any good or not?

I also want to paint the Stillen splitter BS to match my car. I figure any AAA certified body shop can do that, but how much should that run me? I'm willing to pay for quality, just don't want to overpay for quality. Again, should I stay away from the dealership?

Should I try to find one shop to take care of all of this, or go to a dedicated body shop for the splitter and somewhere else for the springs? For someone who never installed one single mod to any of the cars he owned in his life, any opinions, suggestions, recommendations, and assistance is appreciated!!

 

around here in florida.. they charge around $70-80 per hour and they said itll take atleast 4 hours for the springs ...

 

I got quoted $250 at Performance Factory here in Central Florida, he said its a 2 1/2 - 3 hr job i think. I paid only $200 for the springs

I just ended up doing it myself. Oh and dont get an alignment till about a week or two after, as to let the springs settle in.

 

so you dont get a wheel alignment right after installation?

 

$200-250 for install is the average.

 

I paid 160 for an Install for Eibach springs in nor cal.

 

I noticed you live in SF... Where did you get your springs install at for so cheap? I live in San Jose

 

theres a place in sacramento called SMA and a place in sf called importtrix kinda random but i guess theyre reliable.

look them up on google.

 

I got an alignment right after, springs settling shouldnt matter,

Its bad to drive it without being aligned

 

So I see we have some disagreement regarding alignment... I think this might be the first ever disagreement on the forum!

Anyway, I was debating whether or not to get the alignment right away or let the springs settle for a few weeks. How much are they going to settle? Are we talking a few mm or a 1/4"? Supposedly, a regular alignment can't get you 100% back to perfect anyway, so if the alignment is slightly off after the springs settle, it shouldn't be a huge deal, right? Am I wrong on this?

What did everyone else do? Alignment during the install? Wait a few weeks? No alignment?

 

Im almost positive springs will settle mm's so it shouldnt matter

 

hey im bout to get my springs installed this week and im just outside orlando. maybe u can come "chill"

 

So I called around to a bunch of places today, and everyone declined my business. They all said that they no longer install springs for "liability reasons." They will gladly install OEM springs, purchased through them, but not aftermarket springs bought outside their business. Anyone else ran into this problem?

 

OK, first off you should wait for them to settle to get alignment regardless if its only mm's. You want it as close to perfect as possible....right?

Next, the rear springs are sooo easy to replace yourself, dont pay someone $100 to do those. Switch the rears yourself them take to have the fronts done by a pro because they are a PITA and you can kill yourself if you dont know what you are doing.

 

This isn't the first time we have discussed when to do alignment and I am in the camp of doing it the day the springs are installed. My dealer installed my Tein HTech springs and they are now UNDER WARRANTY with the rest of my car. That is how they do things at Fields in Chi-Town. They gave me a loaner and returned my sport springs in case I want to revert back, but that ain't gonna happen. All of the mods they install are warrantied. You may want to check with your dealer again. I think others on the forum have had dealers do work for them as well. Good luck with your drop!