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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
Has anyone used a truck shop in Maryland to install a lift or alignment. WELL DON'T. I just got screwed at my two shops. And this is after months of research and comments. Take my advice, if your getting a suspension lift install and alignment for an early model Explorer, don't do it in MD.
Scott I know your pain. I have probably been screwed out of $2500 on just one of the trucks I used to own. Want to know how much I sold it for? $2500!!! Agh it drives you nuts-o when you go to these places and expect them to at least tell you what they did and whats wrong ect.. Instead tehy make you get stuff you don't need and do things you don't want. Specially when you don't understand what they are doing. Thats why I now do everything I can myself and then if I do take it in its only to shops where I know others have had luck before. Or I will sit and watch them do the work on my truck no matter how nervous they get.
I know what you mean now. Along with over charging me for stuff (mainly labor)which I know shouldn't take as long, I got my truck back after my lift, which they told me they couldn't bleed my system properly because of rusted bleeder valves. I then had to take it to another shop so they could replace the valves and bleed the system (an extra $125) then I got it back and noticed my parking brake cable wasn't even attached. So I'm now bring it back to the origianl lift shop for them to hook it back up. I could do it myself but it's the principle. Don't even get me started on the alignment!!!!
One lesson I've learned... the cheap places will often do cheap work and may require bringing it back several times... high country 4x4 in denver charges more then anyone but so far I've been thouroughly impressed with what they can do. A lot of it is because they send their mechanics to classes on almost a weekly basis and test them constantly to make sure they know their stuff, that cost money which they pass on. Unfortanetly the place that did all my installing went out of business (argh!) but for most of my repairs I take it to high country...
I am with Matt on this one. I will use High Country from now on. I think they are fair and they are very very upfront with you. Which is good to me. The place that installed my gears was a joke. They gave me a decent quote, not high not low, sorta in the middle on labor. Well what I didn't know was that when you have only one mechanic and you can't do enough to keep two there its not a good shop to take it too. It took them a little over 2 weeks to install my gears and my rear ARB. Wilderness Off-Road in Littleton CO, sucks! LOL Then I had to take it over to High Country a number of months later to get the rear end worked on some again. I guess no one ever torqued my pinion nut? down. So I paid $454 worth of labor and parts I think to get that fixed when in the beggining I should've used them in the first place cause I probably would've saved money in the long run.
Originally posted by ScottXXL I know what you mean now. Along with over charging me for stuff (mainly labor)which I know shouldn't take as long, I got my truck back after my lift, which they told me they couldn't bleed my system properly because of rusted bleeder valves. I then had to take it to another shop so they could replace the valves and bleed the system (an extra $125) then I got it back and noticed my parking brake cable wasn't even attached. So I'm now bring it back to the origianl lift shop for them to hook it back up. I could do it myself but it's the principle. Don't even get me started on the alignment!!!!
i've had nothing but problems with my alignment. I've gotten it fixed 4 times now and it only takes a week to go back to itself. I am currently rolling with 31's by 10.5, I've been thinking about getting a steering stabalizer, hopefully this will help. What can you do to fix the aligment.
Hey scott, whats up, names jason. I live down here in annapolis and I learned that the hard way too, I just figure, if you love you truck, get a manual and spend some quality time learning and triingb to do the mods yourself, you will have alot more sattisfaction from doing it yourself, check out my web site to see my explorer.
If you are looking for an excellent mechanic in MD I have one who does great work and his prices are reasonable. He also doesn't mind if you get all your parts together yourself and then have him install them. He doesn't try to nickel and dime you to death. He always stands behind his work and I,ve sent other friends to him who have always been happy with his work. He builds and races cars himself so most normal work is a piece of cake for him, including engine and tranny work. He is going to be building a new motor for me shortly and I have every bit of confidence in him. Let me know if you want his name he is located near Rockville so it's not a bad drive to get good work done at a reasonable price. By the way he is the one who installed my manual transfer case and my T-5 tranny.
Hey guys,
I'm located in northern Baltimore County in MD. I got my lift done at Hoaks Fourwheel Drive Center in Wrightsville PA. All in all they're a good shop to deal with. I had one minor problem there but they corrected it free of charge and fired the guy who cause the problem. I have a 4" Super Lift installed by them. With tires and manual warn hubs they charged $2700. I think that's fairly reasonable means I can trust them and they do a quality job. ECHO is a waste of time. They're all ignorant and don't care about you. I went there and they just looked at me as if I were some no namer off the street. Needless to say I haven't ever dealt with them. If you need a good front end and alignment shop go to ROCHE'S Front End and Frame near Baltimore. They're the best around. I've had my 33's on for since 85000 miles and I have 110,000 on them now and haven't had to go back for an alignment yet. (Not to mention all of the off roading I've done too) They even showed me exactly what they were going to do before they ever did anything. They are extremely reasonable in price too. If any of you are interested in joining a club in MD let me know. I'm a member of Baltimore 4x4's and we average about a trail ride once a month. I'm the only other Explorer in the club but we have tons of people and lots of Ford people who know a lot about the sport. If you all would like any additional information just email me and I'll send it your way. Hope this helps!
- Joe Gill
94 Explorer XLT
4" Super Lift Suspension
33x10.50 BFG AT KO'S
WARN Manual Hubs
James Duff Pre Runner Bumper
36" HiLift Jack
THULE Roof Rack (Spare Tire Holder)
I guess I've got to learn to post questions here first...then get the work done. I wish I asked you guys for help before I got my lift. Live and always learning.
Thanks for the mech. info I'll e-mail you for more info on that. Since I live in MD I'd like to join a 4x4 club, however I'm moving to N.Y. this weekend. I have a job lined up in the city that I couldn't say no to! So is there any 4x4 clubs in N.Y. ? I'll be coming down to MD a few times a year so maybe I could meet anybody 4x4ing in Baltimore. How do I join?
Hey all,
Anyone interested in joining Baltimore 4 wheelers call our hotline at 410-668-3430 and leave your name and address adn we'll send you a copy of our next newsletter. If anyone has seen a Green lifted Explorer with crooked window stickers on it that would be me. ;-) I live out in the Parkton area. However most of our club members are located in Baltimore and DC. We wheel all over the place though. It's a great club to join.
To answer the question about hourly rate for local shops goes... It all depends on the job. I think 30 bucks an hour sounds about right.
Happy Wheelin,
Joe
94 Explorer XLT
4" Super Lift Suspension
33x10.50 BFG AT KO'S
WARN Manual Hubs
James Duff Pre Runner Bumper
36" HiLift Jack
THULE Roof Rack (Spare Tire Holder)
I think they are fair and they are very very upfront with you. Which is good to me. The place that installed my gears was a joke. They gave me a decent quote, not high not low, sorta in the middle on labor. Well what I didn't know was that when you have only one mechanic and you can't do enough to keep two there its not a good shop to take it too. It took them a little over 2 weeks to install my gears and my rear ARB. Wilderness Off-Road in Littleton CO, sucks! LOL Then I had to take it over to High Country a number of months later to get the rear end worked on some again. I guess no one ever torqued my pinion nut? down. So I paid $454 worth of labor and parts I think to get that fixed when in the beggining I should've used them in the first place cause I probably would've saved money in the long run.
