Poll: How much work do you do on your own vs a shop? (1 Viewer)

[lexuslandcruiser]

Where I live in NW Florida, there are no shops I trust/know of to work on my 100 series or my LS430 (or really any of my cars, to be honest lol).
As a result, I basically do everything on all my cars including big jobs like timing belt, for example.

That got me thinking - how much work do you do on your own vs taking your truck to a shop?
And where you live, what's the closest shop you'd trust to work on your 100? (Dealer or non-dealer).

I added a few poll options in case you're the type who will do the smaller stuff, but prefers to skip the big jobs.

 

[Trapper50cal]

I do a little more than just basic stuff along with the help of my Land Cruiser mentor who has a lot more experience than me
so we'll tackle stuff like fuel pumps/filters, belt tensioners, t-stats, suspension stuff, coils/plugs, aftermarket add-ons...
If it's something that lives are reliant on, or if the cost of getting it wrong is very high, I want it done by the book so I enlist
a local expert's shop on those items.

I paid for steering rack install, Engine Room Block Assembly install, CV inner seals, Windshield...stuff like that.

I'm lucky to have a few, very trusted Land Cruiser expert's shops in my town.

 

[lexuslandcruiser]

I'm lucky to have a few, very trusted Land Cruiser expert's shops in my town.

Nice! I'd imagine Denver area has the highest concentration of top tier LC shops in the US. Lucky duck! haha

 

[Trapper50cal]

Nice! I'd imagine Denver area has the highest concentration of top tier LC shops in the US. Lucky duck! haha

I'm in Durango and have Top guys here and in northern NM. (Denver is a 7 hour drive from here)

 

[Foehammer]

Can do basic stuff like plugs, coils, alternator. Change oils, fluids etc. Any big stuff like timing belt will be done by someone with better mechanical knowledge and experience than myself. When I got the AHC deleted and ironman lift in, a reputable shop did it. Same shop is gonna install the DT headers and open up the exhaust a bit later down the road.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I voted everything, but truth be told lately I'm drifting towards the opposite just because life is busy and I live nearby @2001LC .

 

[vipergrhd]

I wrenched for a living so I do 99% of all my repairs and mods, the only thing I pay for is alignments I could do my own alignment I just don't have any access to a machine. My work don't allow the use of the shop but we could borrow specialty tools when needed.

 

[Exiled]

I used to do a lot more of my own wrenching, but life gets in the way and I have a fantastic Land Cruiser shop less than 25 minutes away, so I find myself letting them do more of the bigger stuff.

 

[Patron100LC]

Since I DO know the shops around me, I do Everything myself.
I'm even considering getting a tire replace machine so I don't have to deal with anyone around here.
From timing belt to paint, interior electrics, suspension and upholstery.
Way more satisfying when you DIY, and you'll find that everything you want to do is explained somewhere online, and specially here on MUD.

 

[ed94r]

I may be the deviation to the norm here, but since we have had the truck for 24 years and its been paid off for the majority of those years, I don't mind writing checks to people I trust. I do the easy stuff, they do everything else. At 55, being on my back in the driveway and car payments are for the birds.

 

[billyz]

I've started to learn to wrench/DIY beyond basics on my 100 series. It makes it easier to stomach repair costs when buying new OEM parts and let's me build up my tool set. It's quite satisfying completing a job myself, with the benefit of knowing it was completed without taking shortcuts/cheap parts. Lucky for us there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum.

 

[77pantera]

Absolutely everything.

In my opinion you can't affordably own enthusiast vehicles otherwise.

 

[Bisho]

I may be the deviation to the norm here, but since we have had the truck for 24 years and its been paid off for the majority of those years, I don't mind writing checks to people I trust. I do the easy stuff, they do everything else. At 55, being on my back in the driveway and car payments are for the birds.

I do it all, but I got a lift because I agree 100% I hate creepers.

 

[Goose17]

I'm in NW FL too and have done everything myself. Although, if the rear axle seals need to be replaced, I might be making a road trip to Bealeton, VA.

 

[94SRUNNER]

Some things I do and some things I have a local Toyota 4WD mechanics handle. Over the summer I did the timing belt/water pump job, but prior to that I had my mechanic do the front axles and bearings last fall and the steering rack and front diff bushings in June. It mostly depends on work/life balance and whether I am in the mood to take on a project.

 

[awesomeissquid]

I’m with @Goose17! Everything myself except the rear axle seals.

 

[mrkdwrds]

I'm in Durango and have Top guys here and in northern NM. (Denver is a 7 hour drive from here)

Who do you recommend in northern NM? A local Toyota shop I have used in Santa Fe for a couple of jobs is good but expensive so I am curious.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Who do you recommend in northern NM? A local Toyota shop I have used in Santa Fe for a couple of jobs is good but expensive so I am curious.

Bill's Toy Shop - Farmington, NM - But he's expensive as well...and busy. He rebuilt a 1FZ-FE for a friend in preparation for a Turbo kit. It turned out real, real nice. He's worked on a 60 I had. I've designed ads for him in the past. He's extremely knowledgeable.

 

[cwmoser]

I come from the Isuzu Trooper planet. I've done the Timing Belt on my Trooper but just yesterday I dropped my 2002 LX470 at a local shop to replace the timing belt. Mainly because I am not as familiar as I was with Troopers and I didn't want to FUBAR the thing.
I did ask around about shops for some time until I found this Indy that specialized in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
I made sure they were going to use only OEM parts, and to save me the old Timing Belt to see what a 22 year old belt looks like.
I also got them to flush the Brake System because I read that some parts are no longer obtainable.
Like Dirty Harry stated "A man has gotta know his limitations"

 

[LJE]

I’m with @Goose17! Everything myself except the rear axle seals.

Rear axle *seals* aren't bad, it's the dang bearings that require a press and special tooling!

But - having just bought a hydraulic press + the specialized tooling to do my rear axle bearings, if you're anywhere near south-central Indiana, come on over and we'll knock it out! Haha.

As folks can probably guess from the above paragraph, I do all my own work. I find it's a good counterpart to my desk job (engineer), and I save money while knowing it's done right. I've put a TON of time and money (in parts only!) into Lazarus - I can't imagine paying a shop to do that level of work.