Poll: How much work do you do on your own vs a shop?

[jpneely]

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.

Im about the same. Luckily we have a couple of great shops we can trust, but I'll do most things that don't require digging too deep into engine and suspension. fuel pump, radiator, spark plugs, brakes, etc. Won't touch bearings yet (although im sure it wouldn't be as bad as my mind makes it) T-belt, or anything A/C related. suspension I don't touch just because I don't trust myself not to break things that I can't easily fix. most things are probably a lot easier than I think, but that mental block and fear of not having a tool to do it correctly keeps me from delving too deep.

 

[cruisin4bruisins]

Im about the same. Luckily we have a couple of great shops we can trust, but I'll do most things that don't require digging too deep into engine and suspension. fuel pump, radiator, spark plugs, brakes, etc. Won't touch bearings yet (although im sure it wouldn't be as bad as my mind makes it) T-belt, or anything A/C related. suspension I don't touch just because I don't trust myself not to break things that I can't easily fix. most things are probably a lot easier than I think, but that mental block and fear of not having a tool to do it correctly keeps me from delving too deep.

I had the same thought about bearings too but I recently did both front bearings and it wasnt bad at all. Just watch a couple youtube videos beforehand. Will save a lot of money doing it yourself

 

[jpneely]

I had the same thought about bearings too but I recently did both front bearings and it wasnt bad at all. Just watch a couple youtube videos beforehand. Will save a lot of money doing it yourself

I watched a bunch of videos on it too, but still couldn't bring myself to do it. mainly because I didn't have the little "fish weighing" scale to test the tightness and I didn't feel like having another can of grease around the garage. I do need to bite the bullet and just do it though. I think it was $300 for the shop to do it. I may be mis-remembering that number. im also doing the same mental games and keeping myself from re-indexing the torsion bars and replacing the shocks all around.

 

[cruisin4bruisins]

I watched a bunch of videos on it too, but still couldn't bring myself to do it. mainly because I didn't have the little "fish weighing" scale to test the tightness and I didn't feel like having another can of grease around the garage. I do need to bite the bullet and just do it though. I think it was $300 for the shop to do it. I may be mis-remembering that number. im also doing the same mental games and keeping myself from re-indexing the torsion bars and replacing the shocks all around.

haha gotcha gotcha I think i was quoted like $600 for the front bearings so i saved a few hundred doing it myself, probably ended up using that for gas anyways lol. The fish scale part did scare me at first but it made sense the more i messed around with it.

 

[lexuslandcruiser]

I watched a bunch of videos on it too, but still couldn't bring myself to do it. mainly because I didn't have the little "fish weighing" scale to test the tightness and I didn't feel like having another can of grease around the garage. I do need to bite the bullet and just do it though. I think it was $300 for the shop to do it. I may be mis-remembering that number. im also doing the same mental games and keeping myself from re-indexing the torsion bars and replacing the shocks all around.

The shocks on all 4 corners isn't too bad a job, honestly. I did the easy way and cut holes in the floor on my super rusty LX470 and it made it so much easier, so I did the same on my LC. Then just bought small rubber grommets to fill in the new hole.

What do you need to index the torsion bars for? Did you lift it/need new lower control arms bushings?

 

[jpneely]

The shocks on all 4 corners isn't too bad a job, honestly. I did the easy way and cut holes in the floor on my super rusty LX470 and it made it so much easier, so I did the same on my LC. Then just bought small rubber grommets to fill in the new hole.

What do you need to index the torsion bars for? Did you lift it/need new lower control arms bushings?

My front end seems saggy and wore out. I took the measurements of the hub to fender and it could definitely stand to be a little higher to be back to stock height. She’s got 270k on the suspension pretty sure.

 

[Patron100LC]

Ah, that makes a bit more sense lol still very cool. I'm a bit ashamed but will admit publicly that I have never driven anything older than a 100 series. Come to think of it, I've never driven anything newer than a 100 series either lol. Suppose all I know in the LC world is the 100 =] Hope to experience more as time goes on.

Unless you're ready to spend north of $200k on a car, you ain't missing anything!

 

[geo5]

I voted ‘shop for everything’ however I do some stuff like install my own mods, coil springs, and perform AHC maint.

I’m lucky to have a couple awesome shops nearby, one is a Toyota specialist and one is LC specialist.

 

[QsLC75]

While I have enjoyed learning how to work and do a few wrenching projects on my cruiser, I learned a long time ago pay a professional for their skills and knowledge is worth your time. That was especially true with replacing my entire AC system. I have searched out and luckily found some solid mechanics in every place I have lived. A few I have driven several hours to their shops and few have helped me do it myself. Thanks @krzyabncanuck and @NCFJ

 

[RapidRob]

Everything except bodywork. Oh and I've never done any work on an automatic transmission.

 

[MountaineerLC]

In the 6 years I’ve owned my 100 I’ve done everything myself. This includes timing belt service, radiator, starter, tire rotations and oil changes. With the Toyota factory workshop manual and some basic hand tools from somewhere like Harbor Freight you can do a lot of work on these rigs yourself.

As someone has already mentioned, these rigs are getting old and unless you have deep pockets a level of DIY is required to keep them running, IMO.

 

[knuckle47]

trans and transfer are the few things I have not tackled and now that I am weaker than 10 yrs ago, I seriously doubt I would do it…thankfully they are both good currently
. I am probable ordering the parabolic terrain tamer springs and shocks Monday and I have 2 differentials to change to 3.70 gears this fall or winter

 

[bucfl]

I used to DIY, but my kids are a little older and i prefer to spend my time with them now. I still do minor items with my son, but for more time consuming and difficult work i use a shop.

 

[AARONTLC]

I try and do everything and just leave small specialty items to the shops. (Alignment, windshield, tire work.)