Well I took the plunge and decided to install my Tanabe GF210 springs myself. I did some reading over at the DIY section of this forum and printed out the necessary info I needed for the install. I then rented out a set of spring compressors at my local Schuck's store for $6/day and started working on my 8. I started working on the front springs first last night. It took me a while working on the first spring since I had to figure out and make sure I'm doing everything correctly. Once I got the hang of it on my first spring, the rest actually went on smoothly. My hands and arms were a bit sore since I don't have an air compressor for my tools (had to use my trusty old ratchet instead). But the experience of doing this myself was actually fun. I'll wait for about a week or two for the springs to settle then I'm taking my 8 to a shop to have the wheels aligned.

Saved myself around $500 for installing the springs on my own (since the shops I've called said they charge around that amount for the install).

 

I also just installed my tein S-tech at Auto Dynamix, Bellevue..+ allignment..They gave me really good price... How long it took you to install?

 

Good job, i have the same springs.

 

How hard was it to install it yourself? I have the same springs but I just got my Tein Basics in lastnight.

I am getting charged an arm and a leg to get the coilovers put on. I want to do it myself and save all that money and then get an alignment. So it was your first time ever doing something like this?

 

coilovers are quite easier seeing how you don't have to disassemble the strut. Although getting the ride height and settings all correct is another thing. Just assemble yourself and then go to a shop to have them adjust them.

 

I'm currently installing Tanabe Sustec Pro 5's in my RX-8. I got the front done last night. Its going to be really nice to be able to adjust the stiffness by pooping open the hood and trunk.

 

Well since that was my first time, I made sure everything I did was correct so I just took my time and didn't rush the install process of the springs. So it took me around 6 hours to do everything.

The most helpful links I followed were these:
http://www.hi-impact.org/ryang/modif...ock_front.html
http://www.hi-impact.org/ryang/modif...hock_rear.html
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-lowering-springs-install-23403/

It's not really that hard to install the springs by yourself. You just need to be careful, do some good research, and have the right tools. I highly recommend getting or renting a set of strut spring compressors. Search this forum on every post about DIY spring installs. Most importantly, if you don't really trust yourself in working on your own 8 - then don't do it. But seriously, it really isn't that hard. You can really save yourself some money in installing the springs yourself.

Here's a few pics I took during the install:

Setting up the front to start installing the springs





Took out the shock/spring



New spring installed




For the front springs, once you've installed them - remember not to tighten the bolts on the control arms until you've totally settled the car on the ground. Check out these threads:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...56844#poststop
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...eibach+springs






Once you have the springs installed, let it settle for a few days. Then most importantly, bring your car to a shop and have them do a 4-wheel alignment (should cost you around $80).

Here's a couple of more pics of my 8 with the Tanabe GF210 springs (with the stock shocks). This is the third day after installing the springs myself. So hopefully it will settle more. (plus don't mind how dirty my 8 is. I'll be cleaning and washing it once I finish this post ).








Cheers, everyone!

 

Car looks good dropped. You can totally tell that the front is a whole lot lower than the rear.

 

I have to admit it, I love my tein basics more than I did my GF210's. Got my basics put on yesterday and just love them! Alot better than tanabe by far!

 

This is a dumb question, but did you not use any jack stands, since all I can see in the pic is the factory jack

 

I do have jack stands. The reason you can't see them in the pics is because they're placed well under the chasis. Plus with the angles I took with those pics, I wasn't concerned in having those jack stands included in the pictures. The factory jack you see there is actually used to support the wheel hub after I took off the front control arms and the shocks.

I would never work on a car, especially if I intend to go underneath it, if I were only using a factory jack to hold it up. That would just be KARAAAZY!

 

Nice. In 2 weeks you'll wish you did the shocks at the same time.

 

Hehe. I'll be keeping my Tanabe springs/stock shocks setup for now. But if I do upgrade my suspension, I may be grabbing the Tanabe Sustec Pro SEVEN Coilover System. But for now those new springs will suffice.

My next upgrade will be a new set of wheels. I'm debating between SSR, 5zigen, or Ro-Ja.

 

i got a really good deal on swift springs last month, im just waitin to get my 8 then im gonna throw em on my self....me and my cousin put new struts and springs on his "project rolla" corolla and it was pretty easy....