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DIY: Lowering Springs Install

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Old 07-01-2010, 07:57 PM
  #176  
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So I'm in the middle of installing my Tein S-Techs and when I try to remove the 14mm rear swaybar end link nut on my passenger side the nut and the entire bolt are all spinning together. Has anyone else ran into this problem? It is the only thing preventing me from finishing the install. I can feel the bracket that is supposed to prevent the bolt from spinning turning with the nut as well. Any help would be effin awsome
Old 07-01-2010, 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by RotaryMachineRx
So I'm in the middle of installing my Tein S-Techs and when I try to remove the 14mm rear swaybar end link nut on my passenger side the nut and the entire bolt are all spinning together. Has anyone else ran into this problem? It is the only thing preventing me from finishing the install. I can feel the bracket that is supposed to prevent the bolt from spinning turning with the nut as well. Any help would be effin awsome
just in case....
The end link should have a hex key opening on the end of the screw part than you can use to hold the middle still while you undo the bolt.
Old 07-01-2010, 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Bigbacon
just in case....
The end link should have a hex key opening on the end of the screw part than you can use to hold the middle still while you undo the bolt.

okay thanks, didn't really look at it closely.. was using a socket so... but that should solve my problems thanks!
Old 07-07-2010, 05:24 PM
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Hi Guys,

Hoping that someone can point me in the right direction. My rear suspension is lower on one side than on the other, and I'm wondering how to even them. My drivers side is lower by about 1 inch, and I noticed that the shock was leaking so I replaced it.

I've just replaced the entire shock with a good one from another car, but the ride height it still lower on this side. Do i have to do something with the pre loading on the bushes? Car isnt lowered yet, but i have a set of S-Techs ready to go, but wanted the ride height sorted before I started.

John
Old 10-03-2010, 11:13 AM
  #180  
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I have a couple questions after doing this install yesterday. There is a little plastic piece of paper between the top of the shock and the body, I forgot to put that back in one of the fronts. I assume that's no big deal?

On the rear it looks like one of the shocks is leaking. How long do I have? I wish I knew it was bad I would have replaced them yesterday. I also dropped one of the shocks and cracked the white plastic cap on it. Is that bad?

Next time I am paying someone, this took all day. Way longer than 4 hours!
Old 10-04-2010, 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by map
I have a couple questions after doing this install yesterday. There is a little plastic piece of paper between the top of the shock and the body, I forgot to put that back in one of the fronts. I assume that's no big deal?

On the rear it looks like one of the shocks is leaking. How long do I have? I wish I knew it was bad I would have replaced them yesterday. I also dropped one of the shocks and cracked the white plastic cap on it. Is that bad?

Next time I am paying someone, this took all day. Way longer than 4 hours!
if it's leaking, I would replace it as soon as you can. the plastic thing, don't worry about it. White cap I have no idea. Unless it is holding something together, I suspect it is just a cover for something they won't want exposed or to get damaged but since you have a leaking shock anyway, you'll want to replace all 4 at the same time.

And I hear you on the 4 hours time frame, took us like a day to do mine as well.

Johnser:
See if they settle after a few days but if you are replace just a single shock you might end up with weirdness as the others are worn while one is not.

Last edited by Bigbacon; 10-04-2010 at 06:22 AM.
Old 10-07-2010, 11:00 PM
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anyone have any updated pictures of the install???
Old 06-05-2011, 12:44 PM
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Sorry to revive an old thread.... BUT... I just finished installing megan racing springs on the front with a set of wrenches... IT WAS A TOTAL BITCH!!!!!! My question to anyone that has done this DIY before... Is the rear harder to install than the front? Thanks in advance.
Old 06-06-2011, 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by XcelR8
Received my Tein S-Tech springs yesterday. Looked over the directions and I am so glad for this forum. The supplied directions are not great. Went on-line to tein and pulled off better ones, but the pics will help. Thank you. My only suggestion is that anyone attempting to do this themselves should use spring compressors. I rented them from an autoparts store by my house for FREE. Only had to put a deposit down that will be returned. I have heard stores of people getting seriously hurt from not using the proper tools for this job. I am planning on installing them in the next couple of days.
Who said you should do it without a spring compressor? You risk injury or maybe even death if you attempt to take them apart without some means of safely compressing/uncompressing the spring.
Old 06-06-2011, 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by alex.hamrick16@gmail.com
Sorry to revive an old thread.... BUT... I just finished installing megan racing springs on the front with a set of wrenches... IT WAS A TOTAL BITCH!!!!!! My question to anyone that has done this DIY before... Is the rear harder to install than the front? Thanks in advance.
Get some better tools. They are cheap. you don't need mega expensive sockets and what not.

The rears are slightly more difficult but not by much but you will need more than wrenches to do it...you'll need some sockets and a nice extension.
Old 08-13-2011, 02:32 AM
  #186  
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Hello there,
I've got some problem with the rear suspension of my RX-8. I was hearing knocking sound lately if someone sits at rear seat and the noise came only from left side. I jacked up the car to see what can go wrong and there it was.
The rubber seal just above the spring was half way out in a way that now spring was touching the body.

I have highlighted the seal area in the picture below
DIY: Lowering Springs Install-2008_mazda_rx8_picture-46-.jpg


I don't know how to fix this. All I need to do is to lower the spring so that i can reach the seal and put it into its place again but the problem is that I haven't got a clue..
Please help
Old 08-16-2011, 01:46 AM
  #187  
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Hi!

Could anyone please tell me, wich oem springs are for the rear? 2 of them has brown mark and other 2 has pink.

http://www.myrx8.de/federn.jpg
Old 12-17-2013, 04:37 PM
  #188  
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this might be a stupid question but: when i remove the alignment bolt on the control arm, the control arm will not slide out of the bracket! the bracket is physically in the way, no matter how i maneuver the hub (bracket seems like it was bent inwards, maybe when i ran over something). So why don't you remove the 19mm closest to the hub? will that release the control arm as well, or do i need to remove more than just the nut closest to the hub to release the arm? thanks

Last edited by alming1132; 12-17-2013 at 04:43 PM.
Old 12-07-2015, 06:12 PM
  #189  
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I'm sorry to bring this from the dead, but today I installed my tanabe lowering springs and for some reason the front spring did not lowered the car. The rear springs seat nice like the way it should be.
Old 12-07-2015, 06:41 PM
  #190  
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Look up preloading the springs. You need to loosen a couple bolts and do a short, slow drive to settle the front then tighten it back up.
Old 12-07-2015, 06:52 PM
  #191  
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Thank you!
Old 12-13-2015, 03:10 PM
  #192  
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Originally Posted by J8635621
Look up preloading the springs. You need to loosen a couple bolts and do a short, slow drive to settle the front then tighten it back up.
Do you know exactly which bolts?

Edit: I found the thread. Lol. But now I have a new question. Do you have to pre load the rear springs as well?

Last edited by Talal916; 12-13-2015 at 03:14 PM.
Old 12-13-2015, 03:12 PM
  #193  
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Gold Sleeve

I installed the front lowering springs today and after installing, realized that I have one left over Gold sleeve. Forgot to put it back for the driver's side. Is this an important piece? It's about an inch long, so would it have any affect on the ride height or ride quality?
Old 12-13-2015, 03:34 PM
  #194  
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Originally Posted by Talal916
I installed the front lowering springs today and after installing, realized that I have one left over Gold sleeve. Forgot to put it back for the driver's side. Is this an important piece? It's about an inch long, so would it have any affect on the ride height or ride quality?

You need to put it back in.
Old 12-13-2015, 03:47 PM
  #195  
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Originally Posted by dannobre
You need to put it back in.
Damnit. Well I can only blame myself for this one.

What does it even do though?
Old 12-13-2015, 04:16 PM
  #196  
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If it's the one I think it is it keeps the shaft centered
Old 05-03-2016, 08:43 PM
  #197  
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Been 5 months since I installed my springs. Front sitting nice and low. The rear end still high as hell. Don't know how to fix that. Might try cutting the springs.
Old 05-03-2016, 08:55 PM
  #198  
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You sure you put the correct springs in the front? Cutting springs is for a civic not an rx8
Old 05-03-2016, 08:58 PM
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Yeah I matched the sizes with the OEM springs. Only half-joking about cutting the springs. :\

Could I buy coilovers for just the rear end?
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