Spring Install Suggestions Tips
08-21-2004, 11:40 PM
#1
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Spring Install Suggestions Tips
The_Bean and I installed his Tien springs today, and after all the hard work I thought I post some suggestions for doing spring installs on the 8 that might save some people some time.
Tools/Prep
- First, get a good spring compressor. Lyle? Something like that, sold at pepboys, is a good one
- You will also need a set of metric Allen wrenches, a metric socket set with 10,12, 14, 17 and 19mm sockets. A good extention arm for extra leverage is also a good idea.
- Download the dealer service manual on this sight, good for reference.
- Hacksaw to cut bump stops
Uninstall / Removing Stock Components.
- Have a hydraulic floor jack handy for lifting up the suspension from below to relieve tension on the sway bar links. (Front and Rear)
- To remove the front struts after the lower bolt is removed you may need to wack the bottom strut forks with a hammer to get them of the bottom linkage. (Front)
- There is a little 12mm bolt on the rear suspension tower at the spot where it connects to the car, don’t for get to take that one out. If you lay under the car and look up you’ll see it. (Rear)
- Be very careful around the TCS/ABS wires, unscrew the wires to give you more play. (Front and Rear)
- When replacing the stock struts after installing the new springs, you can twist the strut at the bottom with a extension arm to line up the strut hole with the lower arm (Rear)
Installing the Springs
- the nut on the top of both the front and rear strut towers that holds to top on will rotate like most others, you can stick a Allen wrench in the top to hold the strut while using a wrench to turn the screw. (Front and Rear). Air tools work really well for this part as well.
- For the front struts, you can loosen slightly the above mentioned nut while the spring strut unit is still in the car installed, but you have to do it before you loosen anything else. The will only work for the fronts, as that nut is exposed under the strut tower bar. (Front)
- You likely won’t need to compress the new springs to install them.
- You may need to cut the bump stops, a hacksaw seems to work fine for this
Tools/Prep
- First, get a good spring compressor. Lyle? Something like that, sold at pepboys, is a good one
- You will also need a set of metric Allen wrenches, a metric socket set with 10,12, 14, 17 and 19mm sockets. A good extention arm for extra leverage is also a good idea.
- Download the dealer service manual on this sight, good for reference.
- Hacksaw to cut bump stops
Uninstall / Removing Stock Components.
- Have a hydraulic floor jack handy for lifting up the suspension from below to relieve tension on the sway bar links. (Front and Rear)
- To remove the front struts after the lower bolt is removed you may need to wack the bottom strut forks with a hammer to get them of the bottom linkage. (Front)
- There is a little 12mm bolt on the rear suspension tower at the spot where it connects to the car, don’t for get to take that one out. If you lay under the car and look up you’ll see it. (Rear)
- Be very careful around the TCS/ABS wires, unscrew the wires to give you more play. (Front and Rear)
- When replacing the stock struts after installing the new springs, you can twist the strut at the bottom with a extension arm to line up the strut hole with the lower arm (Rear)
Installing the Springs
- the nut on the top of both the front and rear strut towers that holds to top on will rotate like most others, you can stick a Allen wrench in the top to hold the strut while using a wrench to turn the screw. (Front and Rear). Air tools work really well for this part as well.
- For the front struts, you can loosen slightly the above mentioned nut while the spring strut unit is still in the car installed, but you have to do it before you loosen anything else. The will only work for the fronts, as that nut is exposed under the strut tower bar. (Front)
- You likely won’t need to compress the new springs to install them.
- You may need to cut the bump stops, a hacksaw seems to work fine for this
08-22-2004, 12:04 AM
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Very nice, useful tips, Brillo! If you don't mind, I may just consolidate this thread into the existing spring install DIY in the DIY forum. That way folks'll find it.
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