HERO

iTrader: (3)

Hi all. im doing a mazdaspeed spring/shock install as we speak. I have the rears finished, but am stuck on the fronts!! i removed the strut bar, and the 17mm bolt on the base of the strut. what else do i have to take off?!?! the strut wont come lose, and im reading the instructions on the DIy but still dont know what it is that i have to take off!!

help much appreciated!!!!

guy321

Remove the sway bar end link. The whole thing will drop right down.

HERO

iTrader: (3)

thanks! gonna do it right now!!!!

HERO

iTrader: (3)

enlink removed and the assembly didnt drop! on the DIy it says to remove the two 14mm bolts on the upper control arm........ would that be whats keeping it up? where are these exactly because im having a hard time locating them..........

guy321

Call me
allen
727-475-4380


But yeah, I thought you'd removed that already.. You need to remove them and the endlink. to drop the control arms.

The bolts are right behind the spring when you are facing the car. It's the top 2 that form the triangle on the big silver thing. the whole thing is compressed so it wont be super easy to remove and may even "pop" when you ge to the end and the spring pushes the bolt out.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

Be careful when you get that whole "A" frame thing loose, it can hang real low and pull on the ABS wiring.

It breaks and the whole harness is one piece - over $500, I'm told.

S

guy321

Yeah, you need to be careful, but you need to watch those anyway to put the spring in.

HERO

iTrader: (3)

thanks alot guy321!! mission accomplished, but with a couple issues........

1) My rear is uneven. there is a 2 finger gap on the rear drivers side, and a 3 finger gap on the rear passenger side. Will this eventually even out once the springs settle, or is there something i should go back and fix?

2) To get the front strut in place for its lower bolt to fit in, i had to twist it. Upon doing so, the spring twisted as well and there is a 2 inch gap between the end of the spring, and the springs seat where it rests. Is this gap going to go away with driving or am I going to have to redo the installation?

StealthTL, I noticed the ABS wiring while i was doing the job and made sure not to pull on it. Thanks for the heads up!!


Once again, the forum rocks!!

guy321

I don't really have the answers to your questions. I will say that I think you might actually have to re-install that spring that slipped. but I'm not sure.

Don't know about the rear either..

However, given the amount of suspension changes you just made I believe you will need a re-alignment.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

you will have to reinstall the spring in ? give me a link to which diy you are following..

i did it myself... it was a pain in the ***. but it was the first time. you learn...

beers