Installing Lowering Springs

[Microbrewa]

does anyone have any links to a site that explains how to install lowering springs. I have a pro kit for my 95 integra LS (1.3 drop). I have no experience installing springs, and i know that its a long process but i would like to do it myself if possible. Im pretty sure i could do everything except taking the stock springs off because i think you need a specail tool for that? and as back up, how much would it cost to get it installed professionally. (sayyyyy $50 an hour)

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[Oxygen795]

just do a search .. and its not that easy, you need a spring compressor ... if u dont have any idea, dont do it .. i had no idea what i was doing but i managed to get them in, i just followed the directions and i had all the right tools (air guns, spring compressor, etc...)

[Microbrewa]

how much is a spring compressor, where could i find one?

i found on this site, it shows how to take springs off without a spring compressor http://www.deepstaged.net/stock_spri...ithout_spr.htm

[96GreenCivic]

what brand springs? eibach?
did you get new struts/ shocks?

[h22avid]

Originally posted by Microbrewa
how much is a spring compressor, where could i find one?

i found on this site, it shows how to take springs off without a spring compressor http://www.deepstaged.net/stock_spri...ithout_spr.htm

It sounds like it could be done but watch da nuts... ouch for sure.

Just about anything can be done without the proper tools but it is always a big pain in the ass. Get a spring compressor or pay someone to do it.

[h22avid]

I've also seen some shade tree methods to compressing the spring with clamps and such that can be gotten from Home Depot or somewhere like that.

Another option would be to check out AutoZone an auto parts store if you have one in you're area. They carry just about any tool for any automative repair that they loan out for free, all you do is leave a deposit that's refunded when you return it... I don't know if that only applies to paying customers that bought something... you'll have to call and find out.

Also check some Equipment Rental places .

It probably wouldn't cost that much though to take out your strut/spring assembly yourself and take it somehwere and have them swap out the springs... after all you've done most of the hard work, their just swapping the springs for you.

[a2k]

thatt one from deep staged sounds pretty stupid to me... i wouldnt try it, i just went out and bought tha fricken tool, nto that hard, then when Ur freinds get cars, rent them the spring compressor, or charge them to do it... there less then 100 bones, just go for it, an if u dont wanna charge Ur freinds, u can alwayz find some local rice boys at the local high school... good luck

[draneusmc]

I know in my area it only cost me 40 dollars to rent the spring compressor from autozone and then I returned it and got my money back (all of it). So.............I like deepstaged's website a lot but I'd use a spring compressor and allot for a whole day or even a weekend. Remeber to torque everything properly and to keep that rubber piece that the factory springs sit on or else you'll here that spring sound rubbing the piece it sits on. Oh and when you take the spring off remember how the strut is positioned because when you put the upper pillow ball mount back on the screws have to align properly. I know this is long but man it's really really easy to do. Just make sure you have ALL the tools before you start and it'll be a piece of cake. Good luck and happy motoring.

[Microbrewa]

ya thanks, i called autozone and they'll rent it out for $50 for up to 180 days, get all ur money back when you return it ....if you dont break it.

im gonna give it a go but all the things you just said made me more nervous....aligning plus i dont know anything about the rubber thing your talking about. Im sure once i get goin ill be all set. hopefully ill find some time to do it soon

[tgiovan]

I just did mine, and the hardest part was using the spring compreser! it was pretty scetchy to see how much tesion the springs were under. you'll do fine it just takes patience! at least for me it did.

[h22avid]

Originally posted by Microbrewa
ya thanks, i called autozone and they'll rent it out for $50 for up to 180 days, get all ur money back when you return it ....if you dont break it.

im gonna give it a go but all the things you just said made me more nervous....aligning plus i dont know anything about the rubber thing your talking about. Im sure once i get goin ill be all set. hopefully ill find some time to do it soon

don't be nervous just remember how everything was when you took it out and put it back the same. If you have a digi cam and are really nervous, just take pics before and along the way that you can reference when putting it back together. That's what I did when I stripped my engine bay down to nothing but primer prior to repainiting it. I was concerned that I wouldn't get all the nuts and bolts and little tid bits back where they were originally so I took detailed pictures of everything and when I removed nuts and bolts etc. I placed them in zip locks and marked on the bags with a marker to tell me where they came from. Witth that it was simple and quick to put my whole engine bay back together after painting it.

[h22avid]

Also, I will be installing Progress Auto springs and Tokico Blues this weekend on my car. I will try to detail the steps with good pictures if you want to reference that. Once I have the documentation down it will get posted on my web site which is in my signature.

[94AccordSedanEX]

Me and my friend didn't use a spring compressor, just used a couple jacks and jack stands to hold up the car, allen key, and a bunch of scket wrenchs.

[h22avid]

Originally posted by 94AccordSedanEX
Me and my friend didn't use a spring compressor, just used a couple jacks and jack stands to hold up the car, allen key, and a bunch of scket wrenchs.

That works too, I did that on a truck I used to have once...

to elaborate some... just get the car up on jackstands then use a hydrolic jack under the lca where the strut mounts to.... just jack it up a bit to compress it then take your allen to the strut piston in the trunk/engine bay and start at the nut with your wrench. After the nut is off, slowly let the hydrolic pressure out of the jack and there you go... I failed to mention this before because it can be tricky if you're not careful and I didn't want to send anyone out to screw something up.... but hey swim at your own risk... no life guard on duty

[Microbrewa]

k guys im planning on going through with the install tomorrow.

1 problem though, i dont have a lift, or any jack stands, just the jack from my parents car (mine didnt have one when i bought it) Is there something wrong with doing one spring at a time? like taking one tire off and taking the strut off etc. and finishing it and put the tire back on, and do the same for the other tires? or would that not work.

also, if i had 2 jacks, and i put one on each side of the car (as if i was raising that side to take of the tire, but for both sides -- for front or rear at a time only obviously) and raise the front end of the car up, would this work?

help please!!!

[h22avid]

You can definitely do one wheel at a time but it's really best to have the car on a block or jack stand for at least the one wheel you're working on. That way you have the jack free to lift the knuckle/spindle and apply load to the suspension before tightening everything up. You can pick up small hydrolic jacks and 2 ton jack stands for pretty damn cheap at wal-mart.

Here is one of my posts from another thread which deals with this issue a little on the front struts...

First slip your strut up into the strut tower and put the two bolts on loosely not tight yet....then slip the fork onto the bottom of the strut and don't put the pinch bolt in yet because you'll want to line up your strut and place the suspension under load before tightening anything...once you get the fork on the strut allign the holes through the fork with the lca and shimmie or lightly hammer the bolt through while doing the shimmie with the hub/rotor too...put the nut loosely on the other side of the bolt through the fork....now everything should be in loosely....shimmie the strut to get it good and straight making sure that the sping is sitting properly in the seat of the strut (end of spring coil against the notched rise in strut seat)....apply a load to the suspension by placing a jack under the knuckle/spindle and jacking it up until you see the car lift slightly off of your jack stand to make sure the damper is under load and everything is firmly seated... then tighten the bottom nut & bolt on the lca put the pinch bolt in and tighten it then put the wheel on and bring the car back down on the ground...tighten the top two bolts on the strut tower once it is on the ground and your ready to roll.

The important thing is to grease the two bussings and sleeve at the top of the strut to avoid any squeking.

If you need help in the rear let me know lol

[Microbrewa]

today my friend and i did the front end of my car, it took us about 3 hours and then it was dark so we have to do the back tomorrow. we used logs as jack stands

i took pics and in the process managed to drop my parents $300 digital camera hopefully its not broken. ill post em when i finish.

its safe to drive the car with the front end lowered and not hte back right?

[96GreenCivic]

I'm sure you'll be ok driving, but it'll look weird

[h22avid]

Originally posted by Microbrewa
we used logs as jack stands

you gotta do whatever works when you're a shade tree mechanic and logs fit the bill

[Microbrewa]

ok sorry but i FINALLY started to do the back end yesturday.

i loosened up the top of the strut bolts, then my directions said loosen the bolt at the bottom of the strut... so i went down there and tried to loosen it

i tried over and over, used pipes for leverage, had about 3 guys try it....and it would NOT budge...we put WD-40 on it...everything. I think its just about completely stripped now and i cant get it out....what should i do? the other side, the bolt just came right out...

If i went to a mechaninc to take the bolt out...would it be unsafe to drive the car back home with it loosened/out? i figured it owuld be but i wanted to know for sure.

[h22avid]

Originally posted by Microbrewa
ok sorry but i FINALLY started to do the back end yesturday.

i loosened up the top of the strut bolts, then my directions said loosen the bolt at the bottom of the strut... so i went down there and tried to loosen it

i tried over and over, used pipes for leverage, had about 3 guys try it....and it would NOT budge...we put WD-40 on it...everything. I think its just about completely stripped now and i cant get it out....what should i do? the other side, the bolt just came right out...

If i went to a mechaninc to take the bolt out...would it be unsafe to drive the car back home with it loosened/out? i figured it owuld be but i wanted to know for sure.

were you turning the bolt the right way... righty tighty.. lefty loosey? It should comeright out unless it was torqued down by the HULK

I wouldn't drive it with the bolt loose. A shop would probably have to use a torch to heat it up and get it out. A strut is not that labor intensive so while their down there I would just have them swap it out for you. If they won't or it costs too much, have them get the bolt out then roll it out in the parking lot and do it yourself. The rears are really easy and should only take like ten minutes to do.

[ek9project]

hey i need ur opinon guys i bought Eibach sportline springs and i got them installed for 300$bucks. Is that good? or too much or cheap?

[enomix]

yeah got it done at a shop and charged me out the ass but i had the rear bushings replaced to

[earlhickey13]

yeah its scary to first few times.But now i dont even use a spring compressor I got a method and dont even worry about it now.But hey if you think that is scary do a jdm conversion with no insrtuctons and guessing on most of it.Its kind of scary when you have the whole front end ripped off and not sure if your doing it right.But I say go for you have to learn sometime.

[greasemonky50]

spring compressors are available at autozone for like 30 bucks. ill will start doing my own spring and shock install it will take forever cuz its my first time. but i will feel a lot better knowing im doing my own job. cuz the installation prices are steep. working on your own car is like sex it feels good begining to end. after that light up a cig.

[quik]

Originally Posted by greasemonky50

working on your own car is like sex it feels good begining to end. after that light up a cig.

this is the most fantastic thing that i have heard in my entire life.

[I_S_R]

http://videos.streetfire.net/search/...96D5A32764.htm go to this website it actually shows how to install lowring springs, on video!!!! (better than reading)

[qui004]

Originally Posted by Microbrewa

how much is a spring compressor, where could i find one?

i found on this site, it shows how to take springs off without a spring compressor http://www.deepstaged.net/stock_spri...ithout_spr.htm

hey you can get a compressor from discountautoparts for like a $50 deposit.

[RicoD]

Originally Posted by qui004

hey you can get a compressor from discountautoparts for like a $50 deposit.

Or you can buy one for 20 bucks at Autozone

[dr_jekal01]

hey I was doing my springs for my 95 integra, they are adjustable with the aluminum tube as an adjuster, I got these rubber o-rings that came with it and in different thickness, does any body know what I gotta do with them? and also I removed the dust shield off the strut cause it wont fit through the aluminum adjuster, is it all right leaving them out or is there a way to fit it in? would some get to me asap on this, my car is on jack stands right now and I need my ride up and going.

here is how they look like