Spring installation.....spring compressor needed?
 

I've got a 96 accord ex that needs its struts replaced. I plan on installing some GR2's inside the stock springs....I am not lowering it at all.

A friend changed my struts 2 years ago with some autozone crappers and they need replacing again. He did all the work and I was a car/mechanic noob back then. The method he did was to take out the whole assembly, put on a spring compressor, and then take off the top nut.

It worked fine but I was wondering if you could leave the struts in the assembly in the car, undo the top 3 bolts in the engine bay, raise the car, and then undo the bolts holding everything in place in the wheel well. Is this possible? Does the stock setup come out easily?

If it possible, do you have to use a spring compressor to put it all back together or can you put it together while the car is still raised and just lower back to normal, tightening the bolts?

Uh yeah you need a spring compressor, you need to do it the way he did it, and make sure you do it correctly. I've seen springs shoot off and go through the fender. Not a good place to try new techniques on.

Take the whole damper out but make sure you leave that top bolt on, then use a spring compressor to keep the spring compressed. Don't try to save 10 mins. Then undo the top bolt and change the strut.

check out this spring compressor, looks really easy to use, at least it looks easier than the old fashioned 2-claw ones...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=43753

that's just like the one i used... very very easy if you have an impact wrench laying around

You can borrow them from autozone for free. They make you pay the replacement cost when you go get them and when you bring them back they give you the money back. I borrow tools from there all the time.

i thought autozone charged like 10 bucks an hour to rent it
i could be wrong

nope, i borrowed hella tools from them and they refunded the money every time.

auto zone ones don't work on lowering springs when you want to take them off. the coils are too close together. i ended up grinding the hell out of them to get them to fit in and now i own them cuz auto zone doesn't like you modifying their loaner tools. :D

typically lowering springs dont need to be compressed if your installing them with new struts.

I changed all of the lowering springs on my 91 crx si back to the stock springs. I did not use a spring compressor. I may have used my floor jack to jack up on it while the car was on jack stands or something. I can't remember, but i know i did'nt use a spring compressor.