Ok, so first i bought a set of H&R sport springs. Then i decided that i should buy struts too, so I just got my KYB AGX struts. Now i am mechanicly inclined, but i dont have access to a lot of tools. I should have the sockets and stuff, my question is can i get teh stock strut assembly off with hand tools, or am i gonna need an impact. it sucks not having a garage anymore with everything i need. I just don't wan tto get stuck without a car if i cant finish it in a day. Thanks
-Dave

 

you can do it with hand tools(i did) but you will probably need some real wrenches as opposed to sockets for a few things. You should have a 17mm wrench for the bottom bolt which is tough to remove, probably a 14mm wrench for the tightning bolt that tightens the fork(on front ) to the struts. The reason for using real wrenches is that they can withstand kicking and whatnot whereas a ratchet mechanism might break

 

when i helped my friend do his suspension we used the real type(definately a must) and some open-end wrenches
did u use any open-end wrenches?

hope i'm using the right terminology

 

air guns are overrated. you can get more power with a long breaker bar than you can with an air gun. now the 3/4" and 1" impact guns are real tools but they also take 2 people to use them. i have an air gun and the only time i use it is when i take my wheels off cause its quicker. but when working on the car its all about sockets and wrenches

when hes referring to wrenches its the same as open end wrenches. my wrenches have the open end and the "closed end?" best thing you can do is go to sears and buy the 250 piece tool set for like $200. you'll have everything you need to work on your car. unless youre doing some major work then you'll need some other stuff

 

i found that the open end of the wrench was more likely to turn without the bolt,and the hex side works 10x better


-yeah i wish i had bought a set of wrenches, they're so expensive individually, i think i spent 30 dollars for a 12,14, and 17

 

when i helped my friend do his suspension we used sockets without a ratchet mechanism kind of like thisand this

 

those are breaker bars. its not a kind of ratchet. theyre called ratchets cause they ratchet. not flaming. just some info. i've never seen the 2nd one

my next tool investment is ratcheting wrenches. yummy. craftmans are $100 for 7 of them though. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19 (i think)

 

One of the most useful tools I found when installing my Sportlines/KYB AGX, was a can of liquid wrench. Specifically the PB Buster (I think thats what it's called). If you use this before you try to remove your stock suspension it will help greatly.