I hit a snag upon trying to install the rears. It needed a little muscle, but I did manage to get the shock/strut assembly off of the vehicle (with the help of SPL and a breaker bar). But I noticed that the shocks that were on the car (Tokico Blues) had threading for the bolt where as the new suspension did not. Now I'm putting the old suspension back in until I get the appropriate nut to mount the new suspension in.

BTW, what is the appropriate sized nut for that bolt? 14mm?

 

are you talking about the top of the strut being threaded and it's not on the new setup? can you post a picture of your new setup you're trying to put in?

-Luke

 

You know when you get a set of aftermarket shocks (or I guess even OEM) that the bottom of the rear shocks has one side threaded so that the bolt could secure the shock to the LCA.



All inclusive coilovers do not have this threading to accomodate the bolt.

I'm not sure if OEM is supposed to be similar to this or rear shocks in general have the threading. But I don't have the nut and the coilovers didn't come with any. Do I just go to Lowe's or something and pick up a couple of nuts to help secure this when I install the new suspension?

I don't have a problem with the upper half (no upper mounts) but I do understand that I transfer the top hat (I guess that's what they're called) and the bumpstop onto this new coilover when I make the switch.

 

yep you'll transfer the stock top hats and bumpstop if the new setup didn't have any. that's kind of odd about the lower rear bracket not having the welded on nut. but yes you can just take the stock bolt and bring it to a store and ask for a grade 8 nut to fit it. you want something durable and strong.

-Luke

 

Thanks for the help. I didn't really think it was odd until I started taking that lower bolt off and it struck me that I couldn't get the new one in without the appropriate nut. I guess I'll just go the the hardware store and pickup a couple of those nuts. :thumbup:

 

i did my fronts on the weekend and it was super easy and im still quite a newbie! im doing the rears soon. i know i should get the alignment done soon, but will it do major damage if i wait afew weeks?

i just finished the rears now and its awesome! it was super easy with this great DIY!

 

Great DIY! I just got the same setup myself today, and the rear shocks have some paint chipped off along the "cup" where the springs sit. Should I worry about the shocks rusting in that area?

 

this is an awesome DIY, i'm going to install some tein basics pretty soon, and it was a great way to familiarize myself

 

nice diy for everyone!!! yr lucky thoe yr civic has a nut at the top of the front shocks... just my 2 cents for ppl that have a 99-00 there is an allen head at the top of the shock assembly... so make sure you crack it while the shock is still in the car! dont learn the hard way and break an allen trying to hold it and turn while its out of the car!

 

Do I have to take the whole strut apart if I'm just doing lowering springs?

I got in a bit of a jamb and sold my coil overs that were still BNIB. Bought some lowering springs though.