Coilover Install

[dankS14]

hey

i just got a set of Tein type HE coilovers for my S14...i was wondering if it is hard to install them. i have never any suspension pieces before. the only thing i have installed is headlights and intake. i dont have a torque wrench(i think i can borrow one from a friend though) , but everything else i have...
i can try to do it my self with a jack, or i can pay $175-200 for my local ricer shop to do it.

also, how do i adjust the height evenly?? (how do i adjust shock stroke and the spring height?) also, how do i adjust the PUM's??
do i need an alignment after i install the coilvers??

im sorry this might sound like a bunch of stupid questions, but i would rather do it myself than pay that ass at my local ricer shop $200...i looks pretty much like a bolt on replacement install?

is there anything that would involve a real mechanic?
let me know ASAP..if anyone has any tips or a walk-through would be great...email me at [email protected]
thanx
Jon

[AKADriver]

direct bolt on... you don't need a spring compressor or anything like that.

alignment *yes*! ideally you should get a good performance alignment and have the car corner-balanced on scales.

[Trppen37]

easy shiet..prolly the hardest part is the drivers front...now that was a bish!

[95Blue240sx]

yeah its pretty easy. imho i think you do need a spring compressor. did the tein's come with the strut mount? if they did you just need to compress the STOCK spring to make life easier when removing them. before installing the teins make sure that they are all at the same height. ie count the threads to the bottom of the perch. before loosening any bolts loosen the the top bolt in the center(refer to the pic) dont remove the bolt just get it loose. then start removing the obvious bolts that hold the strut to the car. use the spring compressor as much as possible to reduce the load when taking the bolts off. if you need more pics just let me know.

[Dousan_PG]

sigh

95blue240sx
DONT GIVE MISINFORMATION!!!

original poster

basically install the coilvoers youneed basic sockets,a breaker bar and some liquid wrench, elbow grease and a few hours (depending how fast u work)

take wheel where you are removing/installing.

front:
3 top bolts (strut tower)
2 bolts on spindle (bottom)

install HEs

ALSO!!! VERY IMPORTANT

www.tein.com
technical

go the ENGLISH VERSION of manual. set it up to WHAT TEIN RECOMMENDS (tein gives it specs) so you will undersatnd how it works

rear:
2 top bolts (strut tower)
1 at bottom


remove the old suspension (dont take it apart, it will stay as one unit, you DONT NEED A SPRING COMPRESSOR!!

install HEs

put on ground
adjust by the LOWER PERCH (shock perch) DONT NOT ADJUST BY THE SPRING PERCh, LEAVE IT TO WHAT TEIN RECOMMENDS AS ITS PROPER COMPRESSION ON SPRING PERCH

get alignment. baddabing. DONE!

[95Blue240sx]

i would recommend using a spring compressor just cause to me it seems safer. like when you take the bottom 2 bolts off the assembly kinda shoots down. maybe its just me.

[Dousan_PG]

um..have you actually CHANGED your suspension?
as longas you dont disassemble the shock from the spring there is NO NEED
i had my springs on the shock for AGES (sat in the garage/boxes) and no problems.

it wont come off.
the bolts on the bottom are on the shock body. not near the spring. the bolt on the top wont come off, why? because its stayed on the car for so many years

you should look at your suspension closer. you'll learn more.

[95Blue240sx]

are you talking about me? ive swapped my springs/struts about 4 different times and i know what im doing and how its done. im not talking about leaving the compressor on them after they are off, but simply to reduce the stress when taking the shock assymbly off the car.

[Dousan_PG]

what stress??
i dropped my struts w/ the spring still on it, on the ground when i took it off. its not going anywhere. spring isnt moving. its bolted in their tight.

there is no stress!

[nismofeind]

do you still have the stock wheels

[allmotorKA]

Originally posted by dousan36
what stress??
i dropped my struts w/ the spring still on it, on the ground when i took it off. its not going anywhere. spring isnt moving. its bolted in their tight.

there is no stress!

True...there is no stress BUT some people will create "stress" because they do not understand suspension basics. For example, if you do not remove BOTH left and right side coilovers BEFORE installing shorter springs or coilover assemblies, you can induce torsional loading of the anti-sway bar. This happens when the overall coilover assembly length is different between left and right side. Once this happens it appears that spring compressors are necessary as the suspension appears to be under some sort of spring preload when in reality the preload is coming from the sway bar.

[Orgazmo]

Hi, i'm new at this but do i need to do some welding when i want to install coilovers into my 95 240sx? my friend told me i might have to..i hope he's wrong... :)

still have a original factory suspension...

-newbie-

[Dousan_PG]

Originally posted by Orgazmo
Hi, i'm new at this but do i need to do some welding when i want to install coilovers into my 95 240sx? my friend told me i might have to..i hope he's wrong... :)

still have a original factory suspension...

-newbie-

NO!!! no welding
he's WAY wrong

[RedlineRacer]

There's no need for a spring compressor. The only way the spring will come out is if you undo the top center bolts on top of the strut. Otherwise, how are they going to fly out?

[Dousan_PG]

right
just dont drop or toss it aorund or dissemble it
just unbolt at top and bottom (strut tower and spindle) and it'll be fine

[Orgazmo]

thanx dousan....;)

[adey]

also, before you install it, make sure that the 2 fronts and that the 2 rears are the same height. That is, 2 fronts should be equal height, and 2 rears should be equal height. :thumbsup: