putting springs on

[Twinchy]

Does anyone know how to install springs or know of a shop that can in southern cali?

[Downfall]

you can go to a local auto parts store and most of them will rent you a spring compresser. You can do it without one but its kinda dangerous. so pretty much compress the spring, unscrew the top nut on the strut mount( might be real tight), pull off the strut mount then pull off the spring, then just reverse everything with the new spring.

[RedlineRacer]

Do it yourself, it is so easy. Buy one of the spring compressors. It looks like two long bolts with two arms on each end. They are so easy to change. It really helps to have access to an air compressor and impact wrench. Just be careful to get each side of the spring compressed about the same time. Just don't do one side of the spring all the way tight and the other loose.

[Twinchy]

ok thanx

[240Stilo]

If there isn't a write-up to install springs, or struts here, here's my attempt.;)

Disclaimer!: This is just how I worked on my car and I am not held responsible for any injuries caused by following these directions.

Now that I covered my behind...

Things you need:

-car jack
-2 jack stands
-15/16 wrench or socket(I used this for the spring compressor I got from Kragen)
-12mm socket
-14mm socket
-17mm deep socket
-19mm deep socket or wrench
-adjustable wrench
-open ended 14mm wrench
-vice grips(HOPEFULLY you don't need these)
-spring compresor
-breaker bar (to make things easy)


For the front struts or springs:
Jack up front of the car and place jack stands under secure locations on either side of the vehicle. Take off front wheel(have a friend hold the brakes or loosen while the car is semi on the ground). Open hood and loosen the 3 nuts on the strut assembly(14mm). Take 2 off and leave one hand tight. Take off the clip that holds the brake line to the strut assembly. Now, remove the two nuts behind the rotor that hold the strut assembly to the knuckle(bolt and nut are different sizes, 17mm and 19mm...I think). Now, tap out the bolts. You can use a hammer and a screwdriver like I did. The second bolt you tap out with the screwdriver will probably get caught as the strut relieves it's sprung stress. Just have someone push down on the rotor or use a lever to push the lower control arm down so you can take out the screwdriver. Take off the last 14mm nut you left on the top of strut assembly and the whole strut assembly is ready to take out.

Now you use the spring compressor. Put one on one side of the spring and the other on the OPPOSITE side of the spring. The compressor I used needed a 15/16 sized wrench so that's what I used (a 15/16 socket would have made things easier). Tighten the bolts on the top little by little, a little on one side then a little on the other. The idea here is to compress the spring as even a possible. When you see the spring is compressed enough that it is not in contact with the top and bottom of strut assembly, then you are ready to seperate the strut and spring. What you want to do now is take the adjustable wrench and adjust it to fit the top flat part of the strut. Now use the 14mm wrench to loosen and remove the nut on the top. IF the nut is stuck for some reason here's where you use the vice grips to hold the shaft from spinning while you take off the nut.

If you want to replace springs you now have to seperate spring and strut, uncompress the spring, compress the new spring, and put it back onto the strut. You then work backwords from here. (Working backards: put on top strut bolt and tighten, put into car and hand tighten top 3 nuts, push down rotor to line up to knuckle holes put in big bolts and torque to spec, finally torque top bolts to spec and put on brake line clip.)

**IF you're replacing struts, all pieces you can take off from the old strut have to be placed onto the new strut or else your car will make the banging noises.**

For the rear struts:
Take off panel that goes on top of rear speakers and remove the rubber cover from the top of strut assembly. Jack up rear of the car(from the diff is fine). Put 2 jackstands under secure locations. Take off wheels. Use 12mm socket to loosen 2 nuts. you might need a little extenion for these. Take off one and hand tighten the other. BE CAREFUL WITH THE NUTS! I dropped them twice but luckily in a good spot or else I would have had to take off side panels to look for them. Now go under the car and loosen up the one bolt that is holding the strut to...umm...whatever(17mm or 19mm I think). Now tap the bottom of the strut out of place, you can use your hand(don't get scared it barely boings out ;)) . Now, remove the top bolt you left from the strut assembly and it will all come out. Follow same procedure using the spring compressor...etc to change what's necessary. Now work backwords to get things back on. (Working backwards: put assembly in, hand tighten 2 top nuts, push down rear rotor to line up and tap in bottom of rear strut assembly, torque bottom bolt to spec, then torque top nuts to spec). Now you can put your wheels on, lower the car and check out the new stuff.

Sidenote: I didn't torque some nuts down properly which made the struts create a loud banging noise in the front. Then in the rear I forgot to replace the bumpstops and what not which made more of the bangin'. Aww well everything is fine now and better than before. Archive pleeeeeeeeease.:bowdown:

[Sil-Abc]

http://www.speczero.com

go to tech section and then u should kno how to do it. Its kinda easy to do but takes a while to do it. make sure to have friends there to help u out if u wanna do it urself.