hey whats up...i dont got time to get some 1 to install my lowering springs so can some1 explain 2 me tha simpliest way how to install them myself?..i gotta DA9..please help

 

spring compressor.

 

i dont have...i mean by hand

 

without spring compressor u cant do it, but i think u can use a belt and tighten it or somthing

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integraboi2626 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont have...i mean by hand</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...=3980

That ten dollars or so will save you so much time...

 

rent one from an autozone or pepboys...

 

I got my spring compressors from Advanced for like $12.

 

dont listen to these guys.
you dont need a spring compressor.
just use another jack.

 

autozone... $40 to take them, $40 back when u return it. (spring compressor)

 

you dont have time to get someone to install them but you have time to install it yourself? It will take a lot more time if you install them yourself especially if you dont have the right tools

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tomithy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you dont have time to get someone to install them but you have time to install it yourself? It will take a lot more time if you install them yourself especially if you dont have the right tools</TD></TR></TABLE>
Or don't know what you are doing. Either get someone who know's what they are doing to help you, or pull out your wallet and get it done right the first time.

 

If you are going to do it get the sprng compressor. There is a lot of tension n the spring and it is not something you need to be messing around with without he proper tools. Be save spend the mone on the tools, or just pay someone to do it.

Most shops can install springs in just 1-2hrs. It will take you at least that long, and I bet a lot longer.

 

dont be a baby, its simple to do.

Tools:
19mm socket (lug nuts)
14mm socket
17mm socket
10mm socket
12mm socket
3/8" drive ratchet
3" 3/8" dr extension
17mm Open end OR ratcheting wrench

Front:
Step 1 - Remove front wheels
Step 2 - use 14mm socket to loosen the top of the fork that holds the front strut
Step 3 - use 10 or 12mm socket to remove the brake line braket attached to the
shock houseing
Step 4 - Remmove the 17mm bolt holding the bottom of the fork(where the fork meets the knuclel)
Step 5 - remove the fork by rocking it back and forth as you pull down
Step 6 - unbolt the 2 14mm nuts that hold the top of the shock, and slide out.

***** there are 2 ways to remove the spring without a spring compressor *****
First method. Before you begin, loosen the shock bolt with every thing bolted in place. once you jack up the car, it will release the pressure, and when the strut assembly is removed, the spring will be lose.

Second Method. Note that this one is a lil more dangerous, but no guts, no glory.
with the strut assembly removed from the car, point the bottom end of the shock towards a concrete wall. Place your foot, or get someone else to step on the spring firmly. loosen the shock bolt, and the spring will shoot out (only about 12-14") and the worst its gonna do is put a small chip in the concrete.

Rear springs:
Step 1 - remove the rear wheels
Step 2 - loosen the lower shock bolt
Step 3 - remove the bolts holding the brake line to the shock
Step 4 - remove the 3rd (furthest from the brake drum assembly) bolt on the Lower control arm, and remove the lower shock bolt. lower the control arm out of the way
Step 5 - remove the 2 14mm bolts that hold the upper shock mount, and out she comes. change the spring the same as above.


Now, my method may be ghetto, but it has worked for me over 20 times. I prefer the stepping on the spring method personally, but the other way works too.
(sorry for the lack of pics, my camera is broken )

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM_EK_Fanatic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Second Method. Note that this one is a lil more dangerous, but no guts, no glory.
with the strut assembly removed from the car, point the bottom end of the shock towards a concrete wall. Place your foot, or get someone else to step on the spring firmly. loosen the shock bolt, and the spring will shoot out (only about 12-14") and the worst its gonna do is put a small chip in the concrete.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

That doesn't really sound like the worst it can do... it could bounce off the wall and hit you in your face. Just get a spring compressor.

 

i have never used a spring compressor and i've done struts and coilovers lots of times. i usually do it the ghetto way too. hey, it works, and i can still do a full suspension in a few hrs (granted the bolts don't break and they come out easy!)but air tools are the things to have. coudn't do it with out them.

 

cant you change your hole suspension without useing the spring compressor? Just get new shocks and springs and you dont have to deal with that

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4drlsintegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cant you change your hole suspension without useing the spring compressor? Just get new shocks and springs and you dont have to deal with that</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes you can, that is how I did my car, new springs and shocks, just droped the old ones out and replace them with the new ones.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Robstunner4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">autozone... $40 to take them, $40 back when u return it. (spring compressor)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha thats the bad *** way to do it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vesperfx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dont listen to these guys.
you dont need a spring compressor.
just use another jack.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i dont know what you gonna do with the jack.

but, rent the spring compressor from auto part store, to be safe

 

Are you kidding? I have NEVER used a spring compressor and it's not a big deal, if you're using lowering springs you most likely won't even need one. I just lowered an Acura RSX right before the F&F movie without a compressor and it took me on avg 15mins per corner, we timed it. The spring isn't under that much pressure, it'll pop like, a whole INCH. On my integra the lowering springs popped maybe, 3 inches. Nothing big. Just step on the spring and take the top nut off with a ratchet. And make sure it's not within an inch of your face. On the RSX, I didn't even remove the whole strut from the car. Just drop it down a little and rotate, pop the top off, slide the new spring in and it all goes back together.
On your integra rather than compressing the spring to get it to fit between the mount in the engine bay and what is it..the lower control arm? (forgot name) just use a crowbar to push it down and get more space.

But yeah, like motorhead_ls said, air tools are the trick. Without them it would have taken at least twice as long.

I dont know..if it's your first time, ..like the other guys said..maybe you should just be safe and rent a spring compressor.

Um... "bounce off the wall and hit you in the face"? haha...it would be easier to get carpal tunnel syndrome from shifting your automatic tranny from park to drive...

"i think u can use a belt and tighten it or somthing"..
Yeah. I forgot about that one, the old, "belt spring compressor" trick.. I usually prefer rubber bands. Or twist ties. Or, spiderwebs, if you have any on hand.


Modified by jared99 at 10:03 PM 6/26/2006


Modified by jared99 at 10:04 PM 6/26/2006

 

http://users.adelphia.net/~xearo/spring.wmv

http://www.team-integra.net/im...s.mpg

watch the videos and you'll see why you need a spring compressor

 

That's interesting. If I have time tomorrow, I'll shoot a video of me taking off the spring on my DA without a compressor and post it.

 

Here's the short video of me removing the end nut on a 1990 Integra front spring. No spring compressor. Sorry, I did this with my digital camera so the quality is poor and the mic is super small so it's hard to really hear well, picks up tons of static and mostly high-pitched sound.

http://jared.heliosstudios.com/Video/Spring.mpg

If anyone cares..tonight I'm gonna lower a 99 Prelude. I can take pics of the whole process for anyone who hasn't done it before and shoot a better video of taking off the spring without a compressor.

 

All you guys that are anti-spring compressor:

This only works if you have air tools. It's not about the danger of taking the spring off, it's about putting it back on. Unless you're dealing with a really short spring, you are going to have trouble tightening the big top nut by hand. If the spring is not compressed, turning the nut often just turns the shaft in the shock, instead of tightening the nut onto the shaft.

Some folks will say to just put the assembly back on the car and lower it off the jacks, to put extra weight on the big nut, but that only works about half the time.

That's why you have to use the spring compressor when you don't have air tools. You have to relieve the pressure from the top of the shock assembly, so you can tighten the big nut down without spinning the shaft.

 

man, reading through this thread, i'm sure am glad i do all of my own work.