I tried to install my coilovers (not the whole strut assembly.) I went out and bought a spring compressor. Got off the first strut assembly and compressed it. When I tried to take off the nut off the top the thing wouldnt come off. I was like WTF. Me and my friend spent like an hour trying to do that shi*. I was ready to put everything back again and it wouldnt go back together. the freakin top of the strut was not aligned. Spent like another hour on that and finally got it. Anyhow, after I was done putting everything back. The left side(which i didnt touch) had about 3 fingers length and the other side had four. WTF is that? Car drives fine and now I have to save up $150 and get them done professionally. I will never install anything again unless I am 100 % sure. I just wanted to let you guys know.... make sure you are 100% ready to go through alot of BS if your installing your own coilovers and set aside alot of time. I even got my hand sliced open...... i regret it very much!


[Modified by Panda EK, 4:19 AM 10/29/2002]

 

hmm, took me less then 2 hours install my Teins. And I was by myself.

 

Good thing I didn't install mine. I probably would of gotten pissed and throw my coilovers in the street...

 

get some pb wrench stuff, and spray those bolts, we had one front top strut bolt that was mean, took two people using most of our body weight to get it to pop loose, just be really carefull of the top hex socket, do not strip it! it really isnt a hard install, just takes a little patience if the bolts are sticking.

 

ususally installing coilover assemblies is a lot easier...but it shouldn;t take much longer just installing the springs. DOn;t get a compressor...I usually just step on the spring/shock assembly in my yard with a towel over it and slowly take off the nut. Just be VERY careful towards the end of the threads.

 

took me, and two friends about 55 minutes to put on his sportlines....

hell, bring it to me, ill put them on for you, dont waste 150 bucks. thats money for a skunk2 shortshifter my friend...

 

I think anything that you do yourself that you dont really know what u are doing is going to be a pain in the *** but that is why you do it because u want to learn how to do certain things. Knowledge is power, I say keep it up and keep doing ur own ****. I would rather have my hands working on my car than some guy I dont know

 

And let the nut pop off and catch you in the "no no touchy spot"

I used a wall mounted spring compressor, did it in under 2 hours, by myself.
I ended up cutting the tops off, since they were so rusted. I had new struts though...

 

I've done 4 coil over installs.... took me 1 1/2 hrs the first time. Pretty easy.

 

I've done two sets of springs, and have had no problems. I think something was just wrong with your struts. Cause they shouldn't be that hard

 

Doesn't autozone let you borrow tools for free? Or am I crazy

 

Half the fun about installing stuff is, cussing, split knuckles, and beer

 

You don't need no stinking spring compressor. Stock honda springs are super weak. I do suspension swaps at my friends shop all the time. Only thing i do is stand on the shock/spring assembly and the top pops right off...

 

Yeah, you're crazy...but not 100%. You leave a deposit with them and get it back if and when you return the tool. I used to work there and tons of tools never came back because the deposit was cheaper than buying a new tool. It's probably gone up some, but they still do it this way to the best of my knowledge. As far as the install goes...took me aboout 2-2 1/2 hours, problem free.

 

Y0! Ica do that for you. Did mine in like 1hr&50min.
Only charge you $140.
Coilovers installation=easy

 

for sure.

took me about the same amount of time to install my ground control/koni yellows

spring install isnt hard at all

 

I've done so many of my friends cars that it only takes 45 minutes with a friend for a complete install. I have access to air tools and a lift.

 

hahhhhaaaaaa sorry to laugh but this happens to a lot of folks, especially those of us in Rusty Car, Salt Road, NY state. The suspension installs I have been a part of have taken anywhere from 2 hours to 15 hours, no joke. Sometimes everything is stuck or broken or rusted.. like lower control arm bolts or shock rod nuts or even a simple thing like brake line brackets! ARGH! Now be glad you didnt get hurt, sometimes that is what happens when a "beginner' gets frustrated.

And hey you lucky fawkers in Florida and Cali, stop posting stuff like "hey that only took me 1 hour"... for us in the "state of rust", its never easy


[Modified by owen_the_soyboy, 12:59 PM 10/29/2002]

 

how are you ever going to find out how to do it if u never try live an learn

 

Suspension isn't that hard at all to do. Best advice I can give you is to just take your time and do it right. Don't rush yourself since its your first time. But really, suspension on a Honda (assuming you dont live in a state where your **** is rusted to hell) should take you no more than 2 hours, and that includes taking a few breaks and goofing off in the process. Honda suspension (especially the rear) is easy. Only problem I know of some people running into is the rear LCA bolt where the strut meets has issues of coming off...I'm sure if you attempted the install again, your fellow H-Ters would be more than happy to walk you through it.

 

I live in northern WV and I can attest for that! Salted roads in the winter and just weather overall will rust up most of your suspension bolts. The first time I changed springs which was about 5-6 years ago, I spent about 1 hour per corner. A few years later I decided to get some new rear lower control arm bushings and they had already rusted! This time 2 bolts broke and that turned into a 2 day job I'm looking forward to changing them again in the future!

 

I did my own coilovers in about 3 hours, took my sweet time, didn't even break a nail. It sounds like you might of had an isolated case...just try again and save your cash..

 

You're right, we got it made.

I am also of the stand on shock when taking off stock springs. I get the top nut loose by hand then use a power ratchet or impact gun to zip it off the last few threads. It shoots the cup about 5 feel across the floor and the shock shoots a few feet the other way.

My buddies have easily done over 100 installs this way and haven't had a single problem or injury.

 

 

Me and a few friends installed my GCs. I will be the first to admit my mechanical skills suck ***, but after watching them work I got the hang of it, and by the time I was ready to put the AGX's on I did the majority of the work. Only problem we had was a stripped bolt on the top of the shock tower. But with new shocks only a day or so away it wasn't to big of a concern. I gained a lot of knowledge from working on it myself. Just get someone who knows what they are doing.