How hard is it
I would think the rear is easy but is it hard to do struts in the front.
I am confused with the part that requires you to take the front strut from the fork
Is that hard to get off?

 

well depending on how hard the install is depends on where you live. if you live in a snowy climate where they salt the roads, the rear suspension can be a royal PITA to do. we were going to swap out the shocks in my friends integra that he had worked on just over a year ago and used anti seize on the bolts!!! we couldn't get the lower shock bolt out even with an air gun (one that easily takes off crank pulley bolts). the bolt had seized to the bushing in just over a year's time.

anyway, back on topic. for the fronts, you just need to remove the lower shock bolt that goes through the LCA, then the bolt that holds the fork to the shock (don't forget the brake lines, too), then the top hat bolts in the engine bay. it should all come out then.

for the rear, you need to pull the lower shock bolt that goes through the LCA, then the trailing arm bolt that goes through the LCA and then the top hat bolts inside the rear hatch. the 2 rear bolts that go through the LCA are the ones that seize up.

 

Goddamn, I have just spend 17 hours over 2 days working on installing my Konis. I only have 3 in. The biggest pain in the *** is all the seized bolts.

You may need the following.

Breaker bar
Flat wrenches
6-pt socket wrench
Blow torch
small sledge hammer

You will need all these tools to crack the bolts. The sledge is to tap the breaker bar that is inserted over the flat wrench or socket wrench.

Check out my post here to understand my fustration...
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=459496

 

Werd. Heat up those bolts until they are red hot. My torch has never failed me in aiding the taking off of bolts.

 

The install should only take a few hours at most. The install is pretty straight foward, just a few bolts here and there. Just finished coilover install on a friends 240sx took about a total of 3 hours w/ a break in between and hand tools.

 

the one thing that will save you very much time.... PB penatrating oil .. itll unstick any bolt saved me a ton of time in every job i do, just spray a lil around the bolt b4 i even try to take it off

its like wd40 but 10 times better IMO

w/ a blowtorch you run the risk of bending suspension parts


[Modified by 90civichbsi, 7:04 PM 4/1/2003]

 

How does PB compare to other penetrating sprays? I have another brand...I can't remember the name, but its a penetrating spray designed to free rested bolts.

 

from the guys that work on boats out at sea.. PB blaster is the best..

 

i agree PB is the best I use it all the time, a must on older cars like ours.