Suspension & Brakes Theory, alignment, spring rates....

installing lowering springs

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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 06:13 PM
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mcgee*'s Avatar
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Default installing lowering springs

well i seached couldnt find anything on installing lowering springs so question is anyone could post how to install them... and what tools and what else i need to install them..thanks
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 07:08 PM
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I think you will get the idea if you read the thread that is at the top on koni shock install. That helped me.
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 11:02 AM
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Default Re: (civic_speed99)

what year and car are you doing
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 01:06 PM
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Default Re: (solareclipseauto)

Put the car on jack-stands
Remove the wheels
Front suspension:
- Unbolt brake lines from shocks
- Remove bolt that connects the damper fork to the LCA
- Remove bolt that connects the damper fork to the shock
- Remove the damper fork
- Remove two nuts that connect the shock to the shock tower (in engine bay)
- Remove the shock assembly from the car
Rear suspension:
- Remove bolt that connects shock to LCA
- Remove two nuts that connect the shock to the shock tower (in trunk)
- Remove the shock assembly from the car
Disassembling of shock assembly:
- Make mark on shock body & upper mount so you can reinstall it exactly the same
- Install spring compressor that you rented from auto-parts store
- Compress spring until there is no preload between the upper & lower spring perches
- Remove top nut at the end of the shock shaft
- Remove entire upper shock mount from shock shaft (don't loose any parts)
- Remove spring
- Slowly decompress spring
- Install new spring
- Reinstall upper mount & line it up with your markings (use compressor if necessary)
- Reinstall top nut & torque to spec
- Repeat for all shocks
Reinstall all shocks but don't tighten any bolts or nuts down
Bolt brake lines to front shocks & make sure the bolts are tight
Reinstall damper forks on front shocks
Make sure notch in damper forks line up with tab on back of the shocks
Make sure the shocks is seated all the way into the damper forks
Reinstall bolts that connect damper forks to LCAs, but don't tighten them
Torque down pinch bolts that connect damper forks to the front shocks
Loosen ALL suspenison bolts that travel through the center of a bushing a couple turns
Starting at one corner, Use a jack & jack up the LCA until the car barely lifts off the nearest jack-stand
Torque all nuts & bolts of the lifted suspension corner to spec
Move to next corner & repeat the "jacking & torquing" process
Reinstall wheels
Test drive



Modified by 94eg! at 2:17 PM 6/15/2005
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 01:12 PM
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94eg!'s Avatar
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Default Re: (94eg!)

It's actually manditory to loosen all the other suspension bolts that go through the center of a bushing, before you attempt the "jacking & torquing" process. The reason is that you want all your bushings to be perfectly at rest when your car is on the ground. If you don't, your altered ride height will result in bushings that are twisted all the time. This causes them to wear out early.

A word of caution though, most people experience frozen rear LCA bolts on their hondas. These bolts rust solid to the inside of the bushings. This causes people to torque the heads right off when they try to remove the bolts. This happend to me recently when I swaped out my civic LCAs for Integra ones. If there are any stuborn bolts, you may want to seek professional help geting them out...


Modified by 94eg! at 5:27 PM 6/15/2005
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Old Jun 20, 2005 | 10:57 AM
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Default Re: (94eg!)

If the bolts are frozen.....is it just a matter of replacing the bolt? Or do you have to replace more than just the bolt?
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Old Jun 20, 2005 | 11:06 AM
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Default Re: (Try2Live4God)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Try2Live4God &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If the bolts are frozen.....is it just a matter of replacing the bolt? Or do you have to replace more than just the bolt?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Replace the bolt and sometimes bushing. The bushing needs to be mechanically pressed into the LCA.

LCA bolts are roughly $5-7 each
LCA shock bushings are $25-30 each
New LCA with bushings pressed from factory $90-100

I torched the LCA bolt and burned the rubber bushing during my install.
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Old Jun 20, 2005 | 11:57 AM
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Default Re: (99_dc)

You can get them here at HondaAutomotiveParts.com for the following prices...

#21 & #22 = $13.27 each LCA Bushing
#29 & #30 = $13.90 each Shock mount Bushing
#16 & #19 = $65.45 each Complete LCA (#17 is for cars w/o swaybars)
#40 = $5.63 each LCA Bolt
Shock mount Bolt is listed under "Rear Shock Absorber", and it's different from the LCA bolts...

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Old Jun 20, 2005 | 04:32 PM
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Default Re: (94eg!)

Does the complete LCA mean it comes with all the bushings pressed in and all I need is the bolts?
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Old Jun 21, 2005 | 07:12 AM
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Default Re: (Blazin Civic)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blazin Civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does the complete LCA mean it comes with all the bushings pressed in and all I need is the bolts?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes it does. Any number attached to a box, includes everything inside it. And yes the bushings are already pressed inside, complete and ready to bolt-on...

HondaAutomotiveParts.com charges $5 handling fee for every order, but they have the best prices.

SLHondaParts.com has prices just barely higher, but their isn't any handling fees...
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Old Jul 25, 2006 | 11:16 PM
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Default Re: (94eg!)

Quick question, when you say torque the nuts and bolts to spec, where can i find information on these? I have a 96 HB.

One more question, use the jack on the LCA? So i shouldnt just jack up the car any corner but the LCAs so they are free-hanging?

I really appreciate any helps.

God bless
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 11:51 AM
  #12  
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Default Re: (dnaazn326)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dnaazn326 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Quick question, when you say torque the nuts and bolts to spec, where can i find information on these? I have a 96 HB.

One more question, use the jack on the LCA? So i shouldnt just jack up the car any corner but the LCAs so they are free-hanging?

I really appreciate any helps.

God bless </TD></TR></TABLE>

Wow back from the dead. Get a service manual. I'd look it up, but I am at work.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 03:02 PM
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Default Re: installing lowering springs

Please I need some Help, I have in my 92 civic JDM Racing Performance Coilover Lowering Spring Kit, I don't have a bump stop which of this one I need to use?
I'm done it Thank

Last edited by susy76; Aug 11, 2011 at 05:21 PM.
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Old Jul 23, 2011 | 05:00 AM
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Default Re: installing lowering springs

Why did you bump this dead thread? And I'm guessing "JDM Racing Performance Coilover Lowering Spring Kit" are just some $50 Ebay springs and sleeves?
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Old Jul 24, 2011 | 03:48 AM
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Default Re: installing lowering springs

Yep Ebay it is
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