I'm considering installing my aftermarket springs and shocks myself, but have not a single tool to do so. I saw someone post a link to a website with pics and instructions on how to do this, but can't find it--searched.
Can anyone tell me the link to that website?

btw, what tools will I need?

 

Here's one: http://www.bseries.net/html/garage/spring.php

A while back someone posted intructions on IXPerformanne that one 's more detailed but now I can't find it anymore.

 

Thanx, that certainly helps. And yeah, I was looking for that too, but couldn't find it either.

 

I used the bseries.net tutorial to put on my springs. I finished without running into any problems. It was also my first time installing shocks and springs on a car.

 

It's actually pretty easy if you use the directions you find on the net. The only thing that's difficult are stupid small things like tight bolts, etc.

I believe the only tools you need are:
1. Good hydraulic jack
2. Good jackstands
3. Spring compressor (not really needed, but safer)
4. 14mm, 17mm ratchet (10mm also if you have an Integra to move the brake lines)
5. A friend to help you out.
6. Lots of time, and possibly a spare car if this is your first time. My first time took about 2 days total. I had to run to the store to buy a compressor/gun too.

Most, if not all the time, you're gonna need more than a ratchet. An air gun/impact gun would help a lot.

Good luck.

 

Excuse my stupidity when it comes to tools...I have no idea what an air gun/impact gun is....Is it kinda like a gun that uses compressed air to uhm...shoot stuff??

 

Haha. It's kinda like that. It's a gun that uses compressed air to create torque. You ever look in a mechanics garage and hear them use these loud tools that spin lug nuts off? Those are air guns/impact guns. They make a loud ratchety noise when they tighten stuff, because they are actually "impacting" the bolts as they turn so it becomes real tight. It's also good when you have to loosen very tight bolts.

Just make sure, if you ever do get one, get a good one. Spend at least $120+ because the cheapo ones can barely get lug nuts off a wheel.

 

Actually, since I don't have a compressor or a tank (or a garage to put them in), I wound up buying a DeWalt electric impact wrench. No, it's probably not as powerful as a good old-fashioned air wrench, but it did take off all of my lugs, as well as the bolts for the lower later links in the rear (to mention a few).

 

Ah, thanx, that cleared things up.

One more question, lol. What exactly is a torque wrench? Is this used to tighten nuts and such to factory's recommended torques? Are these different from air guns?

 

yeah a torque wrench is used to tighten the bolts down to the spec/the recommended torque settings.. you dial in the torque rating you want it to "click" at.. and when you tighten it and it has reached your dialed in torque.. it will click telling you its at your specified torque setting... yes their different from air guns..

anyway i typed up a how to a while ago.. lemme see if i can find it. .as im too lazy to retype all that.. but you should get by w/ the b-series instructions..

 

hm...okay so a torque wrench is used to tighten bolts to factory specs/recommended specs...and an air/impact gun is used to tighten or loosen bolts as well....I don't really see a difference between them...except that the air gun is more expensive and uses pressure to "impact" bolts.

Will I need both the torque wrench and air/impact gun to work on my suspension, or will just any of those two do the job?

I'm going to buy the tools I need this weekend so I can hopefully have my car lowered and running by next week.

 

I used a $20 electric impact wrench to remove my rear LCA bolts on my car and it worked like a charm. It was slow, but it worked. I've seen plenty of pneumatic impact guns for around $50 that are 1/2" drive and exert at least 200 lb/ft. I'm sure that will suit my needs just fine.

 

Well, the impact gun and air compressor make things easier. I don't know if you want to spend that much money. I got a small compressor from Home Depot and their $100 air gun. It was good enough so far.

The difference between a torque wrench and impact/air gun is that the latter just does things real hard. It really has no preset torque setting. It's kinda dangerous in that respect because you don't want to tighten some bolts too tight because they risk snapping. The impact/air gun is good for really tight things like suspension bolts.

The torque wrench dials in the exact torque settings. Say you want to tighten your lugs to 80ft-lbs. A torque wrench can do that. The same wrench can tighten spark plugs to (I think) 11ft-lbs. You definitely don't want to use an impact/air gun on spark plugs. Heehee.

Hope that cleared things up more for ya.

FYI: Torque wrenches basically look like a long thicker ratchet. It's longer so you have more leverage, and it's thicker because it has inner workings to dial in the torque you want. They are like $50+

 

aside from what shamoo already mentioned.. torque wrench is like a ratchet w/ a long handle and you can dian in the torque setting you want it to "click" at and notify that its tighted to that setting.. your turning it by hand.. impact/air gun.. you just pull the trigger.. its kinda like the difference between using a regular screwdriver.. and using an electric drill to turn a screw... w/ one your turning it by hand.. w/ the other.. you just hold it in place and squeeze the trigger... If your just doing your suspension.. i dont kno if you wanna spend all that money on an air compressor and impact/air gun.... I've dropped many cars (mine and my friends) hand tools suffice..

 

Here is an alternative to an air impact gun and compressor . . . electric impact wrench. I have one and it is the best tool that I have EVER bought...bar none. I used it when I installed my spring and shocks and it was a life saver...or should I say knuckle save. It is also nice to have when you rotate the tires on your car.

I bought mine from Harbor Frieght 3 years ago for $65 and I thought that was a good price, because Sears had and identical impact wrench (same shape, same specs.) for $150. I just checked Harbor Frieght and they now have the same electric impact wrench for $49. Here's the link to it, http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45252 . Here is a picture:




BTW, DeWalt sells an electric impact wrench that look identical for ~$170 ( http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTW339.html ). Here is a picture of the DeWalt for comparision.




I highly recommend one of these!!!

 

Hmm well since my dad just got a spiffy air compressor, I think I'll just go ahead and get a pneumatic impact wrench. Besides, he said he would buy it for me.

 

I also looked at BSQ's link. The most powerful one is 290ft-lbs. My cheapo impact gun is 350 and it can't do much. Most suspension bolts on cars older than 97 can't be loosened.

In fact today I had to send my friend home with only the front of his Integra lowered. None of the rear suspension bolts budged. I soaked it with WD-40 and Liquid Wrench. I nearly snapped a ratchet doing it manually.

 

aww crap! My car is a 97.
Does this mean I'm better off letting some body shop do it for me?

What I really want is a tool that'll let me torque the bolts to factory specs as well as provide some power so I won't break my arm or something trying to loosen one single bolt.

 

hey BSQ, thanx! I think I'll buy that!

I think I'll buy that electric impact wrench with some hydraulic jack combo from Sears, two jack stands included, for ~$50.

Then I'll still have to get a torque wrench won't I if I want torque everything to factory specs?

 

i am considering lowering my car with the help of a friend. was his car really rusty, i was just assuming that a good electric impact could do it easily.
Thanks
Scott

 

I suggest soaking the bolt heads and threads a couple of times, possibly over a couple of days if possible. Then, with the impact wrench (electric of pnematic), try to loosen the bolt first. If the bolt does not break loose, then try tightening the bolt. Then try loosening, tightening, loosening, etc. This is what was required on one of my rear lower strut bolts and it finally broke loose. I'm not saying that this will work everytime, but is worth a try.

 

Yes, you will still need a good torque wrench to torque the bolts to the factory specs. I have a Craftsman 1/2" drive. You can see a similiar one at http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00944595000 . Here is a picture:

 

BSQ: Does your Craftsman torque wrench "click" once you've reached your torque setting?

 

"1/2 in. square drive wrench measures 20 to 150 ft. lb. in 1 ft. lb. increments"

Does this mean I can only torque to a maximum of 150? I hope none of the bolts and nuts exceed 150.

EDIT: I'm going to buy that torque wrench from sears as well as a hydraulic jack with two jack stands. Then I'll order the electric impact wrench. I'm guessing this is all I need to do the suspension.


[Modified by Calavera, 8:54 PM 3/21/2002]

 

hold up, i got lost, do you or do you NOT need a torgue wrench?
i mean the bolts that hold the shock and spring in should be tightened as tight as possible, without breaking the damn bolts themselves. am i right or wrong? the torgue wrench, although a great tool to have, is not needed for chaning shocks and springs.