nijia555

well i ordered tein SS a while ago and they were here in time for me to install while i was on my spring break last week. So what am i to do install, i have ht of course i can get through any problem that will come along . so that is 875 dollars (cool). Next what kind of do it yourself project would be correct with out the proper tools 40 dollars for the spring compressor and 100 dollars for wrenches at sears (cool i need them and they can be used again) So i get started in the back and break the rear lca bolt.(it happens right) i go to local shop and they cant remove it with a hammer.(cool i will just do the fronts) The fronts go on without a hitch. I need new lcas so i make some calls and get some online after junkyards here are ******** and racist to me. The control arms that i ordered last night are here and ready to go on. Still in budget (cool). i proceed, take the brake brackets from the rear and the it hits me, i cant take of the control arm because the brake wire is trapped under the schock !!!!! This is going to be expensive. So what do i do i walk to home depot and get a drill and titanum but (still have faith that i can do it). for the most part the bolt can not be fazed. drill and bit (50 dollars). Well i have to get some 1 to do it, my friend takes me to this guy that wants 180 to fix the problem .

The moral of this story , dont listen to people on ht, when they say it is easy. Dont listen to people that say just drill it (i dont know what drill they have).

For all this crap i could have gotten more than this entry level coilover and had someone doing it right

Loco Honkey

The real moral: What is easy to some, is hard to others. What you described is what I consider a milk run. Just chalk it up to lack of experience and learn how to sort the bullshit from the gold here on HT. Alot of us really do know what we're talking about.

poison

You have to know what you're doing and follow research if you are going to do it yourself.

Plus, damper systems aren't hard to install at all.

Asking people on HT for advise is people who have done them before, and know exactly what they are doing. That is the reason they say it's 'easy', when it may be difficult for an unexperienced person and cost 'em a lot of money if they don't know what the hell they are doing due to lack of research/knowledge.

Moral of story -- know what you're doing and feel comfortable completey before you touch things.


[Modified by poison, 5:02 PM 3/29/2003]

JV

You have new LCA's and Teins right? Why not cut the rear shock fork with a (borrowed) sawzall????

The rear shock to LCA bolts are a bitch period. The bolt is almost always frozen in the sleeve. Anybody who has messed with a civics rear suspension knows this.

But as mentioned before. To some of us this is cake work, to other more inexperienced people it's a nightmare...

gohandbz8

sorry to hear about your ever so costly diy project. Definitely asking some experienced ht people would be helpful. Instead of buying the drill you shouldve ran out and bought a torch to burn off the bushing and you wouldve freed the shock.

pdiggitydogg

for real i had a rear shock prob when I did mine too

I took a dremel and cutting disc and cut the fork of the old shock (cut on both sides)(on the threaded side I also made 2 cuts in the bolt so I could remove the whole shock from the lca...then I had to bash on the bolt w/ a bfh (big ******* hammer) to remove it from the rust that had it siezed on...I replaced the bolt and problem solved

you have a similar...if not identical situation...cut it and you'll be set...just be careful what youre cutting so nothing gets fucked up beyond repair

B18C5-EH2

Where's that rolleyeys icon here?

Really bro it sounds like you just had a bit of bad luck.

I'm trying to figure out what you're even talking about when you say the brake wire is trapped under the LCA - what are you talking about?

Got any pics?

nijia555

right, i dont have pictures of my actual car, it is dark and raining out side buy from this photo you can see what i am talking about, the wire that goes under the shock fork

JV

QUOTE]right, i dont have pictures of my actual car, it is dark and raining out side buy from this photo you can see what i am talking about, the wire that goes under the shock fork[/QUOTE]

ABS wiring...

Fuster_Cluck

Sorry to hear about your horror with the install.

But, I've done numerous suspensions on my car(s), and many other mods as well. In the middle of an Eg / GSR swap and I have NO experience with this stuff. Just the info on the web and a digital camera when I run into problems.

I have NO regret to doing anything myself even though I've ran into numerous problems through the installs. I've learned so much and saved so much money.

Drink a and get back to doing your own work on the

Spade

You did the front yourself right? You almost did the back but, one bolt got you stuck and 2 others have already told you how to do it.

Other than that, is it or is it not a strait forward and easy thing to do?

I swapped the suspension from my old civic to the new one (my first time) doing one side on each at a time.....sure it wasn't fast 6 hours for just the fronts and 4 hours for the back. But it was pretty strait forward.
Oh and yes, I also had the back bolt stick....had to put both cars back together go to pep boys and pay 70 dollars for them to change out the bolt and then start over again but still.

I wouldn't give up the chance to do it all over again.....it was a great learning experience and I have helped 3 of my friends save 400 each by showing them how to do it and helping out.

to every DIY'er out there.

nijia555

i see what you guys are saying about doing it yourself, but you guys also knows how it feels when the crap doesnt work out and it starts getting expensive.

sshaikh01

Some people are gifted.
Some people need to pay others to have the work done.

Just last week, i did the suspension swap on a 97 gsr.
I know exactly what you're talking about.
That abs brake wire, will prevent lca from comming out but, its only held there by two 10mm bolts. It should be very easy to come out.
You don't have to take the whole thing out, just open those two 10mm and it'll come out.

If you're still unsure, or are in doubt of anything IM me, and i'll send you pics of step by step of how to do it, front and back.
I've done this so many times, i can do this with my eyes closed, and eating lunch at the same time.

scdarksol

well basically Honda's are the easiest to lower. You dont' even need a spring compressor just step on it, have your air gun ready, pointing the strut mount towards a brick wall and shoot it out. And offcourse the new springs are lowering springs, they will go on without compressing them. yeah the rear bolts always snap! I had this happen to me 2 times. Really sucks. And that is the ABS sensor wiring, dont' break it, very expensive!

BackSideSA

i did my own suspension work just by looking at it.

although i had the same problem with the rear LCA's.

i just bought used LCA's with new lower shock bolts and new tokicos to go in its place

dphi

nevermind


[Modified by dphi, 1:49 AM 3/30/2003]

racecarpete

I've changed my suspension out numerous times and love the fact that i did it myself. Sorry things didn't go your way, stuff like this happens. That is why you have honda-tech here to help you out, just don't get frustrated. You almost finished it yourself, just chalk it up as experience and try again. We are more than glad to help in these situations. now go out there and cut the shocks off and everything is kosher. Good luck!!

FBP Si 2000

I plan on doing it myself sometime next week. I hope I don't run into big problems. Air tools should help right with the LCA bolt? I sure hope so.

fukaintmuven

**** when i didnt my suspension it was the same.. the front went through easy but the rears were a FUkn pain.... second time around came easy. i did my boys suspension completely drunk. Hey its been a year and it hasnt fallen apart...

playAho

you can only do it yourself if you know what you are doing. pouting coils in is a hour or so job if not less. to me that is easy because I have done it alot. but to you it is a problem because you don't know what you are doing and you have to figure it out as you go. don't give up good luck on the next one. it is just a lerning experience and the next one will go smoother.

-CP-

U gota Crawl b4 u can walk

sammysnakes

u gota leEarn How 2 Spell b4 u p0st.

Who Said

next time take it to a certified tech like myself and let us make money instead of buying part after part and tools....would you be a "do it yourselfer" if you broke your leg...no you goto a doctor.
would have cost you 200 bucks to have a shop do it
lol...jk


experience is the best teacher



[Modified by super-dooper fast, 8:54 PM 3/29/2003]

98slvrcx

whenever I want to do something to my car my , I just buy the parts. Then I show my dad what I bought (or tell him while its shipped ) and we both get on it . We lowered my car , it was our first time . We Installed a y8 IM on my y7 two days ago (Our first time , throwing a code 7 tps, but we'll figure it out)... just keeps going . Dont let the problems from stopping you .

ps: we also had a LCA bolt break , but breaking bolts on a car is our biggest fear.

tracebuzta

me and a friend are going through the same right now

we did the fronts easy about two weeks ago and are still working on the rears - i swear those bolts are designed to break