I've done well over 50 Honda suspension installs and all are very straight forward. That was the case with the TSX. The problem we had was actually assembling the Comptech 110-155 front spring on a Neuspeed Knoi shock.

We never successfully even got one spring installed on the after market shock. The spring was extremely tall and required compressing just to assemble the aftermarket setup. This is actually the first aftermarket spring I have ever seen that needed a spring compressor to assemble the spring onto the shock. We used a compressor and still didn’t get it compressed enough to put it on the shock due to the large coil size and close spacing.

Per what I discussed with Nate at Comptech the 110-155 spring for the TL is still the same spring that used to be sold for the TSX. Did something change that he forgot about? Have they always been a tall spring? Doesn't make sense the spring is that tall and stronger than stock and will actualy lower the car.

I am stuck and need some assistance. My choices are to figure out what needs to be changed to use Comptech springs or sell everything and just use the A-Spec setup. I'm leaning towards A-spec just to keep from having to compress or hassle with anything but am concerned this will leave me wanting more performance (and still keeping a cooshy ride).

Thanks for the help.

Trey

 

This probably belonger more in the suspension forum if someone wants to move it.

Trey

 

I've had the same problem with a 2000 Accord V6 coupe that I installed Eibach Pro Kits on. For some reason, they required a compressor when most aftermarket springs do not. In this case I would go with a setup that doesn't require so much hassle to use.

 

oh man! I just ordered that same setup, haven't a few people done it successfully? Why wouldn't it work? I have my install scheduled for thursday!

 

I used a compressor for Neuspeed Sport Springs when I installed my setup and I used compressors for the springs I installed for my Integra.

You have to play around with the placement of the compressors to compress it enough. It should be doable since some people have this setup.

 

I had to compress the fronts for my pro-kits, its normal

 

I have always compressed the front springs for the TSX. Just get the proper spring compressor. Aftermarket springs do have dead coils just to take up slacks with the reduced height. I think the full length springs are meant for full length shocks. If you have the Neuspeed spec Konis, than the shocks are slightly shorter which can make it slightly more difficult to put the top mount on with long springs.

 

but it should be doable? with the comptech 110-155 springs

 

One would think so but I was concerened with how tall these springs were comparatively.

I've done well over 50 Civic/Integra/Prelude installs and never once recompressed the after market spring (Just takes the weight of someone leaning on it while someone puts the nut on the top cap.

This was more than a little compression needed. It had to be compressed so much it bent the compressors theaded shaft slightly.

We gave up and I am going to regroup and decide what i need to do based on advice.

I have gotten lazy in my old age and unless they are A-specs I am just going to pay someone to install it. I can probably get them put in for $100 ish from a local shop I tune for if I go with them.

Trey

 

i'm taking it to a shop, they will have the stuff to do it, right? sorry for such a noob question

 

When I had my set-up (same as yours) installed, they made the same complaint you did...that the springs where impossible to compress. LannyM pointed out that the spring perch plates (?) where upside down. I had the installer turn them around and they had no problems compressing the springs.

Here is a pic of the spring/shock installed with the spring perch plate upside down. **Incorrect Way

LannyM has pics that he sent me of the proper way the spring should sit on the shock!

 

I am not sure if this is your problem, but you never know! Again, I have the same set-up and am very pleased with it thus far. I hope you figure it out!

 

That's a pretty bad installer if they installed it with the spring perch plate fitted the wrong way (That's a newbie installer error, not an experienced one and you can see that its messed up when your car is jacked up higher than it was with the stock setup)

 

The TSX front springs are tall and strong. I broke a few sets of compressors including a set of hydraulic compressor. So I gave up and bought a more heavy duty spring compressor.

 

Yeah...I was pretty upset when I found out they messed up. I am just glad they fixed, and obviously I will never take my business there again.

 

Thanks for thetip caz. In their defense my shocks shipped with the perch that way too. We flipped them over after examing the setup. That wasn't the issue and didn't make things any easier.

It's good to know this isn't an unusual problem.

Trey

 

So wait man, did you get it or no?

 

We caught the perch being shipped upside down and flipped it over.

We did not get the spring on the shock successfully. I will probably give it another shot next week.

Trey

 

Madmax: just for reassurance...this can be and has been done on many TSX's. This is a simple hiccup that Asahi has hit that he will overcome.

 

Very true. This more an issue with being unprepared for what was to come. Had I know this was the issue I'd have gotten a better spring compressor and alotted more time.

 

alright, good to know, thanks

and good luck asahi

 

While I agree with you, it's happened at least two other times that I'm aware of, so certainly not uncommon.

I was surprised that they were actually able to compress the spring onto the strut with the perch upside down......you can see in the pic it's compressed pretty tightly ......

 

So is the Comptechs really that much different (lengthwise) than other aftermarket springs, ie. Neuspeed, Eibach (which I thought was the same thing as Comptech), etc...

I used the used Autozone rental spring compressors with no problem on my neuspeeds.

 

Same here. I have the 110-155 and used the Autozone rentals without any issue.

 

Well, the only other thing would be what groove you've got the perch in. If it was in the top groove, you'd be 1/2" higher, meaning a little tighter than stock height. But I would think these springs are a little shorter than stock (not sure, never measured) so even then they should go in fairly easily.......

 

We attempted in the 3rd Groove (Which I am not sure is where I want to be).

Moda, I have no idea how you got those chunky spring compressors in between the spring coils. We used these

 

I was able to install the 110-155 springs on the Neuspeed Konis. I used a hydraulic spring compressor and, instead of clamping the springs itself, I put the lower end of the compressor below the spring perch w/ the higher part of the compressor grabbing the spring up top. This allowed me to compress the spring enough to put the assembly together.

Remember that the Neuspeed Koni shocks have shortened pistons so that when you install the shorter aftermarket springs, there is some preload on the spring. Otherwise, the shorter spring may fit too loosely on a stock length shock.

The only issue was with the fronts. The rears are extremely easy. In fact, I didn't need spring compressors at all. I could compress the rear suspension assembly by hand and had a helper thread the top nut on. Of course, if you don't have a 2nd pair of hands, then you'd need the spring compressor for the rear as well.