did exhaust

did headers

did sways

but cant do it this time

for those of yall wondering if you should install springs, DONT DO IT. its a pain in the ass especially using a strut compressor AND YES I SAID STRUT COMPRESSOR dont know why but thats what they call it

the breakdown

taking off the driver side strut and spring was a piece a cake. Took no more than 10 minutes.

Compressing the spring: JUST A BITCH took me a good 30 minutes to compress it enough.

Last step i got to was trying to remove the nut, that damn nut that holds the spring and strut together. well let me tell yall, bent the hex key and stripped the nut. THAT DAMN THING JUST WOULDNT COME OFF!!! im thinking the only way to get that thing off is with an impact wrench.

after 2 hours of hassle with the first assembly i said fuck it. went back to try to install it and didnt fit right. FORGOT TO LINE UP THE DAMN TOP BOLT AND THE LITTLE GROOVE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STRUT!!!!

went back inside and recompressed that bitch

well got it to line up and decompressed the spring this whole process took me about 45 minutes. went outside and took me 20 mins to get in place and about another 20 minutes to tighten all the bolts and put the tires back on and clean up...

i think even if i had gotten that nut off i would not continue the install. just imagining the whole process 7 more times!!!! taking it off and putting it on!!!!!

well i have set an appointment to get them installed at a local shop for 140 +35 for alignment. I think that will be the best $175 i will ever spend!!!!

I WILL NEVER DO THIS INSTALL AGAIN: unless i have one of those big ass spring compressors and air tools and a lift.

installing intake headers sways, and exhaust was fun

this was not fun at all

sidemarker

 

:o

 

hmmm ... why is it so hard? I think header installation is harder than springs. Even though I never install a header before. First, you need to have good quality hex wrench. Secondly, be patient with the spring compressor. I did mine w/o any problem and that was the first time that I ever installed springs.

 

hey man at least u tried

 

all my tools are CRAFTSMAN

sidemarker

 

sidemarker

 

i was told that the spring compressors that i rented from autozone SUCKS ASS so that might have been the problem

sidemarker

 

i did it with my cousin at the acura dealership ... boy has more snapon tools that anybody ....

 

I got the spring compressors from AutoZone. Worked fine for me

 

Hail to the Gods......... AIRTOOLS. If your don't have them, get them! You would have made short work of it.

 

Guys its not that hard. I have done it on many cars. You just need to make sure you have the right tools before doing it.

Sidemarker you should have let me help you out.

 

I bought mine from autozone a while back, they work fine as well

 

Just curious- what shop are you getting your springs done at?

 

i would never mess around with installing anything on my car besides stereo equipment or the CAI...everything else id rather just pay to have it done, plus i get cheap installs on everything cause my good freind is a mechanic...spring install for me was 75 bucks....and i bought him lunch

 

*FREE* for me.

And I can make sure its done right the first time around, not some grease money touching my car. But your friend isn't a grease monkey, just talking about most mechanics.

 

Air tools are almost a requirement for spring installs.

 

RICHMOND AUTO

thanks cforez, and it turns out that i know the the owners son

sidemarker

 

i think its a MUST unless you get lucky enough that whatever you are taking off is not on too tight

sidemarker

 

im so impatient when it comes to install and i want to get my parts installed as soon as i got them. Plus i dont think you would have wanted to drive up to austin on a tuesday afternoon

but thanks for the offer

sidemarker

 

I don't know that I recommend this method of removing springs but it is very quick and is something to consider. You will NEED and impact wrench.
a) Remove the strut shock combo from the car and place horizontally on ground with some sort of solid objet in front, i.e. tire, wall, etc.
b) With heavy gloves on, place one foot on top of the strut assembly and the impact wrench on the top of the strut and let it rip.
The top strut mount will pop off with some force hitting your solid object but not as much as you would think. It's not going to maim or kill anything.
c) Reassemble the shock and strut. The new springs are much shorter so you should not have to use a spring compressor to get things back together.
This is how I have done my other Hondas and this is how I will do My CL when I get my springs. The whole process takes five minutes. I came up with this when I injured my thumb badly with the spring comperssor and have done it several times on several cars.

 

True, since I work all day. Damn. Your spur of the moment installs!

 

i have heard nothing but good stuff about Richmond Auto (across from MZM right?).

 

Didn't use or need an impact wrench on my entire suspension rebuild on the MR2....

 

yes they did a pretty good job except FUCKING UP ONE OF MY STRUTS

yup just got all three of them installed today i got to wait for the new one next week, so im riding on three tokico illuminas and one oem strut.

it wasnt really there fault, the top thread BROKE OFF while tightening the nut. just to show u the quality of tokicos...

but the ride is pretty good almost like stock but a little bit stiffer and the car feels much more tight. no more body roll

now i want to get sways and new tires

sidemarker

 

What setting do you have the Illuminas on?

 

well i currently dont have a back seat right now

but i have the back at 5

and the left front at 2

as soon as i get everything in and the new strut settle and get my alignment i will play with the settings a bit more

oh one more thing if your in the SA or austin area and want to test drive this set up you are more than welcome to i also have intake headers and exhaust if you want to know how much power they really produce...

sidemarker

 

i installed my coilovers and had no problems. Sorry to hear about the problems.

 

I'll probably have to hit you up on that offer. Do you have springs or sways?

We need to set up a dang Austin meet...