myTaLizaS3.2

Kris, I'm going to be picking up some Tein S-Tech springs tonight and will be installing them myself. I will also be renting some spring compressors from Auto Zone, so I should be ok in that area.

I was searching to see if there was a DIY Car Lowering, but didn't find anything. Anybody have something similar or have details as to which bolts has to come out and any important info I need to know before I make this bad boy sit low?

I've dropped civics before, so I do know how to lower a car. Just wanna make sure I get everything down because this is a much more important car, and I just can't mess up. Thanks in advance.

Flyboy4yang

If you've dropped civics before this should be easy. The only thing is that you have to take out the back seats for the rears, but otherwise it's pretty much the same. Drop the shocks and switch out the springs.

myTaLizaS3.2

damn, i didn't want to take out the back seats. There's no other way to do the rears without removing it?

fsttyms1

If you have done civics before this isnt any harder. you have to remove the rear seat to get to the rear bolts, but thats not hard at all.

oh and so that you dont have to mess with the rear sway bar endlinks, just unbolt the bracket that the endlink bolts to and swing it out of the way

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/184466/7

01tl4tl

I heard there is a small cover flap behind the rear headrest- if so- a long extension gets a socket into the right area to get the top nuts- you may have to loosen but not remove seatback-
I could be wrong SO
look in DIY section at top of forum - there are writeups on shock install

Be careful with the compressor- verify all the tabs are solid- no welds broken- edge missing etc- or trip to emergency room hampers install in 1 night plan

myTaLizaS3.2

thanks, i got it.

fsttyms1

you have to remove the seat. only other way is to remove the rear tray (which needs to have the seat removed to do that.

01tl4tl

Doh
Third time today I had no idea what I was talking about
At least thats a first
rofl

derrick

I've seen it done when I had the Comptech springs installed and when the Comptechs got replaced by the Tein springs. Seems like an easy job, provided you have the right tools (lift, air tools, compressor, etc) The rear seat goes ... but having a friend to help you with that would be a great help.

Be a sport and post pics!

myTaLizaS3.2

Will do buddy!

Just picked up the springs last night. I wish it was saturday already so I can lower my car. Can't wait. Wish me luck

JMAL

dont forget to trim the bump stops, and seat the springs right.

also after you bolt it all back in, retighten all the upper pirch bolts when the suspension has a load on it and is on the ground.

99TLHeather

Be very careful removing the rear seat...there are metal tabs at the bottom and will scratch/rip your beautiful leather seats or paint. It happened to me the first time.

myTaLizaS3.2

what is the bump stops? and what is a pirch bolt

JMAL

bump stops are the rubber bumpers that keep the shock from compressing out of the ride height range. you have to trim it a little (about 1", 2" or so) to handle the lower ride height. the perch bolts are the ones that bolt the top of the shock assembly to the car. also make sure the top of the shock rod is securely tightened through the bushing at the top of the perch.

myTaLizaS3.2

gotcha. thanks

myTaLizaS3.2

Would you happen to have a pic of the rubber bump? I'm looking at this this from Tein and it says to cut off .6 inches for the front and 1.3 inches for the back.

JMAL

its the beige part, ours are longer, this is just an example

myTaLizaS3.2

ok, thanks man. that's a lot of help. i do see something that resembles this on the diagram that tein has on their instruction sheet. Anyways, just trim that suggested size off the bottom right?

JMAL

yup just trim with a hack saw

myTaLizaS3.2

Thanks man.

JMAL

if ur using aftermarket shocks, trim the front to 1" also. remember to pull them off then cut. my friend tried to trim his with out taking all the way off and scraped up his rods pretty bad.

myTaLizaS3.2

i'll be using my stock shocks. Another question, on the spring itself, there's a brownish cover on some portions of the spring, is there a reason why the entire spring isn't covered?

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

just be careful or this my happen to you......https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153933......

myTaLizaS3.2

ok, thanks man. i dont what that to be me.

fsttyms1

yes. its not needed on all of it. Thats there to keep it from rubbing and making squeaking.

importvizion

wow seems like everyones lending their suggestions, as I recall don't u need a rubber mallet to get the rear shock out? tap the bolt out on the bottom of the shock? The best way to be safe when unbolting your shock with the spring compressors on, aim the top of the shock right against the street curb or a concrete wall incase the compressors fail on u and undo the nut with a open ended wrench

myTaLizaS3.2

thanks for all the input and advice. I will be doing this first thing tomorrow morning. I will also be taking lots of pics for anybody else who plans do lower their car in the future.

myTaLizaS3.2

hey, i'm in the middle of dropping my car.. got one question. the rubber bump stop that i have to cut, can someone tell me where to cut?



this thing is long as hell

01tl4tl

It appears the bottem has a more solid base correct? cut from that end

Dont mess with the tiers at the top

myTaLizaS3.2

the bottom is just a boot that covers the piston..dont i just cut the top? is it ok to leave the piston uncovered? if not, then i have to cut from the top..

01tl4tl

The dust boot is just that, so if removed keep the shock shafts clean and no sweat.
cut where-ever is most solid and if one end has to fit exact to its perch or stop- cut the other end!

Now I see why coilovers pre-assembled by Marcus are so popular!

01tl4tl

Make sure you remove the stop from the strut before cutting it
or face horrible scarring on the smooth polished shaft- rubber seals inside-
warning danger use caution

Razzi

man thats a lot of work, good luck and lets see some progress pics

myTaLizaS3.2

thanks...


what I did was just cut one portion of the bump in the middle. I still wanted that boot to be there just because I really didn't have to take it out. But i did just leave it on there and cut it with caution. No problem at all.

here's a pic with the middle portion of the bump stop cut off and seperated from the top and boot portion..


Voila, it's on..



i got the two front ones done.. man...that was a lot of work. but WORTH IT!!! Looks great for only the fronts only. The next two will be finished tomorrow. my back hurts now.

FL3.2TL

Wow, very nice! I'm liking those headlights, got any closeups?

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

that a clean ass ride man.....glad it all worked out......

JMAL

good work, it will settle even lower. wait 2 weeks before you get an alighment so its settled.

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

nice work

Brent1202

car looks good, great work

myTaLizaS3.2

thanks man. I'll get you some close ups.

I will have final pics tomorrow for the full drop...The first spring took me 1 hour and a half to do. the second one moved along faster. haha.