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Picked up a set of BC coilovers and will be doing the install myself. I've read the HOW-TO on this and I think I've wrapped my head around it, but was looking for any tips/tricks for someone who has never installed a set of coilovers before. Basically anything to look out for or tips that will make my life easier? Lol.
I am guesstimating 5 hours or so?
I will definitely post up some before/after pics when I am done.
OH god. if you're doing it by yourself especially your first time, you're going to be stuck with more man hours than 5.....
it's VERY tricky getting the coils OUT! (better with two people, but can be done with 1 EXPERIENCED person.) ESPECIALLY the rear.
installation is no problem because the shaft of the BC's are SHORTER and will slip right into the space. the long OEM coils will be a BITCH to uninstalll.
AND! EXPECT things to stall you...like stubborn bolts.
Last edited by justnspace; 07-05-2017 at 06:27 AM.
When removing the back seat bottom cushion make sure the pull the locking tab and then lift up. There's one on each side. For the top portion you have to push and pull to release it and it can be tricky.
I agree you should have a friend help with the removal of the oem struts. May have to stand on the wheel hub to rain enough clearance. You'll also want someone to put the bolts on the rear struts while you hold the strut in place.
Not sure if your BC's came with the dampener extenders for the rear but if not, you'll want to drive the car and adjust the front and rear dampening to your liking. So removal of the backseat isn't fun just to adjust. Just a few things to keep in mind.
When removing the back seat bottom cushion make sure the pull the locking tab and then lift up. There's one on each side. For the top portion you have to push and pull to release it and it can be tricky.
I agree you should have a friend help with the removal of the oem struts. May have to stand on the wheel hub to rain enough clearance. You'll also want someone to put the bolts on the rear struts while you hold the strut in place.
Not sure if your BC's came with the dampener extenders for the rear but if not, you'll want to drive the car and adjust the front and rear dampening to your liking. So removal of the backseat isn't fun just to adjust. Just a few things to keep in mind.
Good luck. You'll enjoy them.
those are the easy parts tho!
the hardest part will be removing the rear coils without help! lol standing on the hub is one way(2 people)...also you could jam a pry bar in the control arms to pry it down. (2 people)
there is a way with a jack to prop up the control arms to finesse shock/coil out...(1 person)
and he will have to have LONG arms, in order to navigate shock/coil out while messing with top hats in rear. So much easier with 2 people
I'm very interested to hear how it goes because I am also looking at installing coilovers for my 2012 SH-AWD. Though I've not decided anything for sure ill probably spend the 4-500 for install at shop. Got a few quotes and places want roughly 100 per coil plus alignment. Just a matter of waiting for the coilovers to finally get here. I hope it all goes well!
Swapping out the coilovers on my 3rd gen was a character building experience to say the least. Justn is right, the rears are the worst. I ended up detaching the control arms, which I quickly stripped the hex nut on and had to replace both. They weren't expensive luckily but I couldn't figure out another way.
For your first time doing anything the key is to go slow and pay attention to what you take apart. It's definitely going to be more then 5 hours, especially if you're working alone (since as you know by now the backs can be tricky). We charge about 4.5 hours of labor and that's with a lift and shop tools.
Install pictures would help those looking to do it after you, and good choice on the BCs!
those are the easy parts tho!
the hardest part will be removing the rear coils without help! lol standing on the hub is one way(2 people)...also you could jam a pry bar in the control arms to pry it down. (2 people)
there is a way with a jack to prop up the control arms to finesse shock/coil out...(1 person)
and he will have to have LONG arms, in order to navigate shock/coil out while messing with top hats in rear. So much easier with 2 people
Lol I never said they were hard. Just some tips for a first timer.
You guys are really stressing me out here before the install LOL.
I've never installed coilovers before but I consider myself to be fairly mechanically inclined. My Dad has every tool imaginable so I am going to go to my parents tomorrow to do the install, hopefully he wont mind giving me a hand for the parts that would be easier with two people, that should hopefully save me some grief from what you guys are explaining.
I'm close to Toronto, so I can count on bolts fighting me to come out after this car going through a couple winters.
If anything it'll be a good learning experience... I will update you guys with results when I'm all done (hopefully tomorrow night).
Happy to report back that the install went smooth as butter. I was super lucky that none of the bolts fought me at ALL. I started on my own and my Dad helped me finish the rears and do the fronts with me. Took us just under 4 hours... Not too bad!
I tried to get a timelapse of the install but my camera ran out of battery towards the end.
https://youtu.be/fobjR0Xx1v0
Thanks for all the help and advice. I will upload some pics shortly.
Nice job man. Looks good. Yeah, a bit too low IMO. But the roads here in Utah are unforgiving. We need a bit of clearance. I'm in desperate need of coilovers too. I've dropped a bit of weight from my TL and the wheel gap is getting
That's a sic looking Stingray BTW. I love that generation.
Thanks guys! Car drives better than stock, I have it set more to the softer side of dampening and it drives like a dream, in fact much better than I expected.
And that's my dad's 1975 vette in the picture, he is the original owner. He just finished a complete body off restoration on it, so I think helping me with my coils was a walk in the park for him. Lol
The car settled to be a little too low in the rear for my liking (noticably lower than the front) so I have been playing with height a couple of times and letting it settle each time until I got it dialed in to exactly how I wanted it. I have it dialed in now with a little bit of rake which I like the look and my thinking was that it will save me if I have something heavy in the trunk or people sitting in the back seat.
Now...Question for you guys!
I have driven probably 500km through all of this adjustment/settling and will probably go through another 5-600km before the appointment I have with my alignment shop I go to next week... is this going to be enough driving with the toe off to show significant wear on my tires? Or am I being a baby and worrying too much lol.
toe is significantly off. I bet it's also very squirrelly around corners.
i dont think 600 miles will be enough to eat through the tires, but then again, that is what you signed up for when you dropped it! lol
I would be more concerned of the car being "Squirrelly" around turns and different heights of roads (expansion joints)
1200km's = to about 600-700 miles
so, just watch your tires. and if it starts to eat at it...go get an alignment earlier
Surprisingly the car is not at all squirrelly or unpredictable. It drives great. In the end all I can do is keep an eye and hope for the best. I just wanted to see if I was being a baby or if I had something to worry about, lol.
Very nice! But good gawd man, you ain't driving that low in the... you know that white fluffy stuff that falls around the end of the year.....sent you a pm on your setup.
As an update, have driven a couple thousand KM since the install/alignment. Nothing looks to be out of the ordinary in regards to tire wear, all is good!
You're lucky because that's a shit load of negative camber in the rear. I ended up having to buy a rear kit after I ran into wear issues for negative camber in the -2 region.
wreakYou're lucky because that's a shit load of negative camber in the rear. I ended up having to buy a rear kit after I ran into wear issues for negative camber in the -2 region.
Were you doing a lot of driving though? I'm at -2.5 in the rears and I was actually considering doing a bit more so that my rims/tires will clear the edge of the wheel wells.
Were you doing a lot of driving though? I'm at -2.5 in the rears and I was actually considering doing a bit more so that my rims/tires will clear the edge of the wheel wells.
Very little driving, I drive it 6K miles a year. I ruined a set of tires because of it, from my experience some tires are just more susceptible to wearing than others.
07-05-2017, 02:54 AM
lol
