for those who have DIY spring install?

[starchland]

Hey guys, I was thinking about doing my suspension setup myself. I think I would need a spring compressorm, are these really as dangerous as people say they are. Ive got quite a good mechanical understanding and do most of my repairs myself. The only thing i can see being a problem is rusted bolts, etc. what do you guys think, any input would be great.

[JDMAlex]

Hey guys, I was thinking about doing my suspension setup myself. I think I would need a spring compressorm, are these really as dangerous as people say they are. Ive got quite a good mechanical understanding and do most of my repairs myself. The only thing i can see being a problem is rusted bolts, etc. what do you guys think, any input would be great.

well there shuouldent be any rusted bolts... the struts and springs get replaced every once an a while.

i used em for mine... there not dangerous... as long as you dont tighten them to much.. i tightnd the bolts till the spring was sqeezed enough to take the top bolt off...


i will do some intructions when i do my back end suspension , there easy.

[JDMCB3Si]

I didn't use a spring compressor at all. I just laid it on the driveway and stood on the springs and loosened the nut on the top off and the top "cup" comes right off.

I know you all may say I am stupid but hey it worked out for the best and now I am lowered without and tool expenses.

[JDMAlex]

I didn't use a spring compressor at all. I just laid it on the driveway and stood on the springs and loosened the nut on the top off and the top "cup" comes right off.

I know you all may say I am stupid but hey it worked out for the best and now I am lowered without and tool expenses.

well you could loosten it , but if it had pressure it would pop off in your balls.

you can rent a spring compresser

i did it was clamps and 2 big bolts and you tightend each side little by little

[starchland]

cool doesnt seem to hard then guys, basically remove spring/shock assembly compress spring using various method, put spring/shock combo together, reinstall in car, torque bolts to various measure. is it really that hard, what can go wrong?

[starchland]

well there shuouldent be any rusted bolts... the struts and springs get replaced every once an a while.

i used em for mine... there not dangerous... as long as you dont tighten them to much.. i tightnd the bolts till the spring was sqeezed enough to take the top bolt off...


i will do some intructions when i do my back end suspension , there easy.

haha man my struts are original!!! they are rusted to hell no doubt.

[YK86]

On the cars I've done, typically anything 4th gen and older has given me problems with the lower strut/strut fork bolt head breaking off. That usually requires a grinder to fix (make 2 cuts inbetween the bushing and fork). Then I have to drill out the rubber on the old bushing. Order a new bushing, cut the outer sleeve off, and press it into the old sleeve that's still stuck in the knuckle. It's a bit time consuming but works like a charm. If it's the front, I just take out the lower arm and get a shop to press in the new bushing.

I live in BC where they do salt the roads (not as bad the rest of Canada though) so people down south may not have as much problems with these as we do up here. As long as that goes smoothly, everything else is a breeze. I bought my own set of spring compressors for $25 (made by JET Tools) since I do suspension stuff quite often.

[starchland]

hmm then that means my bolts are probably really seized up. still weighing my options...

[HondaFan81]

Spray some rust loosener, try to get it in the threaded area or let it seep in somehow. Let it sit for a while and come back to it later. Put your impact gun on a low torque setting and set it to tighten, then hit it with the gun a bit to jar rust loose. Then, kick up the torque on the gun again and set it to loosen, and hopefully it comes out. If you don't have impact gun, use a 1/2" breaker bar and heat the bolt/screw up before if it's a b*tch. First try it by hand, before you think anything is seized up. Personally, I live in Michigan and we deal with road salt. I've done spring/shock work on our 90 EX and 91 SE that both have been Michigan cars all their life and I did not run into any breakage of bolts/screws, etc.

[i97supratti]

so the spring compressor tool compresses and depresses the springs right? So if i compress my stock spring, i can depress it with the same tool, so i can return the spring compressor if i am renting it. and the aftermarket spring goes on without a spring compressor rite?

[ChIoVnIdCa]

I did it once with it and once without it. The stock ones arent under to much pressure. If you dont want to use it just lay it on the ground and hold it with your foot on its side and take the bolt off(dont put your face in front of it). And make sure you can find it if it goes flying off. The compresor compresses the spring all you have to do is looseing it and it decompresses . and aftermarket springs you dont need it for

[ckyskater733]

replace your springs and shocks at the same time! trust me.

[i97supratti]

Spray some rust loosener, try to get it in the threaded area or let it seep in somehow. Let it sit for a while and come back to it later. Put your impact gun on a low torque setting and set it to tighten, then hit it with the gun a bit to jar rust loose. Then, kick up the torque on the gun again and set it to loosen, and hopefully it comes out. If you don't have impact gun, use a 1/2" breaker bar and heat the bolt/screw up before if it's a b*tch. First try it by hand, before you think anything is seized up. Personally, I live in Michigan and we deal with road salt. I've done spring/shock work on our 90 EX and 91 SE that both have been Michigan cars all their life and I did not run into any breakage of bolts/screws, etc.

What's a breaker bar? Is this it?
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00943286000

[wed3k]

nope...not dangerous as long as you sdont aim it to your face then it should be okay.

ive did two suspension installs...no preoblems