Who has installed their own suspension?

[99civic03]

My friend and I are about to install Neuspeed Sports and KYB AGXs on his 98 Civic coupe, and we have a few questions. We have the Helms Manual, and weve looked at a few tutorials online, such as this one http://www.deepstaged.net/spring_install.htm

1) We shouldnt need a spring compressor because we are doing the shocks and springs together correct?

2) How long did it take you to install springs and/or shocks for all 4 corners?

3) Did you encounter any problems during the install? If so, how did you overcome them?

4) What tools are essential for the install, and what are optional but handy to have?

5) Overall, how hard was the install?

6) Would it be smarter to spend the $150-200 to get them installed at a shop? My friend and I are smart, but dont have all that much experience working on cars, but my dad is going to help us, and he has quite a bit of experience, but not with suspension.

Basically, we're pretty set on installing them ourselves, and not taking it to a shop. If theres anything else you think we should know before starting this project, please let me know. Thanks.

[B16EJ1]

One thread will get you the answers you need.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t130360.html

[94civic]

1. no
2. 1-2 hours
3. none. pretty straight forward
4. impact wrench(not essential,but it will make the install go a whole lot quicker and yoou can use it to tigten the nut on top of the strut) also have some wd40 handy for any stuck or seized bolts.
5. it was pretty easy, just time consuming
6. no, save your money

[BullShifter]

Yes you will need a spring compressor. For that part bring them to a shop & have the springs mounted on the struts then install. You can rent or buy a cheap spring compressor but you wont catch me using that junk. At our shop we have a nice bench mounts spring compressor.

1-2hrs

spray the bolts with penatrating oil & let sit for a while before removing - the lower bolts can be a bitch without air tools

basic hand tools - Air tools are always nice

[DarkAccord600]

1. you will need a spring compressor to remove the upper mounting bracket.
2. all freakin day.
3. No just plain annoying.
4. spring compressor, and a few basic hand tools.
5. Not hard just takes a long time if you have no experience.
6. Hell no. You'll learn a hell of a lot and you can spend the money on something more important like sway bars or something.

I did all the work myself without a guide so if you did all that studying you should be able to figure out which part goes where.

[loesch8102]

The difficulty in a way depends on what tools you have. If you have access to a lift, air tools, and a nice compressor then yeah about 1-2 hours. But if all you have is a floor jack, a socket set, and a crap compressor, being your first time, maybe more like 4-6 hours. Some of those bolts are nearly impossible to get off without air tools on older cars. To install the springs, and shocks in my car it took 10 hours because we had crap for tools. Also the lower rear strut bolts were fused and I had to get my uncle to help me chisel them off.

[scribes]

I just replaced the following about a month and a half ago.

Rear LCA's
Rear Shocks
Rear and Front Springs

This was done on my 96 Integra GS-R.


I had bolts that were locked, from rust, or they just seized. I took it to a shop to have them loosen them, which i believe most people do, and the couldnt even get them with an impact wrench. I ended up cutting the stock LCA's off, which is why i ended up having to replace them with new ones.

I actually made the conversion to JDM ITR LCA's, JDM ITR rear shocks, and springs.

I would definatly say do it yourself...i am in the learning mode right now as well, and it wasnt that tough, and it was fun to do it, and to know that i did it.

Anyway, you WILL need a spring compressor. I rented two lil spring clips from a machine rental place, it was like $3 for 4 days or something. I dont see how other people are saying you wont need them. You'll kill yourself when your loosening the top nut, and the spring decompresses into your face, shoving the top cap threw your skull. Then if you're still alive, theres no way your body weight is gonna push that spring down with the top cap, and ge the top nut back on.

I ended up having to use an impact wrench(the kind that you hit with a hammer, not the compressor ones) to loosen the top bolt on the top caps of the shocks, your gonna need a handfull of metric sockets, and various socket wrench sizes and extensions. I would pick up some PB Blaster, to loosen some of the tight bolts that may have rust or seized....PB works wonders on stuck bolts and nuts.

I used a helms manual as well, and it ended up really not being read. You can pretty much see that the lca's and front control arms need to be loosened, then take out bolts that hold shocks into lca's, then disassymlbe the shock and spring to get the caps, bushings, etc...that you may need on your new setup off.

Shouldnt take two of you more then a couple hours as long as you dont hit to many nasty stuck bolts.

Always use jack stands to man...hydro jacks slowly let out and can alot of times release.!!

Good luck.

[loesch8102]

While your on the subject...Is it harder to install a set of coilovers such as Tein as opposed to just springs and struts?

[BullShifter]

True coilovers would be easier/faster to install compared to shock/springs or sleeves/shocks*. You dont need to worry about a spring compressor or removing/installing springs on the shocks since true coilovers are all ready to go - spring on strut. Remove the shock/spring as one unit & then coilovers go in the same way. You do however need to install a camber kit to get full potenial from the coilovers.

[Bambooseven]

1) buy a spring compressor from autozone for like $40 and return it after use, they know, and most of the time advise this method

2) should only take a couple hours, since this is your first time, give yourself like 4 hours to do it

3) only problems involve oem suspension parts being broken or rusted tight or something, a breaker bar, impact, and wd40 will fix most of that, but don't worry about it, it's uncommon

4) a set of sockets and wrenches (two sets are better if you and your buddy are doing it at the same time), the spring compressor, a jack, jack stands, and patience are the essential ones. an impact makes things easier, and a breaker bar helps with hard bolts. technically you should have a torque wrench, but I do it by german standards (until it's goodentight)

5) cake, a very good thing to do hands on learning on your car.