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]

Originally Posted by 99civic03

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.

1)You would still want to use a spring compressor but popping em works fine. I've done enough suspension installs and popping, if done right, is not as dangerous as poeple make it out to be.

2)The whole process should take no more than 2 hours between two people.

3) Only problems that could occur are rusted bolts and a little penetrating lube and a breaker bar will fix that.

4) All that is needed is a ratchet set, breaker bar, lube, Allen wrenches, jack and stands or a lift. That's all I can think of off the top of my head but those are the main tools needed.

5) The install is not hard at all.

6) DO NOT pay any shop to do this. Do the install once and you'll see what I mean.

[99civic03]

1)You would still want to use a spring compressor but popping em works fine. I've done enough suspension installs and popping, if done right, is not as dangerous as poeple make it out to be.

But cant we just remove the whole assembly as one and just leave it assembled? I mean, do we have to take apart the stock spring and shock assembly if were not gonna use it?

[B16EJ1]

Originally Posted by 99civic03

But cant we just remove the whole assembly as one and just leave it assembled? I mean, do we have to take apart the stock spring and shock assembly if were not gonna use it?

That's not what the spring compressor is used for. The spring is compressed on the strut itself not the chassis. Basically you unbolt the strut from the tower then unbolt the bottom of the strut from the control arm. When you pull the strut assembly out the spring is compressed onto the strut so if you unbolt the sleeve on the top of the strut the spring will shoot the strut out from the spring hence the term "popping". With the spring compressor the strut can easily be slid out of the spring with neither the spring or the strut shooting in any direction.

[99civic03]

Oh I see what youre saying, so is their anything from the old strut assembly that I will need to use for the new one?

[B16EJ1]

You'd have to use the stock bump stops. Most people cut em in half but I just leave em as is on every car I do.