new shocks and springs

[dupeto_e]

when i bought my GST, for some reason there were 4 tokico shocks with 4 H&R springs-full set up. so after driving them around in my trunk for the last 3 months, the other day i desided to try and put them on, at least the front ones.
so i put the car on the jack, take the tire off, everything else is out and i get stack on the "sway bar link"..... the frikin nut was just spining with the hole thing, no way out. so my car is totaly taken apart on the one side, a cant get the sway bar link off and a sevire thunder storm is comming(6 o'clock pm). the worst thing is that i need my ride for the morning to go to work. so i got no other choise but put everything back together. the storm started the rain was huge, but i didnt gave up, and after 45 min under the rain and my fender, i somehow managed to put the stock shock back in place. i cant describe the relieve after i busted my ass off just to take the stock shock off and then put it back on.
next day, sun and shiny, my mind is on that sway bar link. how do i take it off put the car back on the jack, tire , lower arm, shock holder, everything is ready to go out but the sway bar link. so i'm getting closer on it, and i noticed on the back side that there is a place to put a wrench. sooo that was it . no more magor problems. only that the right side is a little tougher than the left side (in my appinion its due to the shorter SV joint but thats another story)
i put on only the front ones so far and here is what i noticed:
the car droped about 1.75 and there is some performance increase. i mean before (with the shock shocks) while lounching the car would go up and if floor it it would start spinning the tires. now it is just so smooth, the car sticks down to the floor and accelarates kind of faster and is so straith forward. i dont know how to explain, in two words : there is more of a difference that i expected, its faster ,smooter ,better.
i would say wheel hoop is a lot less han before(if wheel hoop has anything to do with it)
thats about it . i just wanted to share my new suspension with u guys.
also i still have the stock rear shocks on, so should i exchange them too.
wanted to ask u about the springs i have. it says H&R 1/2000 . has any1 have an idea what kind of springs those are -good bad?

[BoostedSpyder]

you should get pictures of it all low in the front and high in the back!

do a search on that #'s and stuff...

[dupeto_e]

there are the springs. i find them,
http://www.autocarparts.com/part/164/55

from what i see there the fron ones drop 2.0 and the rear 1.75 . i might go ahead and put on the rear ones too, see how it feel then.

and yes i would like to take some pictures of it. i'll post asap...

[kjewer1]

The rear suspension will make a much bigger difference in traction for a FWD. The front has a small effect.

And for what its worth, I never remove those swaybar end links when I change shocks/springs. If you jack up both sides of the car at the same time you dont need to If you jack up just one side, the swaybar (another spring essentially) will put presure on the side that is jacked up. Swaybars try to keep both wheels at the same "height."

[dupeto_e]

there u go. that is with all 4 shocks and springs. i couldn't make any pics with the front ones only. rides very nise and smooth , but maaan these path-holes and speed bumps are realy f..ked up. but anyways thats my ride. first pics...

[dupeto_e]

or maybe i messed up with the pics...?

[dupeto_e]

[joemathews]

Looks great Dupe! How does acceleration feel now? Any better now that the rear suspension is on?

[BlackShadowTSi]

I had the same kind of settings in my old 98 eagle tsi awd (but with koni holland shocks) and the problem is not the shock, i had to change the springs and put the oem again the h&r are to low

[dupeto_e]

hm... so far, so good...but now ,lets say when i park and have to use the steering wheel all the way left and right , or just a manuvre there is clicking "scary" noise coming out of undernethe my front wheels. now, i'm not that much familiar with the suspention part of the vehicle, but i know about some oval bolts and "bushings" that goes bad, nothing for sure.

does any1 know what that "click-click" is on a slow turns. could it broke and got my tire out and me on my bottom of my car...?