Installing H&R's (or any other springs) 56k warning
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:15 pm
Originally posted by: Khan4rtist on Aveoclub.net
After weeks of procrastinating and eventually forgetting to write this how to. I finally did it. Sorry if the format is a bit messy, I did my best to clean it up, so dont bitch about it, Im saving you labor costs from those thieves at repair shops/dealerships.
To install the springs you will need the following tools:
2 jack stands
1 jack
spring compressors
air compressor with air ratchet and impact wrench*
elbow grease
*i recommend air tools, they will make your life a whole lot easier
this shouldnot take you more than 2 hours.
Stock Height
The springs
THE REAR AND FRONT SPRINGS ARE DIFFERENT YOUR MANUAL WILL SAY WHICH
SPRING IS WHICH DO NOT MIX THEM UP!
The stock front springs compared to the H&R's
Start off by jacking up the rear of the car and placing it on jackstands.
NEVER WORK UNDER A CAR WITH JUST A JACK, ALWAYS USE JACKSTANDS! USE YOUR HEAD!
Support the torsion beam with the jack and remove the bolt that is holding the rear shock to the beam.
[b][size=130]Lower the jack just enough for you to remove the springs. The stock springs should come out with little force.
Make sure you do not mix up the rubber things that are on the bottom and top of the spring, you will be resusing these for the H&R's.
To put the shock back on the beam, use the jack to raise the bar just enough so you can slide in the bolt as shown below.
That was easy wasnt it? Now the front, its a little harder but you can do it.
Jack up the front of the car and support it with jack stands
AGAIN DO NOT WORK UNDER THE CAR WITH A JACK, USE JACK STANDS!
Once the car is raised, remove the front wheels.
Remove this nut first. If you are wondering why this nut is still on in the next pictures,
its coz i didnt remove this first and i figured out that it is easier to remove it
before you start trying to unbolt the strut. Trial and error I guess.
Now unhook brake lines from the strut so you dont pull them and break them. Unbolt the strut from the top(not pictured, theres
three nuts). Then remove the 2 gold bolts holding the strut to the disk brake assembly. You might have to
strike the bolts with a rubber mallet to convince them to come out, if you do not have a rubber mallet and
just a regular hammer, use a towel infront of the hammer so you do not damage the bolt as you are striking it.
Now that you have the strut out, take the spring compressors and compress the spring.
Be careful as the springs have tons(literaly) of stored energy while compressed. Remove the top nut.
CAUTION DO NOT LOSE ANY OF THE PIECES THAT CAN COME OFF AFTER YOU REMOVE THIS NUT,
YOU WILL NEED TO PLACE THEM IN EXACTLY THE SAME ORDER THAT THEY WERE IN!!!
Now uncompress the springs and place them somewhere, compress the H&R's and place them on the strut.
Place the pieces back on the strut. You will need to pull the strut so you can screw the top back on to the strut.
Reverse all the steps to place the strut back on, you may need the jack for this to support the strut as you bolt it back up.
Youre done!! (dont forget to put the wheels back on hehe)
