Installing TRD Springs . . .

by **bkp_duke** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 4:41 pm

I'm a newbie with a couple of questions on spring installation.

What equipment would I need to do it myself? socket set and spring compressor I assume. anything else?

How long would it take 2 people to install all 4 springs?

Can it be done if I don't have jacks to put the car up on? How about a pair of jack stands alone?

Do any of you dudes have the cool instructions with diagrams that I've read about?

Any sticking points I should be aware of? I've heard the rear springs can be a pain.

Thanks in advance,
BP

by **Mole** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:13 pm

if this is the first car lowering job you ever do, it will be quite painful and will lead to a lot of swearing, not to mention time consuming. how can you have jack stands and not a jack? the suspension can not be taken out if the car is under pressure.

yes, for the rear installation of the springs, you have to take every panel off. (side panels, bench, and rear speaker deck. )

if you are mechanically minded, it should take roughly 2-3 hours.

word of advice- get fresh struts
GL

by **Peter** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:27 pm

trdmole is right, it was my first suspension job and it took me 10 hours with no help. i spent most of the time compressing the damn springs and swearing was a big part of the install. it is very possible, u just gotta have the patience and its a great learning experience

by **99solarai4** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:40 pm

installing the new springs is quite a task. in addition to what the other guys have said, make sure to get all of the clips back in the panels so they don't rattle when you get it back together. also, it helps if you have access to a wall mounted spring compressor instead of the cheap ones that you run on with an impact. it was a little scary shootin those babies off across my driveway. do the rears first. the fronts are a cakewalk.

by **Mole** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 6:07 pm

My first time i did the front first, got tired and boom instant drag style for a few days.

by **impactX** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 7:47 pm

After installing them myself, I still don't want to go back and touch them.

by **shidosha01** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 8:01 pm

yeah i heard install is a beeatch...but is it true you have to cut the bumpstops when you install the struts?...if so how much?...i'm getting ready to install my springs and struts too.

by **bkp_duke** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 8:37 pm

TRDMole177
thanks for all the imput. my buddy has the jack stands and spring compressor. We're going to use his garage to do the work.

Anyone got any idea where i can get the techincal drawings and instructions for disassembly/assembly of the shocks/struts?

Also, how bad will the ride be if i just keep the stock struts? I was going more for the lowering effect since i just put the TRD wheel package on and the car now looks like it's been jacked up. The handling is fine right now for me. In fact, any stiffer and I don't think I could take driving over all the crappy roads out here in NC. Too many patches and pot-holes.

by **99solarai4** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 8:40 pm

get new struts! toyota struts are crap. imo the tokico/vogtland combo i put on my solara rides better than stock. my stock struts were already leaking when i took them off with only 40K miles on em.

by **krook** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 12:04 pm

yeah, bkp duke....GET NEW STRUTS MAN! you'll be saving a lot more in the long run. might as well, take it all apart and re-assemble EVERTHING back in one shot.

for the diagrams, pm peter or Davpak. there the diagrams taken out of the Haynes Manual, which are on sale at Amazon.com for about $13.00. good book to have if you're considering a lot of DIY's.

by **Flipside909** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 12:55 pm

99solarai4 wrote: toyota struts are crap. my stock struts were already leaking when i took them off with only 40K miles on em.

No they arent. They are actually great struts if you like it stock. Leaking after 40k miles? That's usually common with stock struts if you drive on really poor roads.

by **99solarai4** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 1:06 pm

Flipside909 wrote:
99solarai4 wrote: toyota struts are crap. my stock struts were already leaking when i took them off with only 40K miles on em.

No they arent. They are actually great struts if you like it stock. Leaking after 40k miles? That's usually common with stock struts if you drive on really poor roads.

Most struts last longer than that. Besides, he is getting lowering springs. If you are gonna do something to your car, why do it half-@ssed? Get new struts bkp.

by **Flipside909** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 5:03 pm

99solarai4 wrote:Most struts last longer than that. Besides, he is getting lowering springs. If you are gonna do something to your car, why do it half-@ssed? Get new struts bkp.

Yup, that is why I changed out my springs and struts at the same time...about more than 40k miles ago.

Website · by **Benji668** » Sun May 04, 2003 7:27 am

I installed the TRD springs and use it along with stock struts since Dec. 2001. Two weeks ago (Apr. 2003) I had my Tokico Blue installed and I noticed the black paint near the bottom of TRD springs are chipping away and starting to rust. Does it happen to anyone in this forum? And should I put grease on the area to keep the rust at minimal?

by **bkp_duke** » Tue May 06, 2003 10:41 am

Thanks for all the help guys. I've got the TRD struts on order with the springs and we are going to do it all in one shot.

I'll let you know how it goes.

bkp

Installing TRD Springs . . .

Installing TRD Springs . . .

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