For all you do it yourselfers and lowering your car.

by **Solorange** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:51 pm

Im hopping this spring to put some tokico struts and some intrax springs in my car. Im debating whether or not to do it my self or take it in. Im leaning towards doing this myself to gain more experience. For all of you that have done this, is this hard. I have never done this before. I want to make sure I dont screw anything up. Also is there some tutorials or manuals that have a lot of step by step descriptions for installing springs and struts. Based on what i heard it will probably take me at least 8hrs to do this. I need to have a spring compressor, which i heard autozone will let you rent for free. I will also need a impact gun which i will by buying. But more help and opinions would be great so please respond if you can. Thanks a bunch! ~ Chris

by **swimshady906** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:01 pm

I did mine without an impact gun but overall if you are mechanically inclined (or atleast not mechanically challenged) you can do it. Just make sure that when you do the rears that the notch in the hat lines up with the bolt and spacers on the right sides so that months later you have to take them out again and repair it. :roll:

http://user.mc.net/~brad · by **jazzlara** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:19 pm

what part of the back seat to you need to pull apart? Im doing mine this week. I have stereo equipment secured on the back of the passanger back seat and dont want to move it.

by **Solorange** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:21 pm

swimshady906 wrote:I did mine without an impact gun but overall if you are mechanically inclined (or atleast not mechanically challenged) you can do it. Just make sure that when you do the rears that the notch in the hat lines up with the bolt and spacers on the right sides so that months later you have to take them out again and repair it.

Does the new struts come with bolts and spacers or do you reuse the stock ones? Also do you have any closeups pictures so i know what to pay attention to?

by **Mole** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:23 pm

jazzlara wrote:what part of the back seat to you need to pull apart? Im doing mine this week. I have stereo equipment secured on the back of the passanger back seat and dont want to move it.

HAHA!

you're going to NEED to take out at least all the rear panels. (rear armrest, panel area covering the speakers, front seat belts, rear seats and two panels behind the rear seats.

its going to be all fun and games.

http://user.mc.net/~brad · by **jazzlara** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:30 pm

Mole wrote:
jazzlara wrote:what part of the back seat to you need to pull apart? Im doing mine this week. I have stereo equipment secured on the back of the passanger back seat and dont want to move it.

HAHA!

you're going to NEED to take out at least all the rear panels. (rear armrest, panel area covering the speakers, front seat belts, rear seats and two panels behind the rear seats.

its going to be all fun and games.

what!!! darn it. maybe thats why the guy wants almost 3 bills to do the work. I was going to try and do it myself but f that. im mechanically inclined but not enough for a first suspension project on my own.

So im gonna have to remove the amp from the seat, re route the power, rem, and ground wires up to the front for the time being so they dont get damaged. All of a sudden , i have a headache.

thanks for the heads up mole

by **swimshady906** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:15 pm

You do need to use the stock spacers but i think my struts came with bolts... it was a while ago. I just finished putting it back together last weekend (sorry no pictures)

You need to take out both back seats, the two side panels with the arm rests in them, the two plastic pieces in the back seat (you have to take out the seat belts for the front) the rear deck piece and then the plactice that mats up to the back of the rear seats ... in that order. It's quite a job.

by **swimshady906** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 2:03 am

Welll not all of us have the ability to lower everyone else's solara Milt

by **Mole** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:06 am

its a simple job, just takes a little time.

by **Solorange** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:32 pm

Umm i must be missing something. Why do you have to take out the back seats and rear side panels to lower your car? Also I almost forgot, did you guys need a camber kit for your car?

by **Mole** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:49 pm

Solorange wrote:Umm i must be missing something. Why do you have to take out the back seats and rear side panels to lower your car? Also I almost forgot, did you guys need a camber kit for your car?

You never did a lowering for the solara did you?

You dont need a camber kit either. This is from personal experience.
Camber doesn't get too bad on the lowest spring out available.

by **Vi3tT3kNiqz** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:11 am

the reason you need to take out the back seat and panels is because the bolts to the struts are hidden behind the seats, near the speakers, unlike in the trunk like other cars.

by **swimshady906** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:51 am

I would highly recomend a camber kit for the front if you go with tien.tokico combo..... i have gone through so many sets of tires that have about a finger with of tread on the outside and the cords are comming through on the inside inch or two because of the camber i have.

For all you do it yourselfers and lowering your car.

For all you do it yourselfers and lowering your car.

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