Two Questions...

[Assyrian]

I have decided that if I am going to get underneath my car to replace the springs, I'm going to go ahead and put in an RSB in one fatal swoop. Would anyone advise against doing this??????????? If so, why?

Also, does anyone know of a good write up for changing the springs in the solara? if not, do you think that hayes or chiltons would have a good explanation?

I'll probably use Eibachs because they seem to work better with stock struts.

Thanks for the input in advance!

[Grazi07]

The fronts are really really easy, takes no time at all. The rears are a pain!!!

To get to the rears, you'll need to take off the deck behind the back seat. You'll need to take out all the trim between the back seat and the trunk, as well as a few of the interior side panels which you'll need to take off your seatbelts, hooks, and "oh crap" handles.

If you want to kill two birds with one stone, you're better off replacing the 6x9's while you have the deck off. I'm not sure you need to remove the struts to do the sway bar.

[Strider327]

Tools you will need:

Spring Compressor, Socket set (Air Tool Preferred)
Jack Stands, etc.

Front:

This is pretty straight forward:

Remove tires, move the abs sensors to the side if you have them, unbolt the two big bolts holding the strut, remove the sway link bolt and finally the top 3 tower bolts. It should slight right out.

Rear:

This is more time consuming than it is complicated. Start by taking out the seats, just pull up on it to take out the bottom piece. Locate the bolts on the sides and take those out. The side panels remove those as well, remove the driver and passenger seatbelt asssemblies, rear deck, rear center brake light, Oh crap bars. I think that's it and just follow the same procedure as the front.

P.S. Your stock struts will be blow easily. Best advice if you don't want to spend too much money on struts, go with KYB GR-2's. If you got money go with tokico.

Good Luck

[Grazi07]

I've been driving on blown struts for close to 15k miles now... not that big a deal. Its definitely rougher, but it doesn't bother me too much and its no worse than riding in a car with a very stiff suspension.

[Assyrian]

wow! thanks for all of the info guys! It's pretty amazing how much info you guys are willing to help out with.

Thank you very much. Strider... you're probably right... I just have to figure out how much longer it will take for me to afford the struts too... This is going to be interesting!

Thank you Grazi and Strider!

[Solorange]

I dont need to repeat what the other guys said. But about the rsb it can be done anytime. If you got it already, I would just do it all at once. But its not going to make your life any harder if you wait till a later time.

[Assyrian]

^^^that's a great point. Maybe it will make more sense for me to do the rsb while I save up for the springs and struts!

It's all worth considering... but first, I have to go buy a torque wrench hahaha.

[Strider327]

Yeah do it all at once. Good luck with it. Grazi07 I don't know how safe you think it is driving with blown shocks you risk damaging the boot and bottoming out easily, its not a wise thing to do. In fact its really dangerous I've seen and heard some horror stories about that.

[WTF??]

I'm going to go ahead and put in an RSB in one fatal swoop. Would anyone advise against doing this??????????? If so, why?

Nothing wrong with it, but I say to feel the crazy difference/benefits of an RSB, do it separately

Also, does anyone know of a good write up for changing the springs in the solara? if not, do you think that hayes or chiltons would have a good explanation?

Refer to this link for very good info
http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php? ... ut&start=0

and here's a diagram to help you: http://chrisp.org/~kubi/solara/Strut_Spring_Install.pdf

Dont forget I warned you on this: http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=7370

Id also recommend doing an alignment soon after you lower your car.
This would also adjust your cambor (if any).
An alignment would eliminate any cambor issues (but there are a few here n there that say they still have cambor). I say you dont need a cambor kit

Overall, I say do Struts and Springs, then alignment, have fun, then the rsb, then MORE FUN........... then new tires

[SleeperSolara]

Yeah the fronts will be easy, the rear would be a pain i think.
Yeah if you installin' a TRD RSB don't forget to lock-tighte the bolts that hold the RSB, cause i heard a knockin' noise and found out the bolt came off, i even thightened the bolt like a mofo, and it still cam off.
Yeah when you have the rear deck out you should replace you 6x9's if you got some new ones.

I got a question since this is about the rear shocks removal.
Do you have to remove the top half where the front seat belts bolt on too????
Cause i had to lock-tight the driver bolt cause the threadin' is bad.......
Thanks.