I swear I saw a thread on here a few weeks back with someone showing the step by step for spring installation, but have been using the search feature with no results so far. Anyone?
No offense but if you need a step by step guide to install the springs you shouldn't be doing it yourself. Suspension modifications are some of the trickiest around.
Here's the instructions I used for my Tanabe NF-210 install - they're pretty good. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...s-modifications/82404-diy-spring-install.html The job isn't very difficult for someone with some experience working on cars. The toughest part was working out how the rented spring compressor was supposed to be set up. I had the alignment checked afterward, and the drop didn't affect the alignment.
I disagree. Changing out the springs is straight forward if you have the right tools. Just having a step by step guide to follow if changing them out for the first time can just make sure you get everything right. +1
Hmm I guess it depends on your level of expertise. For some reason I was under the impression that you were a complete novice. But that's just myself, haha.
I just wanted to thank everyone for the installation guide. I took all of the suggestions and I installed my Tein springs (that I got from Lulzchicken) yesterday on a beautiful late December NY day (52degrees) in just 2 hours without air tools or a spring compressor. This forum is full of great information, thanks for sharing!
How did you get the front springs off without a spring compressor? I would think it would be very dangerous to just loosen the nut & let all the spring energy explode.
the last time i messed around with suspension parts was when i owned my lincoln mark VII. i had the car on jack stands and i used the jack to lower things. i did the same with my 318i bmw before that.
I used my 1/2 drive and backed off the nut while it was in the car before I jacked it up. The weight of the car was on it and I just jacked up the car and removed it. The Tein spring is shorter and with a little weight from my left arm leaning on it, I was able to start treading the nut back on a few turns. Then I just used my socket to tighten it up the rest of the way. It was said before that having two people makes the job easier but I didn't have that luxury.
I have to admit that on my LF...I compressed the spring to relieve the pressure off of the strut bolt. But not enough...so when I got the nut off the bolt, there was a quick jolt from the strut and spring housing. Luckily for me...I had compressed the spring so the actual "jolt" was only about 2-3". I did not make the same mistake on the RF...and compressed the spring much more. Perhaps there are homemade work arounds, but those spring compressors do their job!
I agree with you 100%. In no way am I recommending anyone to NOT use them. I am just stating that I didn't use them myself and that's how I did it without the springs exploding and possibly injuring someone.
me and buddy have done a handful of spring swaps. we normally just shoot the spring into a box lol extremely dangerous and i definitely dont recommend it but were lazy and and sometimes the autozone spring compresser is to thick to fit between the coils of some springs.
Very interesting way of doing it. I've always had a spring compressor so I've always done it that way even though it adds some time to the job. I'm usually able to get the lower spring on without using the spring compressor too.
I've had that happen before too. I always make sure that the spring has some play in it before removing the strut nut now.
Just one time something goes wrong would be bad. Get a proper spring compressor if the one you have doesn't fit. The one I bought many years ago has fit every spring I've worked on & it was not expensive. This is something like I use & I've had it for 20+ years. http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B000M61KTC?tag=priuschatcom-20
