Could I install my coilovers myself?

[ProjectProtege]

Yea I got my coilover in today and I wanted to put them on but when I got them I knew I had to ask everyone in clubprotege of what I should do... 2 of my buddies said it will not be hard at all but im askin has anyone put there coilovers in there selfs , Im mean with help but not payin 200 hundred to get them in by a pro... If so could someone tell me give me the basics on takin the old spring out and placing the new one in... And why do I need all the rubber pieces how does this damn thing is suppose to be put together anyways... Im goin to try the rear of the car Saturday so that is why I need some professional advise from the peps in Clubprotege.com

[skr33t_rac3r]

its not to hard. u need to take off the struts ( 4 little bolts on top, dont touch big one in middle) and then compress the springs with a spring copressor, then remove the big bolt. then slide the old spring off. next put the coilover on. then put the top plate back on with the big bolt. then put the strut back on the car

[elscotto80]

Yeah its really not hard at all, but can be time consuming. Set a weekend aside and do it and save yourself some bling.

[Identity_X]

its not to hard. u need to take off the struts ( 4 little bolts on top, dont touch big one in middle) and then compress the springs with a spring copressor, then remove the big bolt. then slide the old spring off. next put the coilover on. then put the top plate back on with the big bolt. then put the strut back on the car

Unless you have air tools, do undo the 'big bolt' in the middle, just not all the way out. It's much easier to get it going once the strut/spring assembly is still on the car. Darryl's how-to should give you an idea of what's involved in the job. Will you be upgrading the struts also?

http://www.mazdaracer.com/pro/ZX2_strut_install.htm

[skr33t_rac3r]

yeah ur probably right, but be careful cause the spring can shoot right through the car if u loosen that big bolt too much

[91ProtegeLX]

I just installed my springs the other day it was EASY. Just time consuming. First jack the car up and put it on jack stands. Take the wheel off, then take off the brake line from the strut assembly by taking out the little plate and slide the brake hose out. Then unbolt the 2 strut bolts that attach the strut to the brake assembly. Their like 17mm I believe. You'll prolly want to use a breaker bar, cuz they might be in TIGHT. Mine were. After you get those two bolts out, pop your hood. Undo the strut cylinder (i think thats the name) bolt about 3/4 of the way, unless you have an air compressor. Dont take it out all the way. Next undo the 4 bolts around the bolt you just loosened. Pull the strut out. Now, take a spring compressor and compress the spring down. If you dont have air tools, it might take a minute. After compressing the spring, unbolt the strut cylilnder bolt the rest of the way. Take the top plates off, and take the spring off. Uncompress the spring. Put your coilovers over your strut. And if they are adjustable, I dont think you will have to compress them with the compressor. Just Adjust them down so you can get the plate back over the strut cylinder stud, and bolt the bolt back on. Install is the same as taking it out. Do it on all 4 wheels, and your set. It took me about 2 1/2 hours, but thats how I did mine. Good luck!!

[bruce95fmla]

Yeah , just becareful with the spring compressor. The front springs have a good amount of pressure. The rear don't have that much.

Stop by autozone and get yourself a set of spring compressors.
Also you may want to have someone help you with the install. Someone who has done this before.

The upper strut/chassis bolts are 14mm

The lower strut bolts are 17mm.

You may need a sledge hammer for pushing the strut bolts out.

You may need a breaker bar to help persuade the 17mm bolt to break.

You can use the breaker bar on the 17mm strut shaft bolt in the top center to crack that bolt while the strut assembly is still in the car. You don't really want to loosen it fully, just give it a turn so it's not as tight.

You will also need a dremel or something to trim down the metal washer taps on the shocks. This is so the pearch can fit over them.

The plastic washers are supposed to fit inbetween the coilover pearch and the shock body. This is so that the coilover pearch won't make excess amounts of noise while driving.

You will want to be very careful when removing your springs, we don't want to read about you being in the hospital or some ****.

with the fronts you will want to put that upper spring pearch back on top of the coilover assembly It is very important that you do this. This will help you beable to turn your car properly and will avoid that damn fealing of turning your steering wheel and the car never tracking straight afterwards. It is the upper pearch on top of the coil then the mount goes on top of that pearch.

Well good luck and if you have any Q's either pm me I can give you my phone number and you can call at will. or post the Q on this board.

later
Bruce

[ProjectProtege]

damn bruce that seems hard man I dont want to **** nothin up and Theshowzone.com its a performace shop down here say they can do it for 141 wendsay so dont know what to do and damn it I forgot theres a car show in mrytle beach at 5 man man man....

[redfox]

only 1 way to learn buddy....

[1ofdfew323]

i was lowering cars eversince i was 15 yrs old w/ no experience and basic tools. No spring compressor i had to use a bath towel to cover the springs so it wont fly all over the place...

Yes it can get dangerous but i was only 15...when i turn 18 i memorized the parts, tools of most of the honda cars out there. Just commonsense bro u can do it.

1st gen pro/323 are one of the easiest cars to lower. Id say it'll take u 4 hours to do it w/ basic tools. All u need is common sence and the right tools. No need to get a power tools just rent the spring compressor and stare at it for 5 mins u'll figure out how to use it.

Let me know how the ride is...peace!

[skr33t_rac3r]

yeah i used to use a box to catch the spring in

[mustangjosh67]

those are nice coilovers, what brand are they, how much were they, and where did you get them cause i plan on lowering my 323 this summer and i want to find some coilovers soon and right now i only know of the ground controls. thanks.

[ProjectProtege]

ebay.com there ecort coilovers, there were 81 dollars and they drop 4 ins up and down. MeganRacing.com is the cooperation but go through ebay and buy them it took 3 days to get to Southcarolina and there from Cali and I fanilly got mine on just a hour ago and they make my 13 year ago ride feel like a 2002... There very good I think...

[TiKi]

I'm in the same boat as projectprotege except I don't know how to put the damn coilover together my set came with no diagram. They came with a bag with a ****load of bushing that are about 2" in diameter about 16 of them with various width I know these bushing go in a small coinlike piece with the same diameter but where does this metal piece go??

Anyone have a site with PICTURES for my suspension ignorant ass

[ProjectProtege]

I got a place down here call showzone to do it for 140 and a dude took 2 hours to do all four...