View Full Version : Has anyone ever done this themselves?


Reese
02-02-2006, 05:08 PM
I was wondering if anyone has ever put on the springs themselves? and how hard it would be. I am getting the TRD springs but I basically have 2 options for installing them where im at, one place wanted to charge me 360.00 just to install them, and the dealership here wants to charge 260.00, is that the average price?
Thanks for any help :)

alex8181
02-02-2006, 05:19 PM
Here are the instructions for the spring install. You'll have to decide if you're capable of putting them in.

http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspension/75-front-spring-shock-install.html

http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspension/78-rear-spring-shock-installation.html

Reese
02-02-2006, 05:30 PM
oh wow thats awesome, thank you much for your help :)

SquallLHeart
02-02-2006, 05:44 PM
springs are fairly ok as long as you have a compressor.. i tried without one.... didn't go too well. reasonable prices for installs are more like $100... those prices you listed are way too much..

Reese
02-02-2006, 10:13 PM
^^ the $260.00 price is actually from the toyota/scion dealership here :doh:

R2D2
02-02-2006, 10:24 PM
Here are the instructions for the spring install. You'll have to decide if you're capable of putting them in.

http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspension/75-front-spring-shock-install.html

http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspension/78-rear-spring-shock-installation.html
Nice info! :clap:

bB2NER
02-03-2006, 05:35 PM
very nice info! It needs to be made into a Sticky

nodsetse
02-03-2006, 06:43 PM
^^ the $260.00 price is actually from the toyota/scion dealership here :doh:
Bummer! My dealer charged $199 to install mine and I thought that was a bit much. Too bad they don't do "pure pricing" on Scion labor too.

GWARtC
02-04-2006, 07:41 PM
Those of you that have springs installed and still have stock shocks; have you had any problems with the shocks yet?

bB2NER
02-04-2006, 07:48 PM
Those of you that have springs installed and still have stock shocks; have you had any problems with the shocks yet?Yes, I noticed that the TRD shocks are shorter. If you can lower the tC with just springs will the stock shocks last or get worn out prematurely? :ponder:

nodsetse
02-06-2006, 07:37 PM
Those of you that have springs installed and still have stock shocks; have you had any problems with the shocks yet?Yes, I noticed that the TRD shocks are shorter. If you can lower the tC with just springs will the stock shocks last or get worn out prematurely? :ponder:
Good question, I've been wondering same. No idea yet, as I've only got about 700mi on the springs thus far.

I have noticed the ride quality degraded futher than I thought it would. Dealer told me the spring rates were only 10% greater than stock, but of course they're actually a bit more than that. Now feel all road irregularities, such that the ride seems a bit rough, and still have too much body roll. Need to add the TRD rear anti-roll bar for better handling, but am sure that'll degrade ride quality even further. :eyebrow:

a1racer
02-07-2006, 06:46 AM
anytime you do spring's on this car it is a good idea to do the shock's when you lower the piston into the shock body farther than stock you will shorten the shock life faster. as for trd spring's and sway bar degrading ride quality i would say that better handling would be an upgrade not a downgrade. but some people might not like the firmer ride that the trd suspension give's

nodsetse
02-07-2006, 05:41 PM
anytime you do spring's on this car it is a good idea to do the shock's when you lower the piston into the shock body farther than stock you will shorten the shock life faster.
I agree with the first part of what you stated, as it's certainly preferred to have the shock/spring combo matched.

However, I've never heard of a scenario such as this causing the shocks to wear out faster simply because the piston is further into the body than stock. Sure there's additional risk of bottoming out due to having less remaining travel, which can damage the shock, but other than that I don't see why it'd wear out faster.

Care to elaborate?

a1racer
02-08-2006, 02:03 AM
if you do a search online you can find why when the piston run's lower in the stroke it decreases shock life. but basicaly it causes the shock to run hotter and wear prematurly. that is why the trd shock's are shorter than stock.also as long as you have the bump stop's installed on the shock than you should not have a problem with bottoming out.

ceeelotee
03-21-2009, 11:06 PM
my local dealer charges $650 just for installation alone ... :doh:

bB2NER
03-21-2009, 11:51 PM
my local dealer charges $650 just for installation alone ... :doh:That's why you do it yourself and then just have it re aligned.

DJ08tC
03-22-2009, 05:45 AM
Wow this thread is only 3 years old!

scikotictc232
03-22-2009, 06:24 AM
its easy man.1. compress springs 2. loosen/remove nut on top. 3. remove stock sprinng. 4. drop in trd ones 5. compress and install nut.6. remove compressor and install back on car.7. alignment. 8. enjoy

scikotictc232
03-22-2009, 06:25 AM
Wow this thread is only 3 years old!
did not notice that. at least someone searched and got teir answer

cribbs-tC
03-22-2009, 01:06 PM
(Even though it's an old thread, just felt I had to say this.)

So my friend and I installed my S-techs yesterday. We started at 1pm. We finished at midnight...

Yeah, I know it should have only taken 3-4 hours, but neither of us had ever done it before so it was a learning process. Plus, we were lacking in certain tools that made the job more difficult for us.

PRO TIP!!! Be sure and have a 22mm socket on you before you start. We initially tried using a 3/4 socket on the bolts that connect the shock to the control arm for the front wheels, and found out there is just a tad too much "play". The 22mm socket is .2mm smaller then the 3/4, which actually makes a huge difference. Also, have a torque wrench on hand that can do a good 150-200 foot lbs of pressure. Ours only did 100 and made our lives more difficult...

Lol can't believe it took us 11 hours hahahahahaha

bB2NER
03-22-2009, 01:13 PM
Lol can't believe it took us 11 hours hahahahahahaBut like you said," it was a learning experience". The money saved will buy more mods or tools instead of going in a dealerships profit margin. :clap:

blkchrytc
03-22-2009, 01:35 PM
that club scion looks alright, bet it doesnt have moderators, that like locking topics just so they can feel good about themselves

57Scion
03-23-2009, 01:31 AM
Lol can't believe it took us 11 hours hahahahahahaBut like you said," it was a learning experience". The money saved will buy more mods or tools instead of going in a dealerships profit margin. :clap:

Yep..I had my TRDs installed by a local shop and they charged me $230. Springs cost me $160. It was one of my first mods so the mindset that the labor should cost less than the actual product made me feel uneasy lol

I coulda spent that money elsewhere. Too bad though =/

yellowxhoodie
03-23-2009, 05:50 AM
that club scion looks alright, bet it doesnt have moderators, that like locking topics just so they can feel good about themselves

lol.
sounds like someones bitter because they dont know how to follow the rules.

scikotictc232
03-23-2009, 06:07 AM
11 hours damn man. thats almost three hours a side. good job though

yellowxhoodie
03-23-2009, 06:23 AM
when we did my first set of S-techs, it took me and 2 friends 8 hours with no spring compressor.

now it takes me and 1 friend about 1-2 hours. lol

GammaTNT
03-23-2009, 07:06 AM
front took me 3 hr, and rear took 5hr.
Did most of the work myself. My friend don't know jack about car. He help me hold the spring while i compress it.

DJ08tC
03-23-2009, 07:28 AM
Did it with my dad took us 4 hrs on the one back spring because it wouldn't line up right, lol. Then took us only 3 to finish the rest. This was the first time doing anything like this.

GQQSE13
03-23-2009, 05:18 PM
^^ the $260.00 price is actually from the toyota/scion dealership here :doh:

dealership here wanted 950

57Scion
03-23-2009, 09:54 PM
^^ the $260.00 price is actually from the toyota/scion dealership here :doh:

dealership here wanted 950

damn lmao. i woulda loved to see ur reaction lol

Mouse
03-23-2009, 10:00 PM
^^ the $260.00 price is actually from the toyota/scion dealership here :doh:

wow... I would think that would be a higher estimate for shop labor. Now linear rate springs would be much easier to do than progressive rate ones...but still.

Mouse
03-23-2009, 10:10 PM
when we did my first set of S-techs, it took me and 2 friends 8 hours with no spring compressor.

now it takes me and 1 friend about 1-2 hours. lol

damn hoodie.... without a compressor?.....what a punch in the face to do like that... lol

jj90011
03-23-2009, 10:18 PM
LOL a compressor makes a big diffrence did my springs this weekend by myself took me 2 and half hours including my 30 minute brake where my dogs decided to sneak out when i was working on the car lol. oh and this was like my 6 spring install on the tc so yeah lol

bB2NER
03-24-2009, 12:02 AM
^^ the $260.00 price is actually from the toyota/scion dealership here :doh:

dealership here wanted 950

damn lmao. i woulda loved to see ur reaction lolhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/020263/jawdrop7rg1.gif

Mouse
03-24-2009, 02:04 AM
^^ ...maybe that was 950 Pesos lmao