Hey, I have already gotten the guides to install the front and rear shocks/springs from Club tC and the Tech section here. So, I'm all set when the TRD shocks and H-Techs get here. What I wanna hear from you guys is personal experience on installing these. I want to know what's the hardest parts of doing the front AND rear. I don't have an impact gun, so I will be doing this the hard way. So, is there any warnings for safety or for not breaking anything that you guys can give me. And any other tips that might be useful? Any feedback on this would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

What are you using to compress the springs? IMO, it would be best to have a shop do the assembly of the strut/spring and then you can put it in. Even a Monroe or similar place can do it for about $40-$50. Call around though...

 

When I did my friend's 2002 VW GTI, we used one of those things where there were things on a threaded bar. Hard to explain, hope you know what I mean, but that. I probably can do it myself. Any more suggestions? I'd be glad to hear more.

 

easy.

1. for our cars rent a spring compressor to compress the springs down.
2. when you take it all apart, put it in a straight line with all the parts lining up in the order they go in so theres no confusion in putting it back together.
3. if your a newb at suspension you can label and chart down the order of parts so theres no way of confusing the order and placement(draw a diagram if it helps)
4. make sure the strut and all the other components face the same direction they were taken out of when putting it back in.

those are the best tips i can give you to ensure you do it right.
after install and you've double checked all your bolts are tight. drive around a bit (easy) and then re cehck for loose bolts. (it happens)

then get an alignment once the springs have settled. (should take a few days)

hope that helps.

 

Sure does help! Just worried about this part:
The rear shock and spring installation is slightly harder than the fronts only because you have to assemble the shocks and shock caps pointing in the same direction as it started with or it will not fit correctly back in the wheel well.

And would like to hear more info tips, any hard parts you came across and what you did to over come it, etc... Keep em coming, appreciate it.

 

Make sure you have a set of metric allen keys for the actual bolts on the top of the rear struts. You need to hold it on while lossening it or it will spin. Make sure you have breaker bars and some quality tools. Lasty just make sure you tourque down everything to spec.

Hope this helps and hope it made sense.

 

Yea, I've read on things like "torque to 32 lbs". I don't have a clue what that means.

 

Not trying to sound like a d!ck but if you don't understand that you might wanna take it to a shop

 

All you gotta do is tell me...

 

Hey sorry i didn't get an email from your reply. Either buy or borrow a torque wrench. You can set it to torque bolts to specific ft lbs. The strut bolts on the bottom should be at 103ft lbs, top mount strut bolts at 59ft lbs. Double check those number because i am not 100% on them just going off the top of my head. I'm sure you can find the specs on here somewhere and good luck.

 

just tighten all the bolts as much as you can...i did my coilovers with no torque wrench or air tools

 

Ok, I have another question, I know how to take the shocks and springs apart, but I'm not sure how to put them back together, the thing is do I have to compress the springs to do it, if so, how much? I still have the guides from Club tC and they don't say anything about that. Hope to hear about this. Thanks...

 

you compress just so ensure that it doesn't put right back into your face. i just compressed til it held the tension.

 

The rear is: bottom - 103lb/ft top - 59lb/ft
The front is: bottom - 177lb/ft top - 38lb/ft

I just installed my Teins SS's two days ago.

make sure you get a torque wrench that goes up to at least 177lb/ft, but also 38lb/ft as the minimum. You might need to rent two different ones.

- Dante

 

My Hotchkis springs came today. Swapping out the TRDs.
But I was looking at the instructions and it said I have to take off the wipers and plastic cowl and blah blah blah. Is that really neccessary? Did you guys take all that crap off for the fronts?

 

No, you do not. Check out Step 5 here:
http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspen...k-install.html

 

Thanks. That was very helpfull.
I didn't find the springs how-to int he tech section here at ScionLife, so I appreciate the link to club-tc.

 

No prob man.

You might want to check out the rear ones also:
http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspen...tallation.html

This is a VERY good tech section:
http://www.club-tc.com/forums/articles/

I will be putting it to good use. You should to!

 

So, I got my shock assembly off, and I've compressed the springs, but I can't get that top nut off. The whole shaft keeps spinning.
That link to club-tc says I need to use an allen wrench but I don't see where. HELP!

 

allen key fits in the allen hole on the end of the strut shaft to keep the shaft from spinning while you loosen the nut with the wrench. OR you can use an impact gun..