Well, here are some pics of my install. Took out the old springs and installed Tein S.Tech springs. I had never done anything like this before, so I took my time. It ended up not being that difficult. The tutorial under the Tech section helped greatly.

The Tein’s drop 1.7 inches front and 1.5 rear.

I was so excited to put the springs in I made one mistake, you will see it in one of the pics.

Here is the original spring.


Original spring with tire off.


I used chalk to mark the position of the rubber bushing for correct installation later.


Original spring taken out


Rear spring comparison


New rear spring installed on one side


OOPS! Realized it was upside down a little too late! Didn't take too long to fix.


Front gap before


Front strut w/original spring


Had to loosen the front cowel to get the top strut bolts off.


Front strut w/original spring out of wheel well


No strut in wheel well


Front spring comparison


The instructions said I had to cut the bumper on the strut by about an inch


New spring on strut


Strut installed with new spring


Might as well install a strut tower bar since the top bolts are off


Strut tower bar installed, and cowel back together.


Front wheel gap after


Yeah! Finally done!


The springs have been in about a month now. The ride/comfort seems to be about the same to me. The handling is absolutely better. In fact I love how it handles.

The difficulty of this job was not too bad. I was by myself and did not have air tools. I didn't use a spring compressor and was ok. If you are thinking about doing it yourself, check out the Tech section, it helped me have some idea of what I was supposed to do next. Just make sure you give yourself enough time (all day).

 

nice write up! Looking good!

 

So how'd you do it without a spring compressor?

btw, looks great. I'm thinking of h.techs myself.

 

The rear springs almost fall out when you take the shocks off, and they go in pretty easily with the use of a jack holding the rear beam up. The front springs almost shoot off the strut when you take the top bolts off, so you have to be careful. Putting the new springs on the strut just takes a little effort by pushing down on the spring and then throwing the bolts on the top.

 

w00t! those are stock 15" right? I can't wait to install my df210's on my Camo now. If you got rid of that much wheel gap then i should get a lil more. How do u do on speedbumps etc?

Looks like u will still clear almost everything, but looks really good without the big wheel gap

 

That looks really good. Keep it up

 

Yep, stock steelies. Speedbumps are no problem, just take them a little slower. The wheel really needs to be painted, but I want to throw some NBK Power wheels on them in the near future.

Your df210's will look really great, and you'll love the handling. Put a tower brace in at the same time.

Thanks

 

dude, I have df210's on mine with a 2.2" drop and yours fill out the wheel gap as much as mine...are those the stock tires, too?

 

The tires and wheels are stock. Just the springs are new.

 

that's pretty damn good lookin for a 1.7" drop then...very nice. Makes me wonder if I got the full 2" drop on mine...

 

kloquewerk with ur tanabe's do u clear over speed bumps etc? Just take em slow?

 

That 1.7" thing is not true... once they settle it's more like 2" or maybe a tad more.

 

I did mine 2 wks ago using the write up in the tech section, It was a great guide and the install was easy money. I like the drop and agree the handleing is way better.

 

That last pic is new, so maybe they did settle more during the month. That would be great if they settled at 2" or more. Woohoo

 

Yeah, I clear speed bumps and most driveways no problem, even going at normal 5 mph speed. I usually only scape my exhaust going up this one steep driveway at the supermarket and that's it. I can even clear my underground parking's steep incline with no problems but my Matrix with Tein S Techs scrapes unless I'm at an almost 90 degree angle...and my box looks waaaay lower.

 

cool. only thing i have a concern with, is my wheels are 15", tires are 195/50 ... i put it up against the stock wheel when they were on my box and my wheels/tires are about 1" shorter.

I don't want to bottom out or get stuck on a damn speedbump, but i can't stand having as much wheel gap as i do now.

I think slammed on my 15" w/ spacers will look good, at least the rear spacers

 

^ you should be fine. just take it a little slower.

 

sweet, glad to hear that i don't need to remove the cowel all the way, had to in the echo... just more of a pain that way

Hopefully i'll put them in soon, how much did u cut your stops for the Tanabe's?

 

When I first dropped mine on S-techs my box was rolling on 205/40/17's, also about an inch less overall diameter than stock, so 1/2" lower.It was def a little closer to curbs than I wanted to be.
I now have 215/45/17's, which not only raise the ride height about an inch from where it was but fills the wheel wells out even more.

 

s-tech's are the way to go


and your rear spring is upside down, Logo reads upright
i have had mine the same way for 20,ooo miles+
don't worry about it, unless you have a problem...i have not