Suspension How To - Lowering
Someone brought to my attention that this thread disappeared so, for some of you newbies I'll repost it.
Disclaimer, be forewarned.... this how to is to be done without using a spring compressor. I'll agree it's probably safer to use a spring compressor but, for those of you who have used one.... you know they're not worth it. So, if you use my How to I am in no way responsible for whatever damage you may cause to your vehicle or to yourself. 8)
Tools you'll need:
-6 point metric sockets
-Hammer
-Utility knife, if you need to cut your bump stops
-Phillips screwdriver and a Punch (not in the face but, to tap some bolts through)
-A Jack, your siccor jack that came with your civic will work too
-jack stands (use at your discretion)
The Front:
First, I hope you're smart enough to realize you need to take your wheel off. Oh, and make sure the car is jacked up before you take that wheel off!
it'll look something like this:
The first bolt you need to get outta there is this one, it's at the bottom of your front strut assembly:
You'll need to tap the bolt through using a phillips screwdriver or a punch to tap it through, you'll probably have to wiggle it all around a lil to get it out too.
Once you have that out, there's another lil bolt holding this arm onto your strut. You should be able to just loosen this enough to get the strut out but, I had to take the bolt completely out before mine would come out.
Here's what the arm looks like if you can get it out of there:
This is where I skip out on the spring compressor. Once you've got the strut assembly all disconnected from below go up top and find the three nuts holding it in place. Before you go any further it's probably a good idea to put a rolled up blanket or piece of carpet lining your inner fender just to help insure that the spring won't dent or come thru your inner fender. Don't worry mine didn't even come close to doing that but, better safe than sorry. Okay, the middle nut, #2 in the picture is the one you want to slowly loosen. Be sure no one is standing on around your fender well also. Continue slowly loosening this bolt until its completely off. The strut assembly will pop out thru the bottom. Be sure to find all washers that may have came off and fell to the ground. I cover the other two nuts #1 and #3 a lil later....
Here's what they'll look like
Now, you can either take those other 2 nuts off or leave them on. It just kinda depends on how you wanna reassemble it. If you take the other 2 nuts off you'll get the mounting piece that holds the spring and strut in place. You don't have to take it off, it's actually easier to just leave it there and move on. Now, if you're installing aftermarket shocks you'll probably have to get a few things off of the old strut assemblies. You'll need everything you see on the strut that didn't come with your new strut. There is a washer you'll need to get off that may require a hammer to get to your bumpstop. Aftermarket suspension doesn't travel as far as your old stock suspention therefore you need to trim off part of your old bumpstop before placing it in there. Cut it in half and use the thicker part *some people say you should only cut 1/4-1/3 of the stop off... you be the judge. If you're installing actual coilovers they should come with everything you'll need.
Now just reassemble your new shocks with your new springs in the same manner that your old stuff came apart, it should look something like this
Or like this if you took off those other 2 nuts and got the mounting piece with it
*Be sure to line up the dimple on the back of the front struts that has to be aligned with the split in the back of the fork.
The Rear:
Once you've done the front, you'll breeze through the rear. 8) It's very much like the front and you probably won't need this how to for it.
Before you jack it up and take the wheels off get into your trunk. You'll have to move back some of your carpeted panels to get to upper stut towers in the rear. Get this panelling back so you can see the towers, that way you're not crawling around in there while the vehicle is jacked up.
The first nut and bolt you need outta there is here, You'll have to get this out otherwise the arm will be in the way and you won't be able to get the strut assembly out. *(From a friends past experiences, "2 out of the 50 plus hondas that I have dropped, 2/3s of them have the rear bottom 14mm bolt, that holds the strut to the lower arm, seized up and have to be cut out and a new bushing pressed in. So "breezing" through the rear doesnt always happen.")
The next one is here just like the front it's the bottom bolt of the strut assembly.
Here's what it will look like except your strut assembly will still be hangin there:
Now, you'll have to get in the trunk and do the same with the 3 nuts as before. Line your inner fender then, slowly turn that center nut. Once that thing pops outta there reassemble it all just like the front. You may also need an extra washer in this area.... depending on the aftermarket products you are using. I had to use a small one with my coilovers. Sometimes the arms are just too wide and it'll give you too much play.
Put your wheels back on and you're done.... take that bad boy for a spin. 8)
Most pictures were compiled from my own installation but, others were borrowed from turbod16.com. Here is the thread I used so you can compare and also just to give you a lil more confidence before your installation: http://www.turbod16.com/viewtopic.php?t=2702
Someone brought to my attention that this thread disappeared so, for some of you newbies I'll repost it.
Disclaimer, be forewarned.... this how to is to be done without using a spring compressor. I'll agree it's probably safer to use a spring compressor but, for those of you who have used one.... you know they're not worth it. So, if you use my How to I am in no way responsible for whatever damage you may cause to your vehicle or to yourself. 8)
Tools you'll need:
-6 point metric sockets
-Hammer
-Utility knife, if you need to cut your bump stops
-Phillips screwdriver and a Punch (not in the face but, to tap some bolts through)
-A Jack, your siccor jack that came with your civic will work too
-jack stands (use at your discretion)
The Front:
First, I hope you're smart enough to realize you need to take your wheel off. Oh, and make sure the car is jacked up before you take that wheel off!
it'll look something like this:
The first bolt you need to get outta there is this one, it's at the bottom of your front strut assembly:
You'll need to tap the bolt through using a phillips screwdriver or a punch to tap it through, you'll probably have to wiggle it all around a lil to get it out too.
Once you have that out, there's another lil bolt holding this arm onto your strut. You should be able to just loosen this enough to get the strut out but, I had to take the bolt completely out before mine would come out.
Here's what the arm looks like if you can get it out of there:
This is where I skip out on the spring compressor. Once you've got the strut assembly all disconnected from below go up top and find the three nuts holding it in place. Before you go any further it's probably a good idea to put a rolled up blanket or piece of carpet lining your inner fender just to help insure that the spring won't dent or come thru your inner fender. Don't worry mine didn't even come close to doing that but, better safe than sorry. Okay, the middle nut, #2 in the picture is the one you want to slowly loosen. Be sure no one is standing on around your fender well also. Continue slowly loosening this bolt until its completely off. The strut assembly will pop out thru the bottom. Be sure to find all washers that may have came off and fell to the ground. I cover the other two nuts #1 and #3 a lil later....
Here's what they'll look like
Now, you can either take those other 2 nuts off or leave them on. It just kinda depends on how you wanna reassemble it. If you take the other 2 nuts off you'll get the mounting piece that holds the spring and strut in place. You don't have to take it off, it's actually easier to just leave it there and move on. Now, if you're installing aftermarket shocks you'll probably have to get a few things off of the old strut assemblies. You'll need everything you see on the strut that didn't come with your new strut. There is a washer you'll need to get off that may require a hammer to get to your bumpstop. Aftermarket suspension doesn't travel as far as your old stock suspention therefore you need to trim off part of your old bumpstop before placing it in there. Cut it in half and use the thicker part *some people say you should only cut 1/4-1/3 of the stop off... you be the judge. If you're installing actual coilovers they should come with everything you'll need.
Now just reassemble your new shocks with your new springs in the same manner that your old stuff came apart, it should look something like this
Or like this if you took off those other 2 nuts and got the mounting piece with it
*Be sure to line up the dimple on the back of the front struts that has to be aligned with the split in the back of the fork.
The Rear:
Once you've done the front, you'll breeze through the rear. 8) It's very much like the front and you probably won't need this how to for it.
Before you jack it up and take the wheels off get into your trunk. You'll have to move back some of your carpeted panels to get to upper stut towers in the rear. Get this panelling back so you can see the towers, that way you're not crawling around in there while the vehicle is jacked up.
The first nut and bolt you need outta there is here, You'll have to get this out otherwise the arm will be in the way and you won't be able to get the strut assembly out. *(From a friends past experiences, "2 out of the 50 plus hondas that I have dropped, 2/3s of them have the rear bottom 14mm bolt, that holds the strut to the lower arm, seized up and have to be cut out and a new bushing pressed in. So "breezing" through the rear doesnt always happen.")
The next one is here just like the front it's the bottom bolt of the strut assembly.
Here's what it will look like except your strut assembly will still be hangin there:
Now, you'll have to get in the trunk and do the same with the 3 nuts as before. Line your inner fender then, slowly turn that center nut. Once that thing pops outta there reassemble it all just like the front. You may also need an extra washer in this area.... depending on the aftermarket products you are using. I had to use a small one with my coilovers. Sometimes the arms are just too wide and it'll give you too much play.
Put your wheels back on and you're done.... take that bad boy for a spin. 8)
Most pictures were compiled from my own installation but, others were borrowed from turbod16.com. Here is the thread I used so you can compare and also just to give you a lil more confidence before your installation: http://www.turbod16.com/viewtopic.php?t=2702
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