TRD lowering spring...How long did it take you? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JOSHKENNEDY · 10-12-2005, 05:29 PM

Hey people to those of you who have put the TRD lowering spring on your car, or any other brand, on the 02+ Camry about how long did it take? How difficult was it? O I have all the tools, coil spring compressor, my brother is going to do it but I just want to know how much work will be cut out for him so I know how to repay him!

Thanks

leasaunce · 10-12-2005, 05:55 PM

takes about 2 hours if you know abit.

greylock · 10-12-2005, 06:21 PM

4 hours by myself and a bit over 2.5 hours with a buddy helping me. Both were done on a hot summer day with plenty of breaks to drink soda or water and at a shop with lifts and proffesional tools.

mkII · 10-12-2005, 06:24 PM

I agree. I would say 2-4 hours depending on your tools. The fronts were easy. The back are also kinda easy, but it gets cramped and uncomfortable.

What took the most time for me was the jack I was using and not knowing where the nuts to remove for the rear. If you have a good hydrolic jack and good knowledge of cars, it won't take too long.

Super Kaioken · 10-13-2005, 06:57 PM

where are the nuts for the back?

leasaunce · 10-13-2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Kaioken

where are the nuts for the back?

you need to take off the seats, its located near the side pillar.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 10-13-2005, 08:07 PM

as long as you have an impact gun, then it's all easy street

the only other thing that helps about as much is having another set of hands, especially when you're using the manual spring compressors

skewe · 10-13-2005, 08:31 PM

2 hrs if u know what u r doing and if the bolts are not rusty

4 hrs if u are learning

azntony85 · 10-13-2005, 11:13 PM

My friend's dad owns a shop... less than 1 hour hahaha

and i didnt even break a sweat!!! ... if i were to do it... probably 10 hours...

terrastrife · 10-13-2005, 11:58 PM

about 3 hours the first time for me, and about 40 minutes for after that (all 4, with another person, and 2 guns)

RedPhoenix · 10-14-2005, 08:18 AM

few hours, ive done it so many times. the backs are harder (atleast on the gen 3)

fungke · 10-14-2005, 08:43 AM

damn really?
i'm kinda a dummy and i don't trust myself with that kinda stuff.
asked the dealer....said that it would take 6 hours! what a rip!!!
geez...i assume that they are pros and would take only 2-3 hours
MAX! based on what i am hearing from you guys.

Mikey21 · 10-14-2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fungke

damn really?
i'm kinda a dummy and i don't trust myself with that kinda stuff.
asked the dealer....said that it would take 6 hours! what a rip!!!
geez...i assume that they are pros and would take only 2-3 hours
MAX! based on what i am hearing from you guys.

FYI.

Normally, not always. When a dealer quotes you 6 hours of labor he's getting it from a book. The repair manual has the estimated times for each job on a vehicle. It includes all of the neccessary related jobs involved. (ie. removing the tires, removing the back seat, wheel alignment) When a dealer does it they will normally use the factory recommended thread compounds and torque settings which take longer to do the just zipping them back on with a impact gun. The labor quote is for one man doing the entire job by himself at a steady work pace. The estimate is for a cetified mechanic doing it for the first time. He gets faster every time he does that same job but the dealer usually will not charge less. In the book it gives a fair estimate of the job and that's what they will charge even if it took less time. Of course if he runs into problems he will charge you more. It's easy to do the job fast. It's harder to do it right. I used to be a ASE Certified Master Mechanic and I take pride in the work I do. I will never tell you I can do something the fastest, but I will tell you I do the job right.

Remember I used the term normally, not always. Some dealers definitely have better shops than others. I remember a shop that had a floor that look liked it was painted black. It wasn't, it was covered with grease and oil stains from years of neglect. The mechanics had filthy hands and shirts, with their shirts looking like a readily available rag. The dealer I go to has painted floors, and the mechanics have clean uniforms and hands. Which one do you think does better work? OK, some of you are going to say the first dirty guys. Well if I was a top certified mechanic who took pride in my work and could pick and choose where I work where do you think I'd be working? Not the first dirty place that's for sure. The better shops have a slightly higher hourly labor rate, but you get what you paid for.

I do almost all of the work on my car myself. I take it to the dealer when it becomes cost or time effective. It took me about 4 hours I'd say to complete it, but that's less the wheel alignment. It actually took me 2 days and some 16 working hours to get my car back on the ground. But that included the New TRD springs, New Slotted Cross Drilled Rotors, Akebono Ceramic Pads, TRD Rear Sway Bar, Tons of Dyna Mat & G2 Red Caliper Paint. Oh, was my back killing me.

mkII · 10-14-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fungke

damn really?
i'm kinda a dummy and i don't trust myself with that kinda stuff.
asked the dealer....said that it would take 6 hours! what a rip!!!
geez...i assume that they are pros and would take only 2-3 hours
MAX! based on what i am hearing from you guys.

You gotta take into account that they aren't going to work on your car right away. They have other cars they need to work on first.

fungke · 10-15-2005, 01:38 AM

yes i know...although i value getting the job done right the first time...i don't think i will take it to the dealer if they plan on charing me that much...any suggetsions as to where i can get my springs installed? i live in the GTA.