Spring install experience- painful - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

2olforthis · 03-14-2005, 09:35 PM

Read a lot here about spring install before attempting to replace stock with Goldline Springs (1.25"). Major PITA. Lower strut bolts were torqued so tight that I couldn't get them off. wrench. Bought an impact wrench and compressor. Didn't cut it. Had to have a muffler shop loosen them with theirs. Next, the top nut of the strut was the same way. Had to find somewhere with an available impact wrench on a Sunday. Seemed to be one thing after another. Once the BS was over with, the install itself was fairly easy. For somebody like myself who might try this, i would suggest:

1. Having a well stocked tool set (right sockets, breaker bar, high-torque impact wrench, etc.),
2. Getting a friend to help (another brain to problem-solve),
3. If it's a weekend job, start Friday night so that you can find a shop/parts if you need it,
4. Open wallet and gas to drive to and from the parts/hardware if you are a complete dumbass like me.

Goldline Springs are great. Just the right drop when going from stock 205/65/15 to new 215/45/17. Nice balance between stock and sport.

CDub LXi · 03-14-2005, 09:39 PM

I listed the list of tools required to do the job on the gen 4.5 Camry in a suspension thread. Gen 4 couldn't be any different.

Word of advice when doing suspension:
Use a good 1/2" drive socket wrench with a solid arm to get good leverage.

CamNub · 03-14-2005, 10:18 PM

On my friends protege, He couldn't get this one bolt off because of rust. So he cut his sway bar.

That was before they realized that you could torch off the rust.

CDub LXi · 03-14-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamNub

On my friends protege, He couldn't get this one bolt off because of rust.

Had this problem with my old '87 Accord LXi when trying to change the axles. I eventually got a junkyard lower control arm and said fuck trying to get the bolt out.

97camryman · 03-15-2005, 12:42 AM

Umm, you soak the bolts in penetrating oil every day for a week before the install. Then you geta 1/2 inch breaker bar and socket. Slip a 10 foot pipe over that and hang on it. A 180 lb person like me will therefore generate about 1800 ft/lbs of torque. Thats a lot. Torque= length of lever x force applied. And believe me 1800 ft/lbs will break those bolts loose no matter what. Even if you welded the bolts in, the heads would just snap off. The top nuts must be broken loose while the strut is still in the vehicle as well using the same breaker bar.

amerikim · 03-15-2005, 07:22 AM

Thats why I shopped it, $200 plus they installed my whiteline rsb.
My mental math said if I screwed something up, it could cost more than $200 with a car that may not be safely drivable.

CDub LXi · 03-15-2005, 07:28 AM

I don't have time to do the spray job every day for a week before the install so I just rely on good old arm power. It hasn't let me down yet.... except for on that '87.. and that's because I broke the bolt off inside the control arm.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 03-15-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amerikim

Thats why I shopped it, $200 plus they installed my whiteline rsb.
My mental math said if I screwed something up, it could cost more than $200 with a car that may not be safely drivable.

makes sense I suppose...

but 200 for install is steep.....if you also got your springs/struts from them, it should be half that price....but if you didn't.....then it's more understandable