How-To Install Coilover Springs

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0f47f620.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Light" ><I><IMG SRC="0f750400.gif" border=0 width="80" height="64" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HondaAcura List "><U><B> <img src="HTMLobj-775/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="115" height="59">  </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About HondaAcura"><U>About Honda/Acura</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="members_rides.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Members Rides"><U>Members Rides</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips Tricks"><U>Tips & Tricks</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information Specs "><U>Information & Specs</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact HondaAcura"><U>Contact Honda/Acura</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pic of the Month"><U>Pic of the Week</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Downloads"><U>Downloads</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="34e55813.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Honda-Acura List  </B></FONT>     |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HondaAcura List "><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>    </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips Tricks"><U><B>Back</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cold Air Induction"><U>Cold Air Induction</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remove Front H Emblem"><U>Remove Front H Emblem</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Custom Headlight"><U>Custom Headlight</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shift Knob Upgrade"><U>Shift Knob Upgrade</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adjusting Your Throttle Cable"><U>Adjusting Your Throttle Cable</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Install Factory Fog Lights"><U>Install Factory Fog Lights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="After Market Fog Lights"><U>After Market Fog Lights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HowTo Install a Short Shifter"><U>How-To Install a Short Shifter</U></A>   |   <B>How-To Install Coilover Springs</B>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to tell Vtec Cams apart"><U>How to tell Vtec Cams apart</U></A></div> <div>     <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >      <IMG SRC="253c3040.gif" border=0 width="451" height="4" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>How-To Install Coilover Springs</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 1. Loosen all of the lug nuts on the vehicle</div> <bR> <div> 2. Remove the 8 nuts from the strut tower assemblies (2 can be found on each tower) The top of the rear strut tower is located under the trunk carpet and may require plastic carpet clip removal to access them.</div> <bR> <div> 3. Jack up the entire car or just one of the wheels or just two of the wheels whichever you prefer.</div> <bR> <div> 4. Remove the wheel or wheels from the raised portion of the vehicle </div> <bR> <div> 5. Take a look at the spring assembly do you see where it is connected to on the control arm?? This is the bolt you are going to remove. You may need to hammer it out once the nut is off with a screwdriver like I do. </div> <bR> <div> 6. Once you have this bolt removed the strut assembly should be loose. Now comes the tricky part</div> <bR> <div> 7. The ones on the front are the hardest to get out because of the fork that straddles the drive shaft. You have two options here; you can loosen the strut clamping bolt on the fork and hammer on that until the fork comes loose from the strut or you can get the stock Honda scissors jack out and use it to push the fork clear of the drive shaft and then kick the strut assembly out. I usually loosen the clamp bolt and take the strut out first then I remove the fork. Whichever you prefer. The rear ones are pretty easy to get to clear of the control arm with a little elbow grease. </div> <bR> <div> 8. Once you have the assembly removed now would be a good time to attach the spring compressor and tighten it down to release the 300 plus pounds of force that are on the spring. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE TOP HAT WITHOUT THE COMPRESSOR!!!!!! I tried this once and it shot my Allen wrench through the side of my garage. Not to mention how long it will take you to find the nut that was attached to the strut piston. Just hate to think how that would've affected my body if I would have been in the way. Any ways, once the compressor is attached remove the top hat with an Allen wrench and the proper sized open end wrench. </div> <bR> <div> 9. Now that you have the top hat removed we come to the point of are you installing coilovers or are you installing aftermarket lowering springs?? If you are installing coilovers go to step 10. If you are installing lowering springs go to step 11. </div> <bR> <div> 10. Ok the coilover assembly should consist of the threaded collar, the adjusting "hats" that go on the threaded collar, the adjusting wrenches, the springs, and some of the kits come with three rubber grommets. Take the three grommets and slide them over the strut, next comes the collar. You want to ensure the collar slides over the top of the grommets, this prevents squeaking coming from the metal to metal contact on the strut. Next comes the "hats". Thread them onto the collar about halfway and leave them loose. The spring goes on next and finally the top hat but wait, do you see that rubber grommet that was on top of the stock spring?? Get rid of it and thread some rubber or silicone hosing over the top of the spring where it will make contact with the top hat. This will save you frustration of trying to line the big rubber washer up when you are adjusting the height of your ride before you lower it down to the ground. Now reattach the top hat to the strut and you have your complete coilover assembly ready to be reinstalled. </div> <bR> <div> 11. Ok so you have the springs anxiously waiting to be installed right?? Just slide the spring on, compress it, place the rubber grommet on and then bolt the top hat on, uncompressed the spring and your ready to reinstall it. </div> <bR> <div> 12. Getting the coilover strut assembly on is a piece of cake since there is no tension on the spring. Just stick it back up in the tower and pull up on it to get it to clear the drive shaft. To get the lowered spring assembly back on you may have to use a jack or a buddy to get enough force on it to clear the drive shaft. The rear ones are pretty easy to get in regardless of the assembly. Hammer the bolt back through the control arm and tighten the nut onto it. </div> <bR> <div> 13. Put the strut tower nuts back on. </div> <bR> <div> 14. Reattach the wheels to the vehicle. </div> <bR> <div> 15. Remove the jack.</div> <bR> <div> 16. To adjust the coilovers you just have to raise or lower the hats on the collar, I get to mine by raising the car up with a car jack and turn it a couple of times then lower it back down.</div> <bR> <div> 17. Once you get it set to the height you want it at, definitely go out and get an alignment unless of course you have big bucks for tires and enjoy how your vehicle pulls all over the road. Any Q's e-mail me!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >      <IMG SRC="253c3040.gif" border=0 width="451" height="4" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ©2001 Honda/Acura. All rights reserved.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>