Springs Install

[scott42]

What would be a reasonable price for one to pay for a spring install? So far the prices I have been quoted are between $200 and $400 :O...I feel like I saw someone say that $100 should do it, but have yet to find anyone giving out that price...
Also, if anyone is in the Philly, S. Jersey, Delaware area and knows a good shop that would give a good price, please let me know. thanks
S

 

[Murda]

I've been quoted at $75 and $70 CDN for installation plus $50 for alignment... all in CDN.

 

[melicha8]

I hear it's free if you do it yourself. It's really easy. I did it for the first time last year with no problems at all. Front took 2 hours andthe rears took 3 hours because of all the trim you have to remove. It is totally easy save some money and do it yourself

 

[scott42]

Don't you need a spring compressor though?
If it doesn't take any bigtime tools, I think I could do it, but rumor has it, you need a compressor, and probably a bit more know how than I have...

 

[azeli73]

If you have a good breaker bar you'll be fine. A buddy of mine and I tackled it in under three hours. It was both our first time ever installing springs. spring compressor is really not necessary...

 

[scott42]

So you're saying with a crowbar and jackstands, I could pull this off? (If it would cost me $100 or less for someone to install them professionally + alignment, I'd feel much better about it; though $100+ lighter in the pocket. I'll pay for the piece of mind that I didn't use a crowbar)

 

[azeli73]

this is a breaker bar man. not a crowbar...

 

[scott42]

So now you see why I'd rather have someone else do it.
Yeah, I don't have one of them. The search continues...

 

[azeli73]

best of luck to you! the end result is very rewarding.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

you can rent tools at advance auto parts, and autozone. Anyhow I bought my spring compressors they were like 30 bucks us dollars. You can do it without compressors. Although not recommended by most, all you have to do is jack up the wheel/strut that you are working on and take the top nut off once the jack has compressed the factory spring, then just let the jack down real slow and there ya go. install is the reverse of removal, unless you are installing coil-overs which you have to guide back in place by hand since the springs are so short. Its really simple though, and the trim in the back isnt all that hard to remove so long as you dont have any subs or anything in the back. just a few little plastic rivets and it just pulls right out.
Pirana i think has a pretty good how to on his web page, I printed out how to remove the rear trim and it was pretty helpful, there are only two rivets that are a pain in the A** they are down right behind the metal brackets that hold the seat to the body of the car, bastards at mazda.
Oh well let us know what you end up doin.
Mike

 

[scott42]

A buddy of mine and I are going to try and tackle this next weekend. I'm just going to buy or rent the compressor anddo it...
Could you guys post any links that you know would be helpful or tack on little tid bits that you think might help? MikeBlue, I checked Pirana's site and can;t find the how to link you referenced but would really like to check it out. Can you post that link pls?
Thanks again guys..

 

[PaulMP3]

Scott, i will be installing mine next weekend. I still got my steelies on, the weather has been gorgeous all weekend! Im taking my car in for service tom. when it gets back, Springs and racingharts are goin on!! Good luck with the install, If you come across any problems be sure to tell me what to look out for.

 

[low_psi]

i'm putting on my eibachs this week, hopefully tomorrow!

 

[MikeBlueP5]

here ya go scott, it is a install for the ground controls, but it will be exactly the same for you except you wont be putting on the collars, and all the other stuff related to coilovers. removal and installation wise it is the same.
MikePirana's Install How To

 

[scott42]

thanks a ton.
I'll let you guys know how it goes...
i'm a bit nervous though...

 

[MikeBlueP5]

Hey man nothing to be nervous about. It always seems as though things are going to be a b****, but most of the time they arent. The only thing I have to warn you about though, I had a hard time with one of my swaybar endlinks in the front, where it actually attaches to the tab on the strut. I was taking the nut off and it stopped spinning on the endlink bolts threads and the whole bolt started turning inside the tab and flattened a few of the threads, and go figure I didnt have a die to fix it, and it was too late to go to a parts store, so a little WD40 and a few strokes of the file i was on my way, Of course I was using an impact and not paying attention and if i would have been it wouldnt have happened in the first place. But theres nothing hard about it, just remember the way you take the clips off the brake lines too. They can be a little tricky, i fought with it for about 15 minutes to find out i was trying to put it on upside down:wtf: If you need any help advise shoot me an email, or see if im on aim my sn is MikeBlueP5.
Mike

 

[BlackMSP]

im doing this exact job on my Mazdaspeed very soon gl with install let us know how long, and how easy it was for you. Thankss!

 

[scott42]

Sorry guys, still haven't installed them...my wingman came down with that nasty simultaneous vomit/$hit illness that's been going around this area, so we missed last weekend, and then this weekend, I realized I was in 2nd place in the old office pool for the NCAA Tourney...possibly looking at $300 that if won, will be earmarked for the install by a professional...Anyway, between that, the fact that my clunk is back (5th time) and the rumored recall on the bushings, I've decieded to hold off until that all gets squared away before messing with the suspension. Sorry to build that up for nothing...Please let me know if anyone does go ahead with it for now, as I still would like to know how it went. good luck!

 

[derrick1623]

http://forum.protegemp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6284 thats for a p5, but you get the idea!

 

[low_psi]

best of luck!

i had problems with the same nut MikeBlueP5 had, but on the rear right side. the nut just turned to plastic and wasn't coming off...we used a butane lighter and some wd40 to heat it up enough so that it would unscrew... i know, its ghetto and crazy but it worked.... take your time if you do it yourself. the bronze/gold nuts are very weak and you'll strip the threads or the "hew" part if you're not careful.