How much did you pay to get springs installed?

[Protege_Speed]

I just got my Eibach Sportlines and I wanted to get them installed. I am in the Northern NJ area and was wondering what some of you paid for your install. I wish I could do it myself but I don't really have all the tools or the space to do it. Anybody in Northern NJ know of any good places or maybe if you have the experience, the tools, and the time, we can do it together. What's the going rate of a spring install these days?

 

[Sir Nuke]

I would estimate the going rate for a spring install is between $150 and $200 just depending on the shop....its an easy 3 to 4 hours labor unless there are more than just one corner being worked on at a time....

then of course there is the $75 for a full four wheel alignment which is REQUIRED after the springs are installed...and if any one talkes you out of the alignment....you can kiss your tires goodbye after a while.

 

[element.8]

depending on how intense my jic-magic's look, i might just pay for an install to know its done right.


but at the same time...i have this deep feeling that the shops around here are a little too redneck to understand what a coilover is.

 

[protegeV]

free, i did it myself.

 

[BlueWolfCry]

ask someone in your area to help then just have a local shop align them

 

[Protege_Speed]

I would like to do this myself if I could. I just wish it didn't take so long to do. Plus. I live in a condo, so I really do have a good place to do it. I have been calling around for quotes and I have been getting 300 for the install and 70 for the alignment. Then I have shops asking me if I got new struts also. I said no. And they said, "I have never heard that before, you always have to get new struts." I was like, yeah right. I just don't trust people like that. I'll keep looking.

 

[DistantTea]

You really can do it yourself. I never thought we'd be able to do it, but it took less than 5 hours to install ground control coilovers. It just involves being prepared and doing one end of the car at a time. Just make sure you get a spring compressor from autozone with their rent a tool thing and follow the instructions in the how-to. You can save yourself $300.

If you really don't want to do it start finding race shops around you. Most of them are so fast doing springs you can probably talk them into sub $200 install rates.

 

[Protege_Speed]

Do you guys think I need to get my bump stops cut with the Sportlines?

 

[dmitrik4]

if he's in a condo, it's not a question of time or tools. the problem is WHERE? i'm in the same situation.

the real question is "how long does it take a decent shop to swap out a set of springs/struts?" i'm thinking a decent mechanic should be able to do it in ~2 hours.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Do you guys think I need to get my bump stops cut with the Sportlines?

No, I put on the Pro Kit and didn't do anything to them at all....I also used the stock shocks....depending on the condition of the roads in your area you can count on the stock shocks lasting about 35000 miles or so with lowering springs on them...some people have gotten more...some less it just depends on your roads.

As for doing the job yourself.....IF you have decent mechanical skills....this really is a simple job. It just takes a while. READ all the how to's on the baord....pay close attention when you are taking things apart and put them back together EXACTLY like you found them....match mark stuff so you know how it goes back together....if you don't know what match marking is, that is when you have two parts that fit together...and you make a mark on both parts where they fit together so you can realign them during reassembly. Just take your time...do one end of the car then the other. If you do these things, the job will go fine and then all you will be out is about 4 hours of your time...a pair of dirty hands...the little fee for the spring compresser at Auto Zone.....and the $70 for the alignment.

 

[DistantTea]

if he's in a condo, it's not a question of time or tools. the problem is WHERE? i'm in the same situation.

Unless working on the car in your parking spot is against the rules I don't see a problem. I had to do mine in my driveway since my garage is full of crap. I could have done it in a parking spot without hitting the cars next to me.

If that is just totally not an option then I suggest paying for use of a garage with a lift. You might spend $40 to get the garage for a couple hours, but you'll save a couple hundred. Thats just alot of money to me. You buy springs for $200 and you have to pay more to get them installed. Spring install is VERY much within mechanical reason if you can follow directions and get the tools.

 

[dmitrik4]

i'll have you know i bought my springs for $45, thank you very much. and my struts for $250.

you talked me into giving it a shot next weekend. wish me luck!

 

[DistantTea]

I'd help you, but no way in hell I'm going to Jersey.

Good luck.

i'll have you know i bought my springs for $45, thank you very much. and my struts for $250.

you talked me into giving it a shot next weekend. wish me luck!

 

[mazdaowner123]

Yes it's quite easy to do. It took us <2 hours to do my ground controls at the shop (with a lift and a real spring compressor, not the cheapo thing, and with air tools). It really shouldn't be too bad. If you run into any problems just post them here. Good luck and have fun.

~brian

 

[Protege_Speed]

Damn, I finally got the courage to do it and the first thing I try to do is loosen the end links. I can get the darn bolt loose. I soaked it in PB and it's still not going anywhere. I don't have an impact wrench. How discouraging. I am going to let the PB soak in over night and hopefully I can get them loose tomorrow. How did you guys without air tools do it?

 

[protegeV]

ya just gotta let it soak for a long time I suppose...I have air tools, so I cant say a certain way to do it w/o them(dunno)

 

[Protege_Speed]

HELP

I just finished putting the right rear spring in and after tightening the top bolt and putting in the bottom two 17mm strut bolts, there is a lot of play in the spring. I mean it's loose. I thought after I tightened everything it would get snug in there. Did I miss something? I thought I tightened the top bolt as much as possible. Is it possoble that it should keep going? Or is this normal to have that movement in the spring until you let the car down. Someone please help. I don't know if this is normal.

PS. I haven't done the left one yet and I am also not a pro at this.

 

[Protege_Speed]

bump

 

[DistantTea]

Yeah thats normal.. these are lowering springs no? The strut at full excursion is going to be longer than your new spring. Do the other, get everything aligned and set the car down easy. You'll see.

 

[element.8]

i was just going to say...

if its stock struts, they're at their full extension, and since these springs are shorter, it should be fine when you take it off the jack stand.