How To: Lowering Spring Install!

[hotrippr]

Thank you, I was just worried because the pics I have seen on Retailer's sites just show the strut.

So these are reused:
1.Hardware
2.Bump stops (shortened or replaced w/MSP)
3.Top cover for struts
4.Accordion dust covers
5.Top plates
6.Brakeline clips
7.Rubber Spring seats (upper and lower)
8.Bearing
9.Mounting rubber

I am on the way to the dealer to get MSP bumpstops for the front and going to put the P5 stops on the rear. If they arent too expensive I will pick up some spare nuts for the endlinks just in case. I kinda stripped one while breaking it loose.

I highly recommend trying to get ALL of the endlinks loose FIRST, it is much better finding out that you will have to buy new nuts or endlinks sooner than later when you got all wheels off and a strut or 2 replaced. Endlinks are the hardest part of the job it seems.

 

[jeg0024]

Thank you, I was just worried because the pics I have seen on Retailer's sites just show the strut.

So these are reused:
1.Hardware
2.Bump stops (shortened or replaced w/MSP)
3.Top cover for struts
4.Accordion dust covers
5.Top plates
6.Brakeline clips? Or are they welded on new struts too?

I am on the way to the dealer to get MSP bumpstops for the front and going to put the P5 stops on the rear. If they arent too expensive I will pick up some spare nuts for the endlinks just in case. I kinda stripped one while breaking it loose.

I highly recommend trying to get ALL of the endlinks loose FIRST, it is much better finding out that you will have to buy new nuts or endlinks sooner than later when you got all wheels off and a strut or 2 replaced. Endlinks are the hardest part of the job it seems.

Yep, your list is correct. Im assuming the old brake line clips will work on the new stuts. Getting a few extra endlink nuts would be a good ideal too, I kinda wished I did.

 

[hotrippr]

Jeg
How thick are the back stops? Cause I was thinking about just sawing them off to the same size of the front. Then I would cut the front bumps down after that. I cant find a dealer with the MSP or Front MP5 bumps in stock, and if the sruts arrive tomorrow then I would install this weekend, dont have time to special order the bumpstops. Have heard of a few guys wishing they had shorter rear bumpstops.

Thanks for the great writeup BTW.

 

[jeg0024]

Jeg
How thick are the back stops? Cause I was thinking about just sawing them off to the same size of the front. Then I would cut the front bumps down after that. I cant find a dealer with the MSP or Front MP5 bumps in stock, and if the sruts arrive tomorrow then I would install this weekend, dont have time to special order the bumpstops. Have heard of a few guys wishing they had shorter rear bumpstops.

Thanks for the great writeup BTW.

Thanks man


Theres a pic on my first post somewhere near the end with the rear bump stop still on the strut. Its kind of an odd shape to be cutting smaller, you have a P5 right? Depending on how low you want the back to sit you might just wanna leave the rear bump stops alone. Im not quite as sure with the P5 but with the sedan the top of the struts in the rear are much further away from the tire than in the fronts and you can get away with a larger bump stop due to the fact that the strut doesn't compress as much as they do in the front.


3k post FTW

 

[hotrippr]

Yeah I will have to decide when I get under her, I think the rear of the P5 is heavier than your's. I was thinking of cutting them like so or even more in the middle of the second smaller piece. Wouldn't the car sit the same no matter how it is cut? It only contacts the stops when fully compressed right? Sorry, if I am complicating more than I should, this is my first time doing this, I just want to do it right the first time.
Congrats on 3K! I got 20!(enguard)

 

[jeg0024]

Yeah I will have to decide when I get under her, I think the rear of the P5 is heavier than your's. I was thinking of cutting them like so or even more in the middle of the second smaller piece. Wouldn't the car sit the same no matter how it is cut? It only contacts the stops when fully compressed right? Sorry, if I am complicating more than I should, this is my first time doing this, I just want to do it right the first time.
Congrats on 3K! I got 20!(enguard)

lol, thanks

It depends on how much you lower it as to weather or not your struts will ride on the bump stops. Just to be safe I would cut off about half of the smaller notch on the rear stops, and if you can kinda cut them to shape a little better so its not just cut straight across. It probably dont matter tho, I just wouldnt cut too much off.

 

[hotrippr]

With New Struts

Got my struts today!(rockon) After looking at the strut, Jeg's write up, and the uglyManual.pdf This seems pretty easy. I revised the list for idiots like me.

Things that will be reused for New struts:

1.Car(eek2)
2.Bump stops (shortened or replaced w/MSP)
3.Mounting rubbers
4.Accordion dust covers
5.Top spring seats
6.Brakeline clips
7.Rubber Spring seats (upper and lower)
8.Bearing

I would think about getting new:

1.Spare end link nuts ($2.50 each at stealership).
2.Mounting rubber
3.Spring seat rubbers (depends on how much they are or how worn)
4.End links if you have to break or cut them.

 

[jeg0024]

Got my struts today!(rockon) After looking at the strut, Jeg's write up, and the uglyManual.pdf This seems pretty easy. I revised the list for idiots like me.

Things that will be reused for New struts:

1.Car(eek2)
2.Bump stops (shortened or replaced w/MSP)
3.Mounting rubbers
4.Accordion dust covers
5.Top spring seats
6.Brakeline clips
7.Rubber Spring seats (upper and lower)
8.Bearing

I would think about getting new:

1.Spare end link nuts ($2.50 each at stealership).
2.Mounting rubber
3.Spring seat rubbers (depends on how much they are or how worn)
4.End links if you have to break or cut them.

Sounds good to me Hopefully you would re-use the car lol. $2.50 each for end link nuts? Damn. If your rubbers are used and not looking well it wouldn't hurt to get new ones, but it will take longer for the new springs to settle and you may need to wait a bit longer afterwards before getting an alignment.

 

[hotrippr]

Haha, my hands are swollen...need air tools.
Here are the problems I ran into:
1.Endlinks were a b****, I had to dremmel a nut off of one of em.
2.Mazda put the bolt end of the strut bolt facing the caliper on the pass side, so in order to get the bolt off I had to loosen and slide the caliper.
3.The strut washer that keeps the rod from spinning kept stripping on the new rear struts, so I had to use a towel and vice grips to hold the rod until the washer got compressed to the bottom of the threading where it is thicker and finally could lock.
4. I had to reline up the top strut bolts correctly 2 times on the rears.
5.Had to reseat the springs on the top 2 times, (stupidity).
6.Had to recompress the springs twice as many times as I should have...take your time and make sure the springs are seated correctly, and that the rears are lined up with the top.

This is my first time doing anything like this, it was fairly easy except some of the problems I ran into with the endlinks. My Dad's neighbor showed up towards the end of the job with a 2' breaker bar which fit perfectly in the wheelwell to break loose the endlinks...wished I had that in the first place, it probably would have taken half the time!

Well after all that yesterday, it was worth it, now I have prokit/Tokico Hps and a rear strut tower bar. And driving home was fun whipping around corners like never before, now for some wheels.

Oh and I did cut the rear stops about a 1/2'' off the smaller notch. I cut the bigger notch off the front but the bigger notch holds the boot up, next time cut off the smaller end? Now the boot is saggy on the fronts. I may just replace it with MSP stops.

 

[jeg0024]

Pics?

 

[hotrippr]

Pics?

Sure, will post em this weekend. Although my P5 is nothing pretty, but it will give those an idea of how much drop with proKit/Hps.

 

[Action Jackson]

Doh!

Too late to contribute.

I used the stock MSP bumpstops on the rear struts, and cut off 1 level from the MSP bumpstop for my fronts.

 

[hotrippr]

Its never too late.

I am happy with the 1/2 inch cut off the smaller notch of rear stock bumpstops and the one notch from the front. I had the car full with people today, hit some dips and FLEW around the traffic circle with no rubbuing or slamming the susp. The stops length are perfect for me.
The only thing I dont like is that I cut off the top notches on the front stops which hold the dust boot up, I would cut the bottom notch or replace with MSP stops, if I were any of you that are going to be lowering.

 

[hotrippr]

Pics of Eibach Pro/Tokico HP

Well I took a bunch of pics but it was too dark outside, here is one that came out ok, I will take some more and update it tomorrow.

If you look at the center of pic1 the camera is angled up, there is slighly less space between the wheel and fender than it shows. But you can see the blue beauty.

 

[jeg0024]

Looks awesome man! Im glad everything worked out well, those springs will settle a bit, expecially if you used new rubbers, but probably wont be too noticable. How do you like the way it rides?

 

[hotrippr]

Looks awesome man! Im glad everything worked out well, those springs will settle a bit, expecially if you used new rubbers, but probably wont be too noticable. How do you like the way it rides?

Well thanks for your write up(drinks) .
I didnt get new rubbers, I didnt want to wait for the special order, probably should have. About a month ago I got an alignment, now with this height and struts the car corners on rails, and is actually smoother than stock IMO. The alignment I got came with a 5year realignment policy...I am wondering if they will notice that my suspension has been changed. I'd hate to pay for another alignment when I just got it a month ago.(argh)

 

[jeg0024]

Well thanks for your write up(drinks) .
I didnt get new rubbers, I didnt want to wait for the special order, probably should have. About a month ago I got an alignment, now with this height and struts the car corners on rails, and is actually smoother than stock IMO. The alignment I got came with a 5year realignment policy...I am wondering if they will notice that my suspension has been changed. I'd hate to pay for another alignment when I just got it a month ago.(argh)

I wouldnt even tell them about it, just go in and tell them you think you need an alignment, they will more than likly find out though with the amount of negitive toe you will have if they are smart enough lol.

 

[hotrippr]

I hope they are stupid, or nice enough to offer a discount since I am redoing it.
Updated pics, btw.

 

[jeg0024]

Car looks nice man, not too low in the rear and just right up front.

 

[hotrippr]

Thanks. Everything is good except for the dent in my hood which some a-hole put in it the third day I had it.
Now so much more to do, waiting for my SLS mounts he said this week but I still yet to be charged, my Progress bar should be here tomorrow, yellow/amber fogs, I want to paint the calipers and hubs, I was thinking Tokico-blue for the calipers? If it werent for emissions every other year...I would do more.