Replacing springs the redneck way

[BlackJack]

So yeah, soon enough, I will be ordering the MS CAI and the MS Springs along with the Rear Camber Kit.

Anyone managed to replace the springs on their own? I would imagine as it is *kinda* easy since it involves taking out the wheels, brakes?, and unscrewing a couple bolts to get to the springs.

Sooooo, anyone done 'em?

 

[mastema]

ive done mine, ur gonna need a spring compressor. didnt have to take my brakes off.

 

[SNike05]

it is pretty simple on the P5 I also did mine on my own I used 20 year old spring clamps to compress the front ones I did not need them for the back. The 3 should not be complicated either.

 

[orng1]

I thought you were going to tell us how you had done it some redneck way.. The thinbg is just not to hurt yourself as the springs can have a lot of tension. I haven't done the 3 yet but I have seen some bad accidents with springs. I have used an extensioon cord to hold the tension of the spring as you remove it from the strut( wrap the cord around a few coils to hold the tension). I've done it this way but if you have access to a spring compressor then do that, the thing is just not to get hurt or mess it up. Good luck.

 

[Foolish]

I know autozone and some other shops will rent or loan certain tools, including spring compressors. At Autozone, they took a CC deposit from me for $30 or so, which was the price of the spring compressors, and then I could keep 'em, and they'd keep my money, or I could bring 'em back and get all my money back, which was a great deal.

The employees kept referring to the process as "renting" the tool, but if you get back all the money you gave them, it's borrowing, in my book.

 

[Ehkart]

certainly do NOT use anything but a spring compressor. The springs have enough tension in them to penetrate a cinder block wall with relative ease. don't try to jerryrig it.

 

[jeg0024]

Ive seen people try to use hose clamps instead of spring compressors(redneck way) but please, just rent the compressors, you get the money back as long as you return them.

 

[BlackJack]

Alright then, spring compressor it is. Thanks a lot for the info. Perhaps I could try to make a how-to while i'm at it?

Thanks for the healthy advice.

 

[tsunami]

do a search there is a how to i followed it when i did mine 1.5yrs ago. the only thing that was a real pita was trying to get the front spindle off of the strut dear god have a small sledge handy is all i have to say. it took a long time! the rears were really really quick though

 

[voiceKoil]

you havent done them the redneck way until youve stood on the spring and had the shock shoot out when you do the final twist on the top nut..... LMAO who kneeds wuna dem sprung cumpressserrz

That was on a couple of my eclipses though, dont think Id try that on a 3


Oh and for those that wonder how I put them back together.... The chopped springs fit fine lol, J/k the lowered springs would fit....

 

[meha11]

cant you stick a bottle jack in there to open it all up then just pull the spring out?
Rednecks round here do that on jeeps but thats a different monkey (dunno)

 

[Oxymoron]

you havent done them the redneck way until youve stood on the spring and had the shock shoot out when you do the final twist on the top nut..... LMAO who kneeds wuna dem sprung cumpressserrz.

ROFL I was wondering if anyone was going to mention this. I did this on my civic years ago with an impact wrench on the nut. Worked fine and alot less hassle.

 

[shane02pro5]

I have always used the weight of the car with a jack under the car. Un-bolt the strut top and raise the car up off of the strut. Spring de-compressed. Lowering it back down is a little more tricky but with my P5 I just lowered it until I could see the shaft and then insert an alen wrench into the shaft an guide it thru.

 

[mcspeed]

I have always used the weight of the car with a jack under the car. Un-bolt the strut top and raise the car up off of the strut. Spring de-compressed. Lowering it back down is a little more tricky but with my P5 I just lowered it until I could see the shaft and then insert an alen wrench into the shaft an guide it thru.

real red necks don't need springs