Changing front struts/springs
Changing front struts/springs Those of you who have changed out front springs/struts, how difficult was it? Is it worth the price to have a suspension shop do it, or is it easy enough to do yourself?
Second question, can any of you recommend a suspension shop around the Portland area?
Thanks in advance.
Second question, can any of you recommend a suspension shop around the Portland area?
Thanks in advance.
What year car are we talking about?
I did my 00 TA & it wasn't too bad.....if you know what you're doing & have a spring compressor. I think howtols1.com has instructions for this job. And unless you are putting on adj shocks (meaning lowering the car) you don't NEED to take it to a shop. If however you lower it, you'll need to get the front end re-aligned. Places like Les Schwab can do this job, as long as you don't need a road-race-level alignment..
I did my 00 TA & it wasn't too bad.....if you know what you're doing & have a spring compressor. I think howtols1.com has instructions for this job. And unless you are putting on adj shocks (meaning lowering the car) you don't NEED to take it to a shop. If however you lower it, you'll need to get the front end re-aligned. Places like Les Schwab can do this job, as long as you don't need a road-race-level alignment..
Originally Posted by WAHUSKER
What year car are we talking about?
I did my 00 TA & it wasn't too bad.....if you know what you're doing & have a spring compressor. I think howtols1.com has instructions for this job. And unless you are putting on adj shocks (meaning lowering the car) you don't NEED to take it to a shop. If however you lower it, you'll need to get the front end re-aligned. Places like Les Schwab can do this job, as long as you don't need a road-race-level alignment..
I did my 00 TA & it wasn't too bad.....if you know what you're doing & have a spring compressor. I think howtols1.com has instructions for this job. And unless you are putting on adj shocks (meaning lowering the car) you don't NEED to take it to a shop. If however you lower it, you'll need to get the front end re-aligned. Places like Les Schwab can do this job, as long as you don't need a road-race-level alignment..
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 546
Likes: 1
From: Washington
I ran 428 linears up front for a long time in my Z28 and I could not have been happier. They were the ST Speedtech springs, which are probably too low for you. Changing the front hardware is only a pain because the spring compressors take time. It's not difficult; just time-consuming.
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 0
From: Lynnwood, WA (North of Seattle)
A friend & I changed out all four corners (shocks/springs) a couple months ago on my T/A and it wasn't too bad. Lots of physical work (compressing the front springs) but not worth the $$ of a shop to do it in my humble opinion. And I am not what you would call a mechanical genius either, so it wasn't that difficult.
Loves to change spark plugs
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Portland Oregon
I have a spring compressor kit you can borrow. I'm not too far from you. You can rent them from Schucks, etc. as well. My son was quoted $15 each @ Les Schwab last summer to change his out of the car. The upper control arm can be a mess on some cars due to rust from water incursion at the strut area.
The job isn't too bad at all. After 107k I was surprised the steering knuckle separrated so easily. That was the part I was worried about. Took a couple leisurely hours.
After thinking about it, I'd pay $15 a piece just to have someone else save me the hassle of messing with the spring compressors. Then again, I've done 4 sets of struts in the past year, so I've had plenty of fun already....
The job isn't too bad at all. After 107k I was surprised the steering knuckle separrated so easily. That was the part I was worried about. Took a couple leisurely hours.
After thinking about it, I'd pay $15 a piece just to have someone else save me the hassle of messing with the spring compressors. Then again, I've done 4 sets of struts in the past year, so I've had plenty of fun already....
Trending Topics
I'm not sure whqat the Eibach pros are I run, but I like them for the look & handling. I raised the fron 1/2" because my cats hit speed bumps, but now it's fine. And I did them myself. If you have a compressor, that makes quick work of the springs. DO NOT use it on the nut on top of the shock! I damaged mine that way & can't get it tight enough so I have a small rattle now. (at least that is what I think happened)
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by 97BlackT\A
I have a spring compressor kit you can borrow. I'm not too far from you. You can rent them from Schucks, etc. as well. My son was quoted $15 each @ Les Schwab last summer to change his out of the car. The upper control arm can be a mess on some cars due to rust from water incursion at the strut area.
The job isn't too bad at all. After 107k I was surprised the steering knuckle separrated so easily. That was the part I was worried about. Took a couple leisurely hours.
After thinking about it, I'd pay $15 a piece just to have someone else save me the hassle of messing with the spring compressors. Then again, I've done 4 sets of struts in the past year, so I've had plenty of fun already....
The job isn't too bad at all. After 107k I was surprised the steering knuckle separrated so easily. That was the part I was worried about. Took a couple leisurely hours.
After thinking about it, I'd pay $15 a piece just to have someone else save me the hassle of messing with the spring compressors. Then again, I've done 4 sets of struts in the past year, so I've had plenty of fun already....
Originally Posted by NataSS Inc
I run a 650 front and 225 rear liniar spring. LOVE IT.
Thanks again guys for all the helpful advice