If you have basic tools and willing to learn it is quite simple. You can borrow a spring compressor from any autozone for free. I have never done it, but have heard that you can. Or just buy some. They are some around for like $12. There are sites that have install instructions also.
Bradiscool.com
*****From Bradiscool.com site*****
we swapped all four springs in under two hours while goofing off and taking all these pictures...it should even take a beginner under two hours to do this with basic hand tools
NOTE. Always use jack stands. Always use your parking brake. Always choke the wheels so there is no chance of the car moving while working under it.
Tools needed:
10mm Socket
11mm Socket (maybe)
13mm Socket
21mm Socket (helpful)
21mm Open/Box end Wrench
15mm Socket
18mm Socket
15mm Open/Box end Wrench
3" extension for the 10mm socket
Hammer
Spring Compressor
15/16" socket (for the spring compressor this might vary)
Pliers
Jack stands
The best place to start is the back of the car.. 1. because the front brakes might still be hot. 2. because it is the easier of the two ends of the car and will help you get used to taking the struts out and using the spring compressor.
1. Jack one corner of the rear of the car up (if you are doing this by yourself.) If you have two people jack up both sides. You are only going to do one strut at a time but it is easier if both wheels are jacked up.
2. Remove the wheel. duh..
3. Now Remove the 13mm nut that is in the trunk on top of the strut. See circle in Figure #1
Figure #1
4. Now Remove the (2) 10mm bolts that is in the wheel well on under the strut. The extension will come in real handy in this step. See circles in Figure #2
Figure #2
5. If you have the Addco AntiSway bar installed you might have to unbolt the bracket that holds it to the control arm. Sometimes the bracket is too close to the bolt and needs to be removed.
Figure #3
6. Now Loosen and remove the bolt at the bottom of the strut. Using a 18mm socket.
Figure #4
7. Now that the strut is unbolted you will have to step on the "Drum" and the push the bottom of the strut towards the rear of the car and is should now be ready to pull out of the car. Once you get it out it should look like this..
Figure #5
8. Now remove the dust cover that is shown in Figure #6. So it looks like Figure #7. Now you have access to the nut on the stop of the strut.
Figure #6 Figure #7
9. Now the fun begins with the spring compressor. This is not bad just be careful and take your time. Figure #8 shows how to use the spring compressor. NOTE. notice the way the spring sits in the strut stock. NOTE. compress each side of the spring equally. NOTE. Notice the position of the compressor in the Figure. if you put it on opposite of this the threads will be in the way of taking the top nut off. Compress the spring until it is loose in the strut then you will be safe to go on to the next step. Please see the instructions that come with it for safety concerns and since all spring compressors vary slightly. BTW if you do not have a spring compressor you can rent one from you local tool rental place.
Figure #8 (front strut is shown here)
10. Now that you have the spring compressed and lose you can take the top nut off so the strut can be taken apart to remove the spring. Place a 15mm box end wrench on the nut as shown and a pair of pliers on the hex on top. Now loosen the nut. Remove the nut and the brass flat washer and slowly pull the top of the strut off. Once the top is off you can remove the spring. (as seen in figure #10)
Figure #9 Figure #10
11. Now remove the spring compressor off of the spring. NOTE. again undo the spring compressor equally on both sides. Remember safety 1st.
12. Now the bump stop issue. I never trimmed mine with my Eibachs or Intrax. This is your call. The Eibach instructions say trim it 25mm. The bump stops are under the dust boot. Once again this is your call.
13. Now you should not need to compress the rear spring to get it on the strut. Now place it where the old spring was.
14. Once the spring is in place you will have to pull up the strut rod and place the top back on the spring and then reassemble the strut just like you took it apart with the box wrench and pliers. (figure #9)
Figure #11 Figure #12
15. Now reverse steps 8-2. and you are now done with one corner.
16. Now go thru steps 2-15... now you are done with both sides on the rear of the car.
17. Now on to the front of the car.. Both sides need to be Jacked up to make this easier. It can be done by jacking up one side but it is much harder to get the strut out and to place the strut back in. Also you only want to do one strut at a time. finish one then on to the other side.
18. Remove the wheel. duh..
19. Now remove the two 13mm nuts on top of the front strut and the one 13mm bolt. Before and after pics are shown below. Figure #15 Figure #16
20. Now remove the two 21mm nuts on the bottom of the strut. Air tools might come in handy on these nuts NOTE. Your bolts will probably be backwards from what is shown in these pictures. Once the nuts are removed the bolts will need to be pushed out. (I used a hammer to remove these bolts.) Also easier if you do the top on first then the bottom.
Figure #17 Figure #18
21. Now to remove the strut. be careful that you do not cut the brake line. Sometimes it is a little tricky to get out of the car. but take your time so you do not scratch your car. HINT. move the bottom of the strut toward the front of the car between the brake line and axle. this sometimes helps. This is the step where having both sides of the car jacked up helps TONS
22. Now the fun begins with the spring compressor. This is not bad just be careful and take your time. Figure #19 shows how to use the spring compressor. NOTE. notice the way the spring sits in the strut stock. NOTE. compress each side of the spring equally. NOTE. Notice the position of the compressor in the Figure. if you put it on opposite of this the threads will be in the way of taking the top nut off. Compress the spring until it is loose in the strut then you will be safe to go on to the next step. Please see the instructions that come with it for safety concerns and since all spring compressors vary slightly. BTW if you do not have a spring compressor you can rent one from you local tool rental place.
Figure #19
23. Now that you have the spring loose it is time to take apart the front strut. This is where having a 21mm impact wrench is great to have. If you have one just place it on there and bam off comes the nut. If you do not have access to air tools the struts can still be taken apart by hand. You will need a 21mm box wrench and this is kind of weird but either a 10mm socket (shown) 11mm socket or a big pair of vise grips. Shown in the picture is a 10mm socket. The hex on top is a in-between size so get kind of hairy.
Figure #20
24. Now remove the upper strut mount.. be careful there are bearings in this piece. Use two hands and make sure you grab the whole mount in one piece to avoid damage to the bearings. Once this is removed you can remove the spring and take the compressor off of it.
25. Now the bump stop issue. I never trimmed mine with my Eibachs or Intrax. This is your call. The Eibach instructions say trim it 25mm. The bump stops are under the dust boot. Once again this is your call.
26. Now time to compress the new spring. Make sure you place the compressor as shown or the threads will be in the way when you try and put the strut back together. Notice the treads point towards the small coils.
Figure #21
27. Now put the compressed spring onto the strut. NOTE where the spring sets on the bottom there is a rubber piece make sure this piece is piloted in the hole that is shown. and that the spring lines up with the stop that it has.
28. Now it is time to put the strut back together. Pull the strut shaft out all the way and slowing pilot the upper strut assembly back on the strut. Once you get the strut all the way though the upper assembly place the nut on there temporally. Once you get the nut on there you can now pull up on the strut again and take the nut off place the flat washer then the nut. Now tighten the nut with either the impact wrench of the box end wrench method.
29. Now reverse steps 21-19
30. Now go thru steps 18-28... now you are done.
-Chris
If you can just get the car at my house we can do it here. I have the tools!
