suspension tips

[ziggys95tsi]

i am hopefully going to start installing my suspension tomorrow and was wondering if i could get some tips to help my install go smooth. I have AGX's with pro kit springs. havent heard great things about this setup but ima give them a try. Wondering if i should get new bolts, or any other parts that may brake or anything. any input will be GREATTlY APPRECIATED!

 

[turbosax2]

If possible, soak all the bolts with PB blaster or WD40 tonight so it can soak awhile. If not, just be ready to use a lot of it. Make sure you use a spring compressor to deal with the springs so you don't get injured or anything. My brother and I put coilovers and sway bars on his car and the only problem we ran into is that we had to replace all of the sway bar end links because the bolts were somewhat rounded already and we just made them worse. We ended up having to cut the ends off with a Dremel. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure that we had to take off the end links to do the shocks and springs. That was the first major project my brother and I did to his car and we went into the project with only a Chilton's manual - it is a really easy project minus the rounding of bolts. Good luck and send me a message if you need any help along the way.

 

[JayRolla]

The prokit and agx's should ride real nice. Just set the shocks to the softest settings.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

While AGX's get a bad rap, with Pro-Kits I think they are well matched and you shouldn't have any problems!

If you have any questions just PM me, I'm online several times daily. I just went throgh this all recently myself so I'd be glad to help you out should you need it.

Otherwise, the install is a peice of cake.
Do you have your camber kit for the rear all ready to rock?

 

[ziggys95tsi]

na i dont have my camber kit yet, i was probably gonna rock that out lader. you think i should do it all in one shot??? i woke up late this mornng and only had time for about two sets to put on so i decided ill wait but got some nuts loose so they wont be that bad when i do do it. the nut that goes thorugh the front control arms was giving me the hardest time though. esp. since i dont have air tools at the moment. just wondering if the front, or rear was harder??thanx also for everybodys input...

 

[turbosax2]

The rear was easier for me to change out. There is just the bolts at the top of the shock tower (inside the car) and then one bolt at the bottom of the shock - very easy. Use a breaker bar if you have it.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

Rear takes about an hour all together and that is with screwing up and forgetting something like cutting bumpstops.

The front is a different story. The sway bar endlinks SUCK and then if you have frozen bolt anywere those suck.

I did a kids suspension for him last summer and I had to purposley break off both of those lower wishbone bolts to the control arm and also had to unbolt the upper control arms so I could drill out the bolt that holds the arm tight around the strut...I had air tools too.

If you find nothings comming loose Ill tell you how to do it.

 

[ziggys95tsi]

where did you get the replacement bolt for it??

 

[GimmeMoeBoost]

A tip I like to do is brake loose the top nut on the shaft of the shock, while it's still in the car. Otherwise it's a pain to have someone hold the shock and loosen the nut when it's outside the car. I personally put vise grips on the top flat piece and had my brother double wrench the top nut just to brake it loose. (Imagine that ouside the car-PITA).

 

[GimmeMoeBoost]

Oh yeah, If you already dont know, DO NOT damage or put vise grips on the shaft of the shock that goes into the body of the shock. If so that shock is done for. Hope this helps.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

where did you get the replacement bolt for it??

Well its a bolt and nut so I just took it down to napa and got an 8.8 hardness replacement bolt and nut.

Oh yea, a spring comressor can be rented from autozone.

 

[ziggys95tsi]

i did finish my suspension last week and it sucked because the rear strut plates were almost rusted through so i had to buy brand new ones from the dealer b/c no other place had them and spent a 100 bucks on them, but everything else went smooth, thanks for everybodys help