Rear shock & spring install question

[DJ23GSX]

I mounted eibach prokit springs on my kyb agx rear shocks yesterday and for some reason i can't get them to tighten down enough to hold the spring down tight. I vise gripped the shock rod and used an impact wrench on the nut and it still doesn't tighten down enough to hold the prokit spring tight. Its not flopping around but I can easily spin the spring by hand. Is this normal. I didn't notice if the stock shock and spring were tight when out of the car. I'd like to install these this afternoon if I can get a straight answer.

Thanks

 

[Silver 95 GST]

I have heard of some rear KYB AGX's having too long of a damper rod in the strut. It had something to do with the particular part number or manufacture date.

 

[DJ23GSX]

I have heard of some rear KYB AGX's having too long of a damper rod in the strut. It had something to do with the particular part number or manufacture date.

So it might be defective? I don't have any up or down movement of the spring. My only concern was that I could spin the spring by hand. I assume once it is in the car and under constant pressure it would be fine but I don't want to take that chance if I'm wrong.

 

[drivensolo88]

im having this same problem also, only difference is mine is very loose. Should i contact kyb or somthing? or should i cut the thread stud shorter? if this is a wrong shock will it affect my ride if i just cut the stud? thanks.

 

[frankozz]

The weight of the car will push them down.

 

[LKWTSI]

I have theis setup on my 90 TSI. I never had any problems. Are you talking about the spring being loose while the car is in the air or when the car is on it's wheels. If you are worried about it while it's up in the air DON'T. It's normal, IF, however you are having this problem on the ground, you may have a mismatched spring to box. I doubt very much it's the shock assembly.

ALSO,, did you cut the bump stops per the instructions from Eibach?? If you don't this will cause you problems as the shock will bottom out under heavy travel movements and possibly damage the internals.

 

[JayRolla]

I run the Prokit and GR2's. They are solid even outside the car when the springs are on.

 

[drivensolo88]

well my problem is a little worse because my springs are VERY loose on the shock when the nut is on it absolutly will not go down far enough to hold the assembly together it just comes apart.

 

[rush2252]

They are lowering springs. You need to put them on and then the weight of the car will push them down this is NORMAL.

 

[drivensolo88]

They are lowering springs. You need to put them on and then the weight of the car will push them down this is NORMAL.

my front strut/spring setup is not like that at all they are tight. I dont think your understanding my problem, when i tighten the nut on top of the shock it doesnt even tighten far enough to touch the washer that is underneath it where it should be sitting. It honistly seems as tho the threads on the rod are wrong or somthing because it only threads on about 4 turns and gets stuck.

 

[AWD_FIEND]

my front strut/spring setup is not like that at all they are tight. I dont think your understanding my problem, when i tighten the nut on top of the shock it doesnt even tighten far enough to touch the washer that is underneath it where it should be sitting. It honistly seems as tho the threads on the rod are wrong or somthing because it only threads on about 4 turns and gets stuck.

So far everyone has understood exactly the issue you are describing and are responding the same thing. The reason the spring is loose and the nut isnt traveling down the shock is because the assembly isnt compressed. In your case the only way to compress the shock/spring is to install them on the car, loose if necessary, then lower the vehicle onto the suspension. This wont hurt anything so dont be concerned. When the vehicle is on the ground at ride height, then you tighten down the nut on the shock and it will tighten as much as required to compress the mount bushing. The other problem is the shock rod is probably spinning in its bore when you try and tighten the nut, so you will need to use an impact to shock the nut down tight. If you dont have an impact use vice grips on the flat end of the shock rod above the threads, then tighten the nut with a wrench while holding the vicegrips so the shaft wont spin.

 

[AWD_FIEND]

All of this is assuming you reassembled the springs with all the proper bushings and mounts.

 

[Muzda]

Scrap the impact and tighten the rears down using wrenches. And if the spring doesn"t touch the perches with it out of the car, its not a big deal. Just line it up and let the car down slow so you can make sure everything's going in the right places.

 

[drivensolo88]

ok i will try installing the springs today and lowering the car down before i try to tighting the nut, i did try using an impact gun on the nut while it was out of the car and your right about the rob spinning in its bore. Ill update later today and let u know how it goes.

 

[AWD_FIEND]

Scrap the wrenches and use real mechanics tools. Pneumatics.

 

[Jeff99GS]

That's 100% normal. Every car I have every lowered was like that. I mean unless you are doing flying jumps in the air You wont have to worry about it cause the weight of the car holds them tight.

 

[drivensolo88]

Sorry it took so long to reply guys i got busy with some other projects. I found a solution to the problem. I put the shock on the way it was (loose),and lowered the car down then hit the nut with the impact gun a few times and it went right on and snugged down the way it is supposed to be. Thanks again for the replys and hopfully this thread will be a help to anyone else that runs into this problem!