LF: Help with Coilovers

[makaheehee]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Out of context that sounds twisted in so many ways..
I changed my suspension with the help of 2 guys the first time and it took 5 hours.
The second time changed my suspension with the right tools and 1 friend and it took 3 hours.
The last time I changed my suspension alone with the right tools and it took me 4 hours. I'm sure you can do it alone over 2 days if you have the right tools.

Hmm alright. Maybe i'll look into to it more and make sure I have everything layed out and planned and ready to go..

It shouldn't take you any more than about 5-6 hours if you are constantly working and have at least someone who knows what they are doing. We did the coilovers in Tracy's R32 a few weekends ago in one Saturday. I think in total it took about 8-9 hours, but much of that time was spent humping, dancing, eating, drinking, and whatever else you could expect 3-4 grown men do in a garage when the girl is in the house lol
If your top strut bolt is a 22mm, I have the offset wrench to allow you to tighten it properly. PM me if you need it, I don't really have time this weekend to help out, but I can lend it to you if you need it. Makes life much easier. Also spend the money on a strut spreader tool. I've done numerous suspensions without it, and this was the first one I did with it. trust me, it will make life MUCH EASIER!!! Other than that, good luck! Its not impossible, just take your time and maybe start Friday night so that if you need any parts you can pick those up Saturday!

Hmm. The top strut bolt is uhh... *googles*
I dont believe so. I believe the tools I need according to this DIY (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...al-and-Install) are:
Jackstands
Car jack (not the widow maker in your trunk)
Ratchet wrench and a long extension (10 inches or so)
Sockets: 10mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 18mm, 5/8ths, and 13/16ths
Box-end wrenches to go with the sockets
Spring compressors
Half case of beer
Pry bars
Patience
Vice grips

Someone on the forums 'stonewall' said I could borrow his spring compressor.

When you disassemble each shock and ceramic coat it, put them together install, then set levels, drive, adjust heights it.
Sean, can't have beers at work so I actually work fast

Ceramic coat each shock? O.o what?

Just hire some Asian workers.

Are you asian?

[BaggedGLI]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

We have a spray on ceramic coating that seals the bodies from rust/grime but isn't sticky like anti-seize. Makes them adjustable for years to come without the mess of cleaning the threads of the grime/anti-seize mix every time you want to adjust.

[witchcraftz]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Hmm alright. Maybe i'll look into to it more and make sure I have everything layed out and planned and ready to go..



Hmm. The top strut bolt is uhh... *googles*
I dont believe so. I believe the tools I need according to this DIY (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...al-and-Install) are:
Jackstands
Car jack (not the widow maker in your trunk)
Ratchet wrench and a long extension (10 inches or so)
Sockets: 10mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 18mm, 5/8ths, and 13/16ths
Box-end wrenches to go with the sockets
Spring compressors
Half case of beer
Pry bars
Patience
Vice grips

Someone on the forums 'stonewall' said I could borrow his spring compressor.


Ceramic coat each shock? O.o what?

Are you asian?

The tools you actually need are the ones I mentioned.

The top strut bolt comes off with the impact, but to tighten it again you need a way of turning the bolt while counterholding the center with an allen key.
You can only use a 13/16 spark plug socket if you have a 21mm bolt coming off and one going on, and that socket has to have a flat faced exterior so you can grip it with a wrench. Some struts use 22mm and in that case you really need that strut bolt tool.

The bottom strut holder spreader tool is useful but you can MacGuyver it with a chisel.

An impact gun will make the whole disassembly/reassembly (apart from the top strut bolt) much quicker and pain-free.

[makaheehee]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

We have a spray on ceramic coating that seals the bodies from rust/grime but isn't sticky like anti-seize. Makes them adjustable for years to come without the mess of cleaning the threads of the grime/anti-seize mix every time you want to adjust.

Oh? I've never heard of that .... Maybe I should look into it? Anyone have anything to say about it? O.o

The tools you actually need are the ones I mentioned.

The top strut bolt comes off with the impact, but to tighten it again you need a way of turning the bolt while counterholding the center with an allen key.
You can only use a 13/16 spark plug socket if you are a 21mm bolt coming off and one going on, and that socket has a flat faced exterior so you can grip it with a wrench. Some struts use 22mm and in that case you really need that strut bolt tool.

The bottom strut holder spreader tool is useful but you can MacGuyver it with a chisel.

An impact gun will make the whole disassembly/reassembly (apart from the top strut bolt) much quicker and pain-free.

Hmm ****. Interesting... Guess I should look into it a lot more before this weekend. Ugh. Doing it alone is going to suck major balls.
It looks like there will be lots of MacGuyver-ing. haha.
Ill have to borrow my neighbors impact as well.. hmm.

[witchcraftz]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

I would also like to suggest at this point that using new bushings and bearings can reduce/avoid the use of the spring compressor and are a good idea to replace anyway since you're in there.

[makaheehee]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

I would also like to suggest at this point that using new bushings and bearings can reduce/avoid the use of the spring compressor and are a good idea to replace anyway since you're in there.

Oh you think so?
Its an 07 so I dont think the bushings / bearings would be too worn out? O.o

[witchcraftz]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Mine's an 05 and they were quite worn, then again I do have 330k km on it...

[91wolfie]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Yeah, Courtneys car was a PITA you can ask Lance lol Having someone that has done it before is a world of difference. We could not get that standard crappy tire spring compressors to work in the front so we had to very scarishly rig something up. But good luck, post pics when your done!

[makaheehee]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Mine's an 05 and they were quite worn, then again I do have 330k km on it...

Ah. Yeah mines only got 123k lol. Reeeeaally need to get that Timing Belt done.. ugh

Yeah, Courtneys car was a PITA you can ask Lance lol Having someone that has done it before is a world of difference. We could not get that standard crappy tire spring compressors to work in the front so we had to very scarishly rig something up. But good luck, post pics when your done!

Haha fair enough. Thats KINDA why I posted this to be honest. Was mainly looking for someone that's done it before.. Would make life so much easier. :P
But wheels get mounted and balanced today. Ill take a good side picture today, to compare to when its low.
*edit* the fronts didn't clear the calipers. :( I knew I would be running spacers, but kind of hoped they would clear without. Lmao.

[Benjamin]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Not doing the mounts and bearings on at least the front in very unwise since you have to pull the old ones and you are already doing an alignment and paying for it. I have known known apprentice mechanics with their own vw's that skipped this and wished they had listened. The bearings are normally fine, but the mounts are typically shot and not worth reusing. The cost of the alignment if I am right is double the cost of the parts.

In terms of impact, hopefully your neighbor does not have a princess auto power fist or similar gun. You need a good impact gun for this, I have a done probably a half dozen installs on normal suspension with a good impact and never had too many issues.

If you don't replace the bottom bolts on the front struts I would recommend wire wheeling the rust, and putting anti seize on the threads.

Biggest pain I find is getting the strut out of the steering knuckle. I do have the spreader tool, but this is always the part I find that can make the job go quickly or take that extra hour.

[BaggedGLI]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Everyone is looking at this like it's a mk4 suspension install and their experiences with mk4 suspension, this is a complete different setup. Like a b5 a4/passat. I'd do the mounts and bearings to be safe but on a stock car the b7's don't wear out like the mk4's do.

[P Arkus]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Everyone is looking at this like it's a mk4 suspension install and their experiences with mk4 suspension, this is a complete different setup. Like a b5 a4/passat. I'd do the mounts and bearings to be safe but on a stock car the b7's don't wear out like the mk4's do.

Thats because everyone knows they are a MK4 kid at heart

[kujiwara]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

Just cut the coil in half if you don't plan to sell or reuse them, you won't need a spring compressor that way.

[Danaldson]

LF: Help with Coilovers

I wouldn't do this^^ unsafe and you could sell them/put them back in when selling the car

[Geobmx4life]

Re: LF: Help with Coilovers

I wouldn't do this^^ unsafe and you could sell them/put them back in when selling the car

x2