HELP! **scared**
#1
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HELP! **scared**
hey all, I'm installing my h-techs and illuminas today, and everything has been going smoothly...i got my drivers side front one completely finished and on the car.....it all went good and i finished it in about an hour....THEN i move on to the passenger side...i took the wheel off, disconnected the brake lines and loosened the upper strut mounts but didn't take them off before loosening the steering knuckle bolts....after i got those loosened i took the top three bolts off and all of a sudden the strut assembly falls through and i look down and my brake disc is about 4 inches away from the floor! WTF??? the driver's side didn't do that!! i don't really know what to check and i really hope i didn't cause anything! i did exactly what i did on the other side and followed housecor's how-to! i really hope nothing else is broken down there, because my warranty would most likely be voided if i took it into the dealer with suspension problems....HELP ME PLEASE! (or just reassure me that that's completely normal )
CLIFFS: I'm installing my h-techs and illuminas and i think something on my control arm is broken because the right side sags really low and the driver's side didnt...
CLIFFS: I'm installing my h-techs and illuminas and i think something on my control arm is broken because the right side sags really low and the driver's side didnt...
#2
Hmmm what could it be??? When I was doing mine, nothing like that happened? BTW did you raise both wheels from the ground to install those or you're just raising one side at a time??? And you used the jack stands right, not the a actual jack to keep the car lifted, right?
Well can you make some pics if possible, that way we can help you out more easily by seeing what's realy going on.
Well can you make some pics if possible, that way we can help you out more easily by seeing what's realy going on.
#4
Well when you take the three nuts off of the strut tower, there is nothing else holding it on. As for the brake caliper, visually inspect your flex line from the caliper to where it connects to the rigid line. You can also pump the brakes to see if any fluid leaks out.
#6
mine did that and its normal. did it on 4 cars i have helped lower.
it doesnt always drop down, it just depends on the angle of all the linkage. if you move it around the whole rotor/hub assembly will drop down making it easier to install the strut.
it doesnt always drop down, it just depends on the angle of all the linkage. if you move it around the whole rotor/hub assembly will drop down making it easier to install the strut.
#7
Question? I am sorry to borrow this thread LA02Max but I gotta ask this.
Any of you guys know what extra equipment I might need to lower my car myself, I got a set of eibach pro's and I want to the job myself. And I looked at the how to's on the org I found the tools needed. It looks like a 2 man job any suggestions would be appreciated.
Any of you guys know what extra equipment I might need to lower my car myself, I got a set of eibach pro's and I want to the job myself. And I looked at the how to's on the org I found the tools needed. It looks like a 2 man job any suggestions would be appreciated.
#8
Originally Posted by doc2278
Question? I am sorry to borrow this thread LA02Max but I gotta ask this.
Any of you guys know what extra equipment I might need to lower my car myself, I got a set of eibach pro's and I want to the job myself. And I looked at the how to's on the org I found the tools needed. It looks like a 2 man job any suggestions would be appreciated.
Any of you guys know what extra equipment I might need to lower my car myself, I got a set of eibach pro's and I want to the job myself. And I looked at the how to's on the org I found the tools needed. It looks like a 2 man job any suggestions would be appreciated.
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/strut_install.html
#9
Originally Posted by soonerfan
mine did that and its normal. did it on 4 cars i have helped lower.
it doesnt always drop down, it just depends on the angle of all the linkage. if you move it around the whole rotor/hub assembly will drop down making it easier to install the strut.
it doesnt always drop down, it just depends on the angle of all the linkage. if you move it around the whole rotor/hub assembly will drop down making it easier to install the strut.
I was there for 2 of those 4 cars.
#11
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
mine did that and its normal. did it on 4 cars i have helped lower.
it doesnt always drop down, it just depends on the angle of all the linkage. if you move it around the whole rotor/hub assembly will drop down making it easier to install the strut.
it doesnt always drop down, it just depends on the angle of all the linkage. if you move it around the whole rotor/hub assembly will drop down making it easier to install the strut.
i only installed the fronts today, because i had to work at 1:00, but i'll go snap some pics...it looks awesome and so far, i cant tell any difference between the stock ride quality and now, but there is NO body lean and not as much dive when braking as there used to be...i'm lovin it so far! i'm off tomorrow so i'll be able to finish the rest...i just couldn't wait this morning and thought i could at least get it half done! haha
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Originally Posted by NYPD-Arnold
No it's not...those are Titanium Edition wheels.
anyway, i took my car out again and flew around the corner down the street at ~55 mph where usually my car would lean like crazy, and i noticed almost NO body lean! i'm so happy i went with the h-techs! already the car handles 10000 times better and it doesn't feel floaty going over big bumps, all while retaining the stock-like ride (i can't tell the difference over bumps)
#16
Originally Posted by Puppetmaster
Look through this write-up to see what ya need:
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/strut_install.html
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/strut_install.html
#19
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ugh was that a horrible day....i TRIED doing the back and was half successful...i started at around 9:00am and with the tools i had, i couldn't get the stupid lower bolt off because i only have two 3/8 in. drive 17mm sockets and my breaker bar was a 1/2 in. drive, so i had to put my car back together and drive 20 miles to sears to get an adapter...after i got that i went back home and popped that sucker right off, and completely finished that driver's side in 30 min...here's where it gets fun....i began to try the other side and almost killed myself attempting to get the stupid thing off...i tried for 30 min. straight just putting all i had into it....so then i decided to put my car back together AGAIN and drive 20 more miles to my grandfather's house, where he had an air compressor and an impact wrench...well the impact wrench didn't work and we tried every type of lubricant available and we STILL couldn't budge it with the breaker bar...so THEN he went and got a 4 ft. long steel tube and we tried breaking it off that way, but no luck; it just kept on slipping off....SO we decided to go pay $25 and rent a 1/2 in. drive impact wrench capable of 600 lb./ft. of torque...went home, tried it again, still no luck....we tried the steel tube multiple times without succeeding after that....now i work 8-5 all week and am not going to have time to take it in to get it removed...this SUCKS!!!!!! i have an extremely uneven car with one stupid factory strut assembly on there!! the left side of my car looks great, but then you look at the back side and it's tilted and the passenger side makes it look like i have huge tires in the back
i can't tell you how much this sucks; i'm going to a meet next tuesday (my next day off) so idk what i'm going to do! i'm screwed....
i can't tell you how much this sucks; i'm going to a meet next tuesday (my next day off) so idk what i'm going to do! i'm screwed....
#20
Ouch. You could always cut off the head and buy a replacement bolt from the dealer, but really, there's no reason a long breaker bar shouldn't work - you're turning it the right way, right?
Anyway, if it makes you feel any better, I don't know that I've seen a lowered pearl white TE before - looks awesome. Very clean.
Anyway, if it makes you feel any better, I don't know that I've seen a lowered pearl white TE before - looks awesome. Very clean.
#21
With all the abuse you put on that lower bolt you did not snap it? You need to get a touch and touch the nut where the bolt screws it. When it gets red hot try removing the bolt. You can buy a plumber torch kit at home depot for like $20.
#22
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Originally Posted by housecor
Ouch. You could always cut off the head and buy a replacement bolt from the dealer, but really, there's no reason a long breaker bar shouldn't work - you're turning it the right way, right?
Anyway, if it makes you feel any better, I don't know that I've seen a lowered pearl white TE before - looks awesome. Very clean.
Anyway, if it makes you feel any better, I don't know that I've seen a lowered pearl white TE before - looks awesome. Very clean.
Also, thanks a lot for that how-to!! i mean, a lot of it was common sense that i suppose i would have figured out eventually, but it helped speed things up a LOT! And it also saved me from having to research all the torque specs
Originally Posted by Trance Artur
With all the abuse you put on that lower bolt you did not snap it? You need to get a touch and touch the nut where the bolt screws it. When it gets red hot try removing the bolt. You can buy a plumber torch kit at home depot for like $20.
my mom said she'd come and trade cars with me tomorrow so she can take it into the shop, because she's off work and have them just loosen it so that i can quickly finish that last corner...
#23
Originally Posted by LA02MAX
ugh was that a horrible day....i TRIED doing the back and was half successful...i started at around 9:00am and with the tools i had, i couldn't get the stupid lower bolt off because i only have two 3/8 in. drive 17mm sockets and my breaker bar was a 1/2 in. drive, so i had to put my car back together and drive 20 miles to sears to get an adapter...after i got that i went back home and popped that sucker right off, and completely finished that driver's side in 30 min...here's where it gets fun....i began to try the other side and almost killed myself attempting to get the stupid thing off...i tried for 30 min. straight just putting all i had into it....so then i decided to put my car back together AGAIN and drive 20 more miles to my grandfather's house, where he had an air compressor and an impact wrench...well the impact wrench didn't work and we tried every type of lubricant available and we STILL couldn't budge it with the breaker bar...so THEN he went and got a 4 ft. long steel tube and we tried breaking it off that way, but no luck; it just kept on slipping off....SO we decided to go pay $25 and rent a 1/2 in. drive impact wrench capable of 600 lb./ft. of torque...went home, tried it again, still no luck....we tried the steel tube multiple times without succeeding after that....now i work 8-5 all week and am not going to have time to take it in to get it removed...this SUCKS!!!!!! i have an extremely uneven car with one stupid factory strut assembly on there!! the left side of my car looks great, but then you look at the back side and it's tilted and the passenger side makes it look like i have huge tires in the back
i can't tell you how much this sucks; i'm going to a meet next tuesday (my next day off) so idk what i'm going to do! i'm screwed....
i can't tell you how much this sucks; i'm going to a meet next tuesday (my next day off) so idk what i'm going to do! i'm screwed....
#24
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Originally Posted by steven88
Damn that freakin sux Colin...I recently worked on my friend's 2k2 and did the rears first....broke off the lower mount nut with my 18.5 inch 1/2 driver breaker bar....I also had the axle supported with my jack (just a tad)...maybe that helped? I dunno...well your car shouldn't see rust right? Louisiana? I know all the cars I worked on came from Cali...and I had no problems breaking bolts
#26
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Originally Posted by chr0nos
spray it with wd40 or some break free really well from all angles, and let it penetrate for about 15 minutes.
#27
i had similar problem, but it was solved by using a 5' pipe from home depot. its a black gas line steel pipe. i think it was about $10 for the 5 footer. they have different diameters for sale there. just pick one that fits your socket wrench best. i think the key is to apply strong and steady pressure, and not jerk it too hard. that's how bolt heads come off.
ps. i am not sure if you can, but maybe spray the bolt from both sides?
ps. i am not sure if you can, but maybe spray the bolt from both sides?
#28
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Originally Posted by chr0nos
i had similar problem, but it was solved by using a 5' pipe from home depot. its a black gas line steel pipe. i think it was about $10 for the 5 footer. they have different diameters for sale there. just pick one that fits your socket wrench best. i think the key is to apply strong and steady pressure, and not jerk it too hard. that's how bolt heads come off.
ps. i am not sure if you can, but maybe spray the bolt from both sides?
ps. i am not sure if you can, but maybe spray the bolt from both sides?
and yeah, we soaked it from every angle on every part we could (and i mean SOAKED! haha) and let it sit for a while....i really don't understand how this thing is on there so tight...the other one was a piece of cake with my breaker bar!
#29
Originally Posted by LA02MAX
yeah, we had that 4 footer, and like i said, if it were at a better angle, i'm sure we would have broken it loose with that, but even with the car jacked as high as the jack would take it (19 1/2 in. ) we couldnt' get enough leverage...i need to get the car in the air...i don't think a shop would charge very much to just quickly raise the car and break the bolt loose, would they?
and yeah, we soaked it from every angle on every part we could (and i mean SOAKED! haha) and let it sit for a while....i really don't understand how this thing is on there so tight...the other one was a piece of cake with my breaker bar!
and yeah, we soaked it from every angle on every part we could (and i mean SOAKED! haha) and let it sit for a while....i really don't understand how this thing is on there so tight...the other one was a piece of cake with my breaker bar!
#30
that's the reason I haven't changed mine in the rear.... 6 months so far and still going with oem in the rear Illiminas and maxsapeed in the front. I have to do this... well I think am going to take it someplace in which they can remove the bolt for me.....
#32
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Originally Posted by housecor
You can always drill out the bolt. Of course, that's a last resort - but it sounds like you're getting to that point.
my grandpa took it to a mechanic he knows and they got it off really quick...like i said, it was much easier to get it when it was in the air. I'll finish installing the last one when i get off work tonight at 6. then i'll be DONE and i can start taking pictures
#36
Originally Posted by LA02MAX
and here's how i was working tonight:
Give us some feedback once you get to drive on the setup a bit and where are the pictures of the front AND rear installed ... we're waaaiting
#37
Yes, yes...
Yeah defenately tell us how's the ride. Tell us how stifer it is from the stock, and do you get bottoming outs. Me and Kruppa are probably more interested here in it then most of the other guys, sence we're going to be running on the same set up, H-techs in front and H&Rs in the back.
BTW how long did it take you to put fronts and rears??? Did you do it alone??? I find the rears more easy to install then the fronts, they just go faster, what do you think????
BTW how long did it take you to put fronts and rears??? Did you do it alone??? I find the rears more easy to install then the fronts, they just go faster, what do you think????
#39
Originally Posted by steven88
Shurik - i'm curious to why your running two diff set of springs? is it becuz of the drop?
#40
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hey ya'll, i'm on my lunch break right now, so i'll make it quick:
I did do the install on my own, minus the one stupid bolt, and i think, overall it took me around 5 or 6 hours, which really isn't bad...it just took me so long because i tried for around 7 hours to figure out a way to get that bolt off.....compressing the springs was cake....when reading the how-to, i thought it would take forever to compress just one spring, but it really didn't it went relatively quick even when i had to use the crescent wrench because there wasn't enough room for the socket wrench..
so anyways, the ride is AWESOME...over small or big bumps, the ride is no harsher than stock...where you notice the difference is while turning, of course, the car doesn't dive as much when breaking or shifting, and over big smooth bumps, you don't get that floaty feeling that was there when the car was stock...it was an amazing improvement over stock...with the illuminas set to 2f/3r, the car rides very well...when i installed my fronts i couldn't notice the difference at all going down my road over bumps (and whoever's been in LA knows the roads here suck...)
ok well i'll shut up and go take some pics now...
I did do the install on my own, minus the one stupid bolt, and i think, overall it took me around 5 or 6 hours, which really isn't bad...it just took me so long because i tried for around 7 hours to figure out a way to get that bolt off.....compressing the springs was cake....when reading the how-to, i thought it would take forever to compress just one spring, but it really didn't it went relatively quick even when i had to use the crescent wrench because there wasn't enough room for the socket wrench..
so anyways, the ride is AWESOME...over small or big bumps, the ride is no harsher than stock...where you notice the difference is while turning, of course, the car doesn't dive as much when breaking or shifting, and over big smooth bumps, you don't get that floaty feeling that was there when the car was stock...it was an amazing improvement over stock...with the illuminas set to 2f/3r, the car rides very well...when i installed my fronts i couldn't notice the difference at all going down my road over bumps (and whoever's been in LA knows the roads here suck...)
ok well i'll shut up and go take some pics now...