I have been debating this for a long time. I was at the body shop today and asked if he knew any good places and of course he was like "I wouldn't lower it, it'll screw everything up, you wont be able to align it anymore, blah blah blah"...anyways, I am a newbie when it comes to mechanics. According to my mom my springs might "come loose and fly out, or crack or somethin". Moms .. Anyways, what advice do you guys have, and did you do them yourself, or have em installed for you ?

Me having worked on cars most of my life, springs are easy. Got tools, a manual and a friend that knows what they are doing? Then it might be a good project. If no tools, no fsm or friends that can help, get a good shop to install them(with shocks!)

There is nothing more frustrating that trying to work on your car w/o the proper tools. A 2 hour jobs suddenly turns into a whole weekend of frustration.

I did em myself. Took about 3 hours. No problemo.

Dont listen to that mechanic, he doesnt know what he is talking about.

Rent a good spring compressor. Compress the spring evenly until all the pressure is released from the strut. Use common sense, and do have a good set of tools. Check the 4th gen forum stickys for info on how to change your suspension. It's relatively simple but you do need to work carefully when compressing the OEM springs. There's a lot of force in them.

did them myself.. relatively easy.. its just nuts and bolts

Not difficult at all, just time consuming and strenous if you don't have airtools. Took me way more time than it should have the first time, but the second time around took me about 4 hours.

The potential exists for snags...
On our rusty 95's, getting the bolts off can be the hardest part. I used WD-40 several times, days before the job and the rusted out lower bolts were the darndest to remove. I broke a breaker bar and two sockets. Had to run to the store for replacements. In retrospect, I should have used my torch... I am no wimp but it took every last bit of muscle to undo those damn bolts...

Just be prepared. plan a little. have a car there so if you need to go to the parts store you can. look at the manual before starting, have a good idea of wht needs to be done. GO SLOW if it takes 5 hours so be it.

took me 5 hours, very tiring after the first 3 hours. But its a great feeling to know that the job was done right, you didn't spend money and see if you are up for another DIY mod.

The swap is very easy. Just make sure you have metric sockets, spring clamps, torque wrench. Air tools or electric impact gun is very helpful.

I did the swap when i had In-Trax & also when i swapped over to GC's w/ Tokicos. I will be isntalling my AGX/Sprints as well. Very simple.

If you do this yourself, be sure to soak down the bolts wiht either WD40 or something similar. Also, you may want to pick up an extra bolt & nut for the rear so you will have new ones in. I have had trouble with this a few tims already and i have a 99. You may need a propane torch as well to hut up a nut to get a bolt out.

did it my self

Graig, If you take me to Disney World I'll help you! .....No really, I'm going to do mine myself and everything said previously is all good! I have done them on other cars, just not my max yet......Hey I finally got some diamonds, off e-bay!

I posted this right before I left for discount tires, and already so much feedback! Thanks fellas.

I just bought a haynes manual a couple days ago, so i'll have that as a guide.

I talked to some guy at discount tires about the springs. He's the only cool guy i've talked too. He was like "nah it's not hard, just get some tools, jack the car up and have patience and youll get it. He said you only have to compress the front springs, the back ones will fall right out.

Anyways, I am still hesitant becuase I still don't know which tools go to what (Wheels, spring nuts, strut nuts).

Damn, D. Tires could do the job in like 40 minutes. Wish I had all those tools!

It's Craig



Well la-dee-da, I guess your just mister experianced with this spring deal.

And It's about time you got some friggen clears!

OOPS! I meant Craig, you know I meant Craig!......I've been working with a guy named Craig for years and I still slip! Sorry.....Good luck with your suspension.

Do them yourself (plus some help from your buddies). Just have patience and time. It will be fun.

My buddies are impatient foo's when it comes to cars. But I'll see how many car geeks I can scrounge up.

did em with a friend of mine, everything seemed ok, but i had awful noise, dealer fixed it for $120, and no it wasnt coil isolaters, the entire car was shaking, and watch out, those bolts were really easy to strip, especially the rear, if u dont trust it, do it right and take it in the first time, so u dont have to pay later, and be without your car for 5 days like me