What kind of effort is involved in changing springs on a 2K? I have the tools: jack, stands, and hand tools (no air). I have the springs. I do not have a spring compressor tool.

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most difficult, how would this rate?

Also, how long for each individual or how long for front or rears?

I have a quote of $150 for spring installation alone. This is the cheapest I can find in the Atlanta area, and even then I have to drive 40 miles to this place.

 

yeah any where u go
there gonna charge u 100-200 bucks to install springs

i heard instaling springs is a very dangerous job and should be done with a compressor


also anyone know how soon after springs are installed that
new struts and shocks need to be put on ?

 

I would imagine if the compressor tool comes of of the compressed spring, the spring would probably take your head off.

I've called several and these are the prices WITH alignment:
$300
$365

I've called one that said they don't do alignments, but they charge $65 per hour X 4 hours = $260.

This is why I am leaning towards driving out into the "country" at $150, plus an alignment at some other place (since they do alignments), or tackle the project myself.

The weather is supposed to get nasty this weekend as well, not to mention raining probably every day closer to the weekend.

 

forget about doing it yourself...you could do more damage than good if you don't have a spring compressor...not to mention, getting hurt yourself and possibly your car getting hit buy a 'flying' spring off your struts!!!
i'd suggest to find a speedshop and let them take care of it.
mine cost me $65 for the spring install and another $70 for the alignment. of course, i knew the guy who worked on my car, so i got some discount~~
if you live in cali, i can tell you where you can go to install the springs for a reasonable price..

 

I paid $70 for the install (in San Fran)... they took about 1.5 hours to do all four. If you have all day (probably on a Saturday or something) to do the springs then you should be fine... with help of course.

 

Here's the deal;

On a scale of 1-5 I would give it a 3. However, I base this on difficulty not actuall time to do the job. Like anything that you do...the first time always takes longer. For me it took about 8 hours but I had no air tools, took my time to ensure I didn't F up and took breaks to eat and so on. You need a spring compressor no question unless you're a super man. You can rent them at an auto parts store.

The fronts are cake. There are 5 bolts total to remove each front struct assy'. Compress the spring remove the main bolt and swap springs. Put it all back together and attach back in place.

The rears on the other hand were a *****. There are these support brackets that just happen to be directly over the bolts which hold the rear struts in place. These have to be removed in order to lossen the bolts on the inside. Here's where the project really starts. The back seat rests must be removed along with the plastic covers behind them. Then under the plastic cover is a sheet metal support arc goes across where the rear seat rests lock up against. This must be removed in order to gain acces to the bolts holding in the support brackets over the struts. Once this is done it's pretty straight forward ..just like the fronts.

Also there is a web page with a scaned picture of the '99 service manual diagrams for the front and rear strut assys'. It's pretty use full so that you assemble everything back correctly.

If you have any more questions send me an email.. (dougiestares@hotmail.com)

Hope this helped!

 

dougiestares,
I should have stated I do not have a spring compressor tool but would certainly rent one, if not outright buy one.

Thanks for the info!

 

Woah... you don't have to go through the trouble. All you need is a 6" extension to reach those nuts back there. I did my RSTB and had help with doing the shocks, but I/we never needed to do all that.

 

i too had to remove my backseat to get the rear springs in...hmmm....

 

Are you serious? I went in my trunk and got to the nuts with an extension.

 

yup...not joking..
removed the seat...all the liner...and then finally, was able to get to that LAST screw at the end....i thought...oh, my god...but, hey..got the job done and no problems ever since..

 

Just remember what I'm telling you when you're doing your shocks.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by irvine78
[I]Hey Irvine78! Do you think You could hook me up with your friend? I need shocks installed. I had my springs installed by Dynamic Autosports in Lake forest. I paid 120.00 but if you can get your friend to install the shocks, that would be cool.

one word to the wise... do your springs and shocks at the same time, you'll save time and money in installation.

 

Yup, totally! Theres no need to remove the seat! Get yourself a $10 extension for your ratchet.. works like a champ and you only have to remove a few plastic clamps to move some plastic :-)

 

Hehe... glad you didn't do it the long way.

 

So, you loosen some trim in the trunk area, armed with a socket with 10" extension, and can attack it from the top? I'm trying to visually this for I have not looked at it yet, but I have looked at the trim pieces in the ESM. That seems to be the route to go (using an extension to by-pass some steps).

 

Correct, but 10" is too long... use 6"