It was past time......lots of new suspension pics! Options

[bhawk94]

I installed KYB GR2 shocks and struts and Tein S-Tech springs this weekend finally. This was my first time dealing with suspension and I pretty much did it by myself. (Just in case there are some other noobs wondering if they can do it) Overall I am pleased with the setup. I drive my car everyday and I literally work in my car. I wanted a setup that wasn't so low that it would scrape all the time but still have an aggresive stance, improve handling, and ride well. I ran into 2 problems with the install one of which I included in the pics and showed how I handled it. The other problem was with getting the 19mm upper bolt loose from the strut and the knuckle on the rear. It was really stuck and I broke 2 sockets on it. I ended up using a high impact socket with a breaker bar to get it loose




Here are the nuts that came out of the stock front strut casings (rebuildable). This must be removed in order to get the stock shock out and put the new one in. It is 2 1/8'' wide, so you have to use a huge adjustable wrench or a boxed in 2 1/8'' wrench to get it off and put the new nut on (these come with the GR2's). As you can see, I ended up putting a notch in the nut with a screw driver and hammer. I kept hitting it around until it came loose because the wrench kept rounding off the corners. I used the boxed end of the big wrench to put the new one on after replacing the strut with no problem.


This is one of the rear struts completed with the spring, spring bumpers, brand new dust guards, etc. The rears are full replacements, not rebuildable.




Before install.......




After install........



Now some pics after I washed it........











I've driven about 300 miles and it rides great. It hits bumps a little harder but it's not bad at all. It pulls a little to the left. I'm probably going to get an alignment in a few days but the tires seem to be wearing fine and no camber issues to speak of. Let me know what you think, good or bad!