Suspension install help!

15yroldSciontist · 10-29-2009, 06:54 PM

Im selling the box right? and i wanna put the stock suspension on.

Rear setup was cake, took an hour... front eh... it's been 2 days lol

so i went to the auto parts store and got the rental compressors and went back. so happy was i when i squished them down. I was putting them in the strut tower... and the dam compressors are too wide . They wont even go in!!

HELP someone, i need this thing drivable on stock junk

oh btw my FS thread is this way for the Ksport coilovers

Ksport koilz, spacers, camber, intake, etc

PCH · 10-29-2009, 06:56 PM

Why do you have the compressors on when installing the struts?

15yroldSciontist · 10-29-2009, 07:08 PM

thier way too long fully extended???

PCH · 10-29-2009, 07:31 PM

You should be able to install assembled strut without the compressors on.

crxgames · 10-29-2009, 08:08 PM

Put a foot on the control arm and push it down. It tends to settle a bit when you are low. It was a pain in the ass to put stock struts back on mine when I was working on my front bags. Worst case, you'll have to undo the endlink bolt/bushing bolt strut up, then put the endlink back together.

awinter · 10-29-2009, 08:29 PM

Step 1 - make sure you are using the correct coil spring compressors. They should should look like this

or

. You should be able to get them at Autozone or O'Riley's as a rental. If the compressors you have look like the pic below you will need to return them and get the correct ones.

Wrong type

Step 2 - Compress coil
Step 3 - Place compressed coil into the strut assembly.
Step 4 - Place bump stop, strut top hat on strut rod
Step 5 - Place lock nut on top of strut hat and tighten with air wrench
Step 6 - Install strut assembly on car

If you need additional info, try this DIY thread on SL Spring Installation on Scion xB - Scionlife.com

15yroldSciontist · 10-29-2009, 09:29 PM

Im using those exact compressers... THEY WILL NOT FIT IN THE TOWER with oem suspesion.

woot420 · 10-29-2009, 09:33 PM

you gotta slide the compressors close together and i put them on while i had the top bolts in place then i used a large flat blade screw driver to pry up and slip the bottom of the strut in place

859Toaster · 10-29-2009, 10:08 PM

awinter. the only time you use a compressor is when installing the springs to the strut. He is installing the entire assembly in one piece.

As many as times as Cody and I have torn down suspensions on xB's, a BFS (big f'n screwdriver) for a pry bar, is our best tool. And in worse case, we've had to release a few threads on the end links.

I however just like muscling it into position. lol

awinter · 10-29-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 859Toaster

awinter. the only time you use a compressor is when installing the springs to the strut. He is installing the entire assembly in one piece.

As many as times as Cody and I have torn down suspensions on xB's, a BFS (big f'n screwdriver) for a pry bar, is our best tool. And in worse case, we've had to release a few threads on the end links.

I however just like muscling it into position. lol

I guess I just don't get what you are saying. I've installed struts/springs quite a few times and I've never installed struts without them being one piece before putting them on. Are you saying that he's not bolting the strut together before installing? Why would you do it that way, way more difficult. Logic would say to put the compressed spring on strut, put on strut hardware and tophat, tighten bolt at top of strut, remove compressors THEN install strut to car. I've had zero issues when installing that way.

crxgames · 10-29-2009, 10:55 PM

That's not what he's doing...but kinda.

After running low for a while, it's really hard to go back to stock height suspension as the control arms have settled up higher. (I don't know the reasoning, but I have got first hand experience with this) You have to forcefully push the control arm down to get the stock suspension back on or the bracket on the bottom of the strut sits too low.

So instead of pushing the control arm down, he's trying to compress the shock, but that's not possible as the compressor will not allow him to lift it high enough.

awinter · 10-29-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crxgames

That's not what he's doing...but kinda.

After running low for a while, it's really hard to go back to stock height suspension as the control arms have settled up higher. (I don't know the reasoning, but I have got first hand experience with this) You have to forcefully push the control arm down to get the stock suspension back on or the bracket on the bottom of the strut sits too low.

So instead of pushing the control arm down, he's trying to compress the shock, but that's not possible as the compressor will not allow him to lift it high enough.

That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

15yroldSciontist · 10-30-2009, 09:02 PM

thank you crx games for a beautiful explanation...

And i just RAPED it.... SUCCESS! I used a bigass concrete breaker to bend it down while my friend lined up zeeee bolts!

thank you everyone! great help!

859Toaster · 10-31-2009, 12:04 AM

^Word money!