anyone have any tips to make this job any easier?

any opinions on the setup? (RB springs and KYB shocks/struts)

new inner and outer tie rods too... from rockauto.com for like 40 bucks! decent ones too!

 

An impact gun makes the nut on top of the strut a lot easier to deal with.

 

I'm out of town working right now, but by the time I get home tomorrow I should have my suspension package from RB for my '83 GS (SE clone). I should have a shitload of parts in by this weekend! I still haven't ordered my Illumina's yet, but I'm going to wait to install everything until I have ALL my parts together, including ReSpeed's stage II suspension crossmember & Flaming River 15:1 rack & pinion unit. I'll probably even cut up to a coil off my RB springs for a bit lower ride height and extra handling performance from the lowered center of gravity. I like 'em LOW!

 

Do you have the center adjuster nut for the new tie rods? May as well change them if you didn't

 

Yeah, rockauto didnt have the center piece for the tie rods... so i made sure to get it with the springs... and i new idler arm bushings, now i just have to figure out what to do with them.

 

Cutting the RB springs would not give you better performance. If you want to car to sit low and handle good, you should have got coilover.

 

I know, I shoudn't have bought the RB package because I'll be changing not only the front and rear springs, but the front sway bar as well to ReSpeed products in the next few months. I just want to get my ride height set so I can determine the spring rate and free height of the coils I'll need before I order them. The rate of the coils in the coilover kit I buy will most likely be closer to stock then RB's springs-stiff coils do not improve handling, you need the softest coils you can run without bottoming out to help keep the tires in contact with imperfections in the road, especially at higher speed driving. Tociko Illumina's will handle dampening duties, while RB's adustable LCA's bolted to ReSpeed's adjustable crossmember will help keep proper caster/camber in check and a 15:1 r&p for quick and reliable steering response. The parts I'll be swapping from my '84 SE will allow me to run 17x7" wheels and either 35 or 40 series performance rubber for the best combo of grip and least amount of sidewall deflection that I'm willing to compromise with acceleraton and added unsprung weight. There's a few more tricks up my sleeve that I won't mention because I've already jacked this guy's thread enough. I've got my suspension figured out, I just made a mistake impulse buying with my last order from RB. I could've set ride height by cutting the stock springs for the time being. Thanks for noticing and pointing that out though...

-Adam Collins

 

The spring rate for the RB springs are not much higher than the stock one. The RB springs is 140lbs in the front and 110 in the rear, and the stock one is 100/85. I had the RB springs when I was daily-driving the FB, it is good for some spirited driving, but it was not stiff enough for me.

 

well, just spent the last two hours putting the rears on... results...

same ride height... stiffer feel.

but then again my old ones WERE 24 years old...

 

my car has newer tokico's on the rear and stock front struts... stiffens up the rear just a bit and helps it rotate instead of leaning and loading up the one wheel who says you can't drift with 100hp!!


gotta admit i didn't set it up this way... it's the way it came but I like it

 

I'm afraid that's what'll happen to me, too. My springs didn't make it last weekend, they're in KY today while I'm in PA. Seems like I never get the stuff I ordered on time.
How'd the front go? Do you like the KYB's?

 

I have a stock 85se with 17inch wheels. all I want to do is upgrade the OE stuff with something better for some spirited daily drivin. I was going to get the RB kit and call it done until now..what am I to do

 

love my suspension.... BUT

UPDATE.

there is no triangle on my shock assembly....

booooo, im going to take a picture

 

oh... and the front. total pain in the ***... even with the front wheels hanging, i still had to compress the spring (old ones) on the assembly to get the damn thing out. even then i had to pull up like a mf'er to get it off.

however, the second one was much easier.


haha and my dumb *** didn remember that the new shock came with the retainer nut for the tube that holds it... so im FREAKING out. then i remember

 

2.5" pipe wrench and a vise are a must for the front shocks btw...