Houston, we have another problem... I can't get my suspension back together.
 

OK, I am trying to get my front suspension back together so I can move the car. To do that, I had to put on the new shocks and the RB springs. However, I can't get the assembly back together the right way, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I can't seat the springs correctly. Can anybody with the RB springs give me some advice?

The rear springs?

They should be so short that they pop right in. That was my experience.

Huh, I have RB springs, I just can't understand what your stuck on? I felt that it was pretty straight forward to do...

Where isn't it seating, the lower perch or in the rubber insolater at the top? Is it so far off that you can't get the nut on the top? I've had a few that wouldn't set in the rubber insolator until I got the whole thing together and in the car, then the weight of the car settled it out. Not sure what your having trouble with, but more details might help?

When I did the front suspension on my car last year (GSL) I used RB springs and Kyb shocks.... They fronts required a spring compressor to get the stock springs out, but when I went to put in the RB ones in they just sat in there loose, no compressor required. I thought this was a little bit weird myself but I was told it should be fine once the cars weight is on it. I just used a hose clamp to hold the spring to the bottom perch and that worked out for me. Ive driven it most of the summer now and had no problems.. If this is what your asking..they are much looser fitting than stock.

It's on the front suspension. I can't get the rubber thing and the big metal thing on there well enough to bolt it all together.

Huh, can you get a pic of it? Mine went right together.

Sure, here ya go.

I'm thinking maybe it's the rubber stopper thing?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/P9100035.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/P9100036.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/P9100037.jpg

I'm not sure I see the problem...

On a totally unrelated note, don't forget the thrust washer between the spring perch and the strut block or you'll have some binding issues.

i may be way off base here, but have you tried spring compressors? you can easily rent them from autozone and get allyour money back when you take them back. the spring fitting to the seat should be very straight forward. i know on mine it had a little indention where the end of the sping was supposed to sit. after you put the spring in the seat and you set the strut block on top if there isnt enough threads to get the nut on, then i know your problem is you need a spring compressor. as far as the bump stops go, i doubt theyre your problem. if theyre in the way, just push them farther down. they slid up and down the strut shaft. i hope this helped.

A spring compressor wasnt' necessary when I installed mine. Not even close. It's hard to tell what parts you have installed there, but maybe you have some leftover parts or duplicate or whatever. Maybe if you took the parts off the top and laid them out in order so we can see what all is there. Wish I could be more help...

Yes, I'd like to know what the malfunction is since I will be installing those shortly, lol. *cough, operator error, cough*

No need to cough, that's precisely what I figured it was. :D

yeah, spring compressors would be my idea, it was close enough for me that my buddy was able to lean on the assembly so I could get one or two threads started, but it doesn't look like your that close. So just get a spring compressor so you can get the top nut on. The springs will take care of themselves.

Good luck.

1st pic, right hand strut, the rubber doesn't look like it's down far enough. Are the struts fresh, old ones tend to sink down making assembly a pita.

The eibachs are supposed to lower it just as much as the RB springs and I still had to use a compressor to get it together, not even one thread was showing. I would try that, you can rent them, or if your not in the mood to spend some money there are free albeit dangerous ghetto methods you can try ;)

Struts are brand new. I have spring compressors, I'll just have to do it that way.

You didn't mention what brand of new shocks you installed, there could be a travel issue compared to other brands. The Tokico HP's/RB springs I installed in my car (before the coilovers) had slack and required nothing special to assemble. Did you pull the shock completely up, fully extend it? Stupid question but I had to ask.