ok so im going to get springs and possibly shocks soon. i dropped my integra myself but have no experience with mazda suspension. do u think i could lower my car myself? is it pretty straight forward? does anyone know any how-to sites? i have a haynes manual, and that looks decent.. but i think a more specific site would help..thanks

 

First thing, burn the haynes manual. Second, print the FSM for your year of car from fc3s.org. And you can do it yourself.

 

its pretty easy... just get spring compressors right of the bat, other than that its pretty strait forward

 

Blah. The springs arent compressed that much just press them down by hand and have someone undo them

 

The prefered method to get the old springs off is to brace the strut against your foot, put a cardboard box out 20 or 30 feet, take aim, and start loosening the nut.

 

I had a box full of 3" hose clamps, so I used about 8 of them spaced evenly around.
Crude - but effective.

 

Holy crap you guys...
The damn compressors are not expensive. Especially if you're going to work on cars for a while (e.g. you're in your teens and you figure to be a car guy for your whole life).
BTW, I've used a set from Autozone for FREE several times.

Please don't advise doing anything in an unsafe way here on the list. You never know who's reading this and what their skills are. Next thing you know we're reading a post from someone who's friend has no stomach because he's got a spring in the gut...

 

I was assuming most members here have above average mechanical aptitude.

OK Cwaters, I see your point when making creative but potentially risky suggestions to an unknown audience.
Maybe a disclaimer would help?

WARNING: Handling of loaded springs without proper equipment and training can dismember of kill you!

 

Ok for the most part if you have common sense and some good mechanicle skills you should be able to get this done. The best idea is to have air tools cuz you can get this done in like a quarter of the time. Its all in the right tools. If not then jack the car up put her on stands get your tools out, the FSM and hopefully your pretty strong cuz its going to take a lot to get those old bolts off. Manually with no air tools or lift id say 6-8 hours worth of work. Me and my freind did my accord in 7 with crude tools and the car up on jacks. Good luck dude, at least your saving money this way right?