i went to have my 87 T2 inspected today and they said that one of my rear struts is blown so instead of repalicing the rears with OEM im gonna buy the KYB AGX set from K2RD.com (witch is on sale BTW) but i was wondering with a spring compresser would this job be doable by myself? also does neone know where i can rent a spring compresser?

thank you once again
pinfield

 

i did it on my civic because the previous owner thought it would be fun to use drag launch springs..(sigh) anyways try a small auto parts store i rented one from pep boys for 35$ and as long as you turn it back into them you get all 35$ back.. it was not that hard just make sure you have all the tools best of luck

 

Autozone has the compressors for rent.

 

I'm sure you can find the compresser for free. but most likey you will need an air gun to get the top nuts off. otherwise the shock will just spin.

 

you really need an inpact to get the nut off and if you have a harbor frieght store around you can get the spring compressor for $9.99 i've used mine a bunch and no problems . i don't like harbor frieght tools but i was in a bind and it worked on all 4 struts so i got the job done . cheaper than renting. napa has them for $80 and will last a life time but how often do you change struts?
later
robert

 

It is very easy to do by yourself, and it isn't hard without air tools, just not as easy or fast as it is with them I have a write-up on the AGX's with ST springs on my site if you need help doing it. It's under How-To's, then under suspension. Hope this helps.

 

It is easy. I just did all that on my 87n/a. The only problem I had was I replaced the Mazda bump stop and boot with the KYB part and it doesn't fit into the Mazda bump stop cup, but you have to use the cup. Use it or trim it so the boot fits. I used Eibach Pro Kit springs and I didn't need the compressor to install those.

 

Me, if I didn't have the tools, or a buddy with the tools, I'd remove the strut/shock assemblies, mark them (which spring went where), and take them down to my local 'Boyz or 'Zone or Kragen and have them swap it for me..

 

You can get spring compressors pretty cheap from JC Whitney, but I wouldn't count on them lasting a real long time, least long enough for one 1 job though.........I would hope lol. Here's a set for $20.

 

When I installed my AGX's I used Racing Beat Springs, the only thing that scared me was the fact that I could not get the piston nut tight enough(w/impact). When I turn the wheel the piston spins on the strut. I figured when the car settled I could try it again but still I could get it any tighter. Has anyone else seen this?

 

where can i get the eibach spring at? you cant order them from the site. how far do they lower the car i dont wana go really low as i live in western PA and the roads here are horrable

thank you for all the info
pinfield

 

Hey Pinfield357, i live in grafton WV just below morgantown, i travel on those PA roads to, i have new KYB AGX's and ST springs on the way. hopfully they'll do better, give me a holler if you ever come down this way

 

hey 86rx7gxl where did you get your springs from???

 

im getting them from Victoria British for $260. I cant find them instock anywhere else. Nopi has them but something they cant get them till the end of the month is what the guy told me. if you can wait cause nopi sells them for $165. I already had the stuts ordered and its not my money so i went ahead and got em for victoria british.

 

Try the Tirerack for the springs. A tool can be made to hold that plate on top of the rear strut using the two holes in it. The plate has that flat on it for the flat of the piston. Think of a "C" shaped tool with two pins to fit in the hole. The Pro-Kit springs lower the car about 3/4". If you have high mileage (spring sag) you might not be any lower than you are now.

 

I went to Advanced Auto and bought a spring compressor for $22.50. I used them to change out the springs on my cavalier and a friend of mine used them to change the springs on his car too. It worked fine for me and it was cheap.

 

thanx guys your a ton of help

 

its all said and done now wasnt to hard but it did take me the better part of a day to do. the front springs where a bitch to get in there but i did it. i highly recomend this mod to anyone that still has a stock suspension this ride is a little lower and a little stiffer bot to noticeable unless you crank the new struts.

 

For the problem of the center nut on my front struts i did this.

I compressed the spring on the front as much as I could. To the point I could thread that nut to the end of threads. Then I released some spring tenssion. Installed it in the car. And lowered the car onto the wheels. The nut tightend nicely.

Didn't have a problem with the rear. Just make sure you do not take of that nut with out a spring compresser holding those springs. Ouch.

James

 

I just installed a set of KYB AGX shocks on my RX-7 the other day. It was pretty easy. The front struts came right off, but the bolt on the piston wouldn't come off without an impact on the rears. I just unbolted the whole assembly and took them to a tire shop. These guys let me use their impact free of charge. I tried to pay him 10 bucks, but he wouldn't even take it. Only other problem I ran into was trying to compress the rear springs just right where I could install the new shocks. The rear springs are so skinny, it was hard to compress them just right so the shock would slide in with the compressors in there also. (Did that make any sense?) Overall, pretty easy, but it did take me quite a bit longer than I thought it would without air tools.

 

I've got those struts w/ Eibachs in the back of my car now. Just need to find some time to install them.

I have helped w/ FC suspension installs w/ no spring compressors. Just stick your foot on the spring and buzz the nut off w/ an air gun. The strut does not shoot that far. And the rear you don't even need them at all. They are not compressed that much.

Then for the re-install. One guy had his wife jump on his back and put all his weight on the spring while I put the nut on.

Yeah, that sounds a lil hokey and maybe a bit dangers but it saves you A LOT of time if you don't have to use those spring compressors.

By the way, I bought my spring compressors from a traveling tool sale (Harbor Frieght sort of deal) for like $10-15. Something like that....

 

after changing mine i still dont see how you could have changed the front ones without a spring compresser those where a bitch to get in but the back ones where simple no need for the compresser

BTW i rented the compresser from auto zone for a deposit of $40 plus tax which of course youll get back when you return them intact

 

I just did my rears last sunday. Didn't use a compressor of course. But the fronts I probably will. But I've done it before where I have not, I'm telling ya! Get youself 3 people and you can do it.