Great write up.

Responding to #21, I just finished installing Koni sport rears with the stock springs. The directions said that the rubber upper spacers should be drilled out to 12mm max and reused. These go above and below the mounting hole in the chassis. The catch is the lower one of these stock parts has a sort of a half circle drilled through it to fit the factory shock. Drilling it out to a circle is a pain. I used a 7/16 drill first and a drill press to get a reasonably round hole though it looked like a gopher chewed it. I then finished with a 15/32 drill to get a reasonably smooth round hole that fit over the upper shaft of the Koni. I haven't seen this issue mentioned in any write ups.

I used an oxy/acetylene torch to break the 17mm nuts. Nothing else worked, even with a 4 ft cheater. Just cover the brake hoses with a license plate or something. About 10 seconds of heating made a world of difference.

Now on to the fronts.

 

Just followed these exact instructions. Installed my recently purchased Bathurst R OEM coilovers in the matter of 2hrs with a buddy.

Great write up and addition to the board!

 

Nice feet! ...er...nice write up!

 

Much appreciated!!!!!!!!!

 

Having trouble removing the rear struts...please help! I have an 86 non turbo, and that blasted nut on top just spins the shock in place, I can't get it to stay still so the nut will turn! What's going on? Could it be up too far in the shaft, because that flat edge on the threading doesn't seem to be helping me one bit.

 

Frankencar1...this particular tutorial is for a FD...3rd Gen. Not certain how much is applicable to a 2nd Gen.

 

I love you, thank you for this post.
I know someone who is selling some HKS Hyper-D coilovers and i'm looking to pick them up within a week or so. The previous owner lowered the car on its stock suspension so i pretty much feel everything.

 

Excellent write-up.

Thank you.

:]

 

Great write man! I recently purchased slightly used KYB with tein -1 springs and had been wondering how much I will hate installing them. You gave me hope lol

 

Awesome write up big help great example of why this forum is a big help!

 

It will also help if you have a reference measurement from the old shocks height for ride height . I also measured the spring preload before installing from side to side so I didn't have to adjust too much while on the car. It's much easier to adjust as close as possible before install than when on the car where you most likely have to remove the tires. Time saver.

 

Wow, amazing write up! Thank you

 

Thanks for the write-up this is great.

I have a 1993 and I am having the exact same problem on the front. Is there any way to get this thing off? The only thing I can think of is to clamp vise grips to the top of metal shaft that goes inside the shock to keep it from spinning since the rubber under the nut is to hard to slide a wrench under it and the bolt being flat on one side. These are actually nicer aftermarket lowering shocks so I would like to keep them in good shape.

Spike

 

I had the same issue with one of the rears. I used a healthy amount of Liquid Wrench, and as you've suggested, an appropriate sized vise grip and wrench.

 

I ended up taking an extra large pair of vise-grips after staring at it for a few more minutes and clamping them around the large rubber spacer on top to hold it in place. Only then was I able to turn the center nut that was just spinning the strut shaft. Finally got the front done though.

~Spike~

 

Wow, very detailed article

 

I found a work around with a friend with the rear sway bar because the 14mm was hard to get off and almost stripped. The sway bar is attached to the chasis with two bolts near the rear bumper it allowed us to swing the sway bar back and pull out the 17mm bolt holding the strut to arm. I attached a picture.

 

Can someone tell me the thread type for The 14mm anti-roll bar nut (I believe it is a M10-1.25? but need to confirm), because mine is so rounded when I tried to remove it.

 

very helpful!

 

Thanks! Very helpful! I've had a few coilovers installed at shops over the years but I wanted to try it myself this time. No problem at all with any bolts coming off. But just could not get the ABS sensor off but I was able to wiggle the old shock out and new one in with it on. Driver side went ok, but had to take a break with the passenger side as getting the sway bar end link bolt to go back in proved troublesome. I had to remove it as I couldn't push the control arm down far enough with it on. I have the Widefoot braces FWIW. It appears others here removed their's and then reinstalled after the bottom of the shock is bolted back. So I'll give that a try.

 

Thanks for the detailed pics and instructions. I just installed some racing beat springs using this guide. Removing and re-installing the fronts weren't silky smooth but what do you expect with a 21 year old car. Thanks again.

 

bumping an old helpful thread as well. Everything was super easy when following these steps and my new Öhlins are incredible. Thanks for the write up.

 

Had trouble with the ABS sensor also...wound up taking the rotor off and tapping it out with a screwdriver

 

All the pics on this thread are gone any chances of getting the pics back ?