I want to go to some stiffer springs on my coilovers (currently 6/5 want to go 8/6). They're Tein Flex, and the springs would be the same used for the Super Drifts. My question is, is this an at home DIY job or do I need special tools and such? If not, how do I go about changing them?

 

At home job. Just borrow a spring compressor from auto zone, or use a c clamp. Compress the spring and pop off the top hat. Then reverse.

 

What goes into removing that hat? Just the one bolt?

 

And thinking about it if you can adjust the spring perch you don't even need to compress the spring, just lower the perch to release pressure on the spring.

 

So just loosen the the perch and slide it off then once the new one is on just adjust the perch till it's tight again?

 

Yup, just torque the top hat and then tighten up the spring perch.

 

for Teins only:

set the spring preload so it's snug

put a spanner wrench on the tophat (upper spring seat)

hold spanner, unscrew top nut.


Tein's upper tophats lock onto the shaft to prevent it from spinning when you try to take the nut off. sooo no special tools/skills required, other than a Tein spanner. This method is MUCH easier/faster then trying to unscrew all the crap off the bottom.

 

After replacing, how do you set the spring pre-load? Does it depend on spring stiffness or is it more important to compress them all evenly?

 

preload has no affect on anything (unless you have a rediculous amount). just snug the spring so it doesnt unseat when you lift the car.

 

So I ordered the new springs, I believe the lengths are different. So just lower the spring perch to work I'm assuming?

 

I just did this with my KYB shocks. No need for spring compressor.

 

You can do the swap at home, but you'll almost certainly need to readjust the heights based on new rates, and maybe get an alignment.

 

You do not need a spring compressor for this. Just loosen the preload adjuster until there is no tension on the spring.

 

Prelaod has a great effect, on the cross weights of the car. If the coilovers are not height adjustable the spring preload will also set ride height.

Somtimes a loose spring when the car is in droop is perfectly acceptable.

 

you really think his car has been corner weighted? lol

and by preload, i mean preload alone. not preload as a result of raising the car

 

Of course he hasn't but my comment was not really pointed at you.. just general info that wasnt stated earlier.