Few Pre-suspension Work Questions

[imported_mntdewred]

In a couple days or so, probably this Monday, the 22nd, I will be attempting to upgrade my suspension on my '98 Civic. I have Ground Control Coilovers, KYB AGX Gas Shocks, and Skunk2 Camber Kit.

Here are my pre-suspension work questions: In what order should I install these? What kind of "special tools" may I need? I have the basic set of tools that most every home owner has. Would it be easier to do all of this while on a lift? Are there any write-ups on these subjects? For the very beginners, how long should this take me? I hope to do all of this in one day, is that possible for the beginner? Does anyone have any words of advice before I start the project?

TIA

[imported_biocac]

To tell you the truth, the project you are asking about is pretty simple . . just about anyone can do it . . You just have to want to get your hands a little dirty.

Here's a link that will take you through the steps of a spring swap on an earlier model civic.
I know it's the wrong gen but it's close enough that you'll get to see what you're up against.

As for the camber kit, I've never installed or used them on any of my cars.
I'll just let someone else jump in here.

Good luck!

Sam -

[imported_mntdewred]

Would I need a spring compressor seeing how I am replacing everything? I don't need to disassmeble my old setup, right?

There is a DIY on a camber kit in the DIY section

[imported_DRAGNFARTPIPE]

yes you need a spring compressor to get your old strut mount off but i would just get new ones

[imported_DIYperformance]

Pretty easy project with basic tools. You have a good setup too. Let me know how it feels, I'll be buying my setup in like 2 weeks, so I'm still open for any last minute change of minds.

[imported_mntdewred]

Ok, never got around to the suspension on Monday, so I did it today...good thing I started early at 9 am.

Going into this, my friend and I had no concrete idea on how to do it. So I looked around for any DIYs I could find. The one Sam gave me up top, helped significantly. As for the camber kit, there was a DIY on h-a.net that helped greatly too. So theres no need to write one myself, those two helped out.

Ok, where to begin...aside that it took 10 hours to complete. We started in the front passenger side. Unscrewed everything that needed to be, released the fork, and dropped out the strut assembly. At this time we installed the camber kit. Went to driver's side, and did the same thing. Piece of cake. It took a little long, about 2 1/2 hours, simply because we didn't know what we were doing and wanted to make 100% sure it was right.

Once we had both assemblys out, we went to a local garage and had them compress the springs and release the tension..free. I really appreciated the free part. Did all the necessary cutting of stock bump stops and rubber boot, then put together the new assembly. Went back to our garage, and reversed the order of removal. Went rather smoothly. So, if the front went smoothly and only took about 3 1/2 hours to complete, what took the other 6 1/2 hours? Let me tell you.

The rear, sweet lord, the rear. Did the driver's side first. We anticipated the worst with the "bitch bolt." Lo and behold, assembly came out in 20 minutes. Not so bad eh? Wasn't a bitch today...oh, but the other side..the biggest bitch of them all.

We loosen the two 14mm bolts on top of the assembly in the trunk. Go underneath the car and attempt to remove the bolt holding the upper control arm to the chassis. No dice. We began rounding it out, so we quit. We went to the lower portion of the arm near the wheel. It pivoted there as well, so we didn't worry about it not working. That bolt came out fine. The next step was to remove the bolt going through the strut assembly and through the control arm...die bolt die.

We rounded it out, we heated it up, we went to Sears to get Damaged-Bolt Remover (waste of money let me tell you), went to the Honda dealership to buy a new bolt cause we knew this one was trashed...$13 for a new bolt. Must be made of gold.

Went back home, and attempted to remove the bolt again. No dice. Got the cutting tool out and hooked it up to the air compressor. We cut the strut fork on one side so we could remove the entire assembly. That was fine, but then we had this bolt still stuck in the lca. Well, after heating it up with a torch, we kind of melted the rubber that apparently holds a metal spacer inside of the lca that the bolt went through, so that popped right out. Now we had the bolt, which was cut off at one end and rounded to no extreme on the other, still stuck in the spacer.

It took 4 hours to drill that baby out. We used all sorts of drill bits on our drill with the air compressor aiding its need. 4 hours just for that one bolt. It was the very last bolt we needed to take out of the car to complete the job. It was unbelievable.

I wish I had a camera to show you all that spacer and bolt, but I didn't. Maybe some of you know what I am talking about....

After that bolt was free, we lined everything back up and put everything back on. Weeee, it was now 7 pm.

Test Drive #1 - notice some squeaking coming from passenger rear. Oh great, the bolt that we just drilled out and melted the surrounding rubber has f'd up somehow. Nah, just a couple of loose nuts on the top of the assembly inside the trunk, no biggie.

Test Drive #2 - fixed the rear squeakiness, everything seemed cool. Went back to the house, popped the hood and noticed driver's side strut protruding so far out, it was hitting the hood, and dented the inside of the hood. Fabulous, we thought. Brought it back in the garage, lifted the front end, removed the wheel and shock assembly in 5 minutes. Tore down the shock and spring assembly, found out that a washer was misplaced, and put it back together and on the car in 10 minutes. 15 minutes total it took to redo that entire assembly. We're getting good at this, would anyone like us to do this for them?

Test Drive #3 - oh so smooth, oh so nice. oh so much tire rubbing. lol, came back, raised the car and the ground controls, put everything back and was happy with it. sat nice, and road nice.

Cliff Notes: Took 10 hours to complete. Only one bitch bolt that took 4 hours to drill out. Few minor glitches after some test drives. All fixed. Sits nice, and rides nice. Overall, I'm very happy.

Thanks to all who helped.

[imported_MKNTRAXX]

very cool...
redoing my suspention took 3 days to get it off.. a week and a half to get new parts and replace bolts.. and 4 hours to reinstall


I say you did a heck of a job.

[imported_biocac]

Awesome! I've been here for 3 years and I've finally helped someone out!

I'm glad to hear that you got through everything ok. As for the ride . . .
Is there more or less a slight difference in ride quality? or a major one? Just curious.
I'm used to stock suspension in my rides. The rex I've got is sitting on some kyb's and neauspeed's . . I was just wondering how much of a dif it all really makes.

lates.



Sam -

[Calesta]

Congratulations man! You did a pretty good job the first time- breaking only one bolt, and finishing in one day.



I guess I've just gotten lucky... I've done suspension on so many Civics, most of the time only with hand tools- and I never had a problem with a bolt coming out. Maybe it's because I always made sure everything was lined up perfect before I even tried to turn a bolt- who knows. I've never encountered a "bitch bolt" in the suspension though.