Gettin Medieval
 

So this weekend I wanted to throw on my Spec D lowering springs I had layin around for awhile. (1.75" lower) It's done. I have NO clue how I was supposed to compress the springs. There isn't any room for a spring compresser! So I cut my struts in half with a sawzall with some compression on my springs. Once I got them out, it all went together nice with some anti-seize and grease.

I also replaced my rear control arms (Had to cut those out as well) so I can adjust my toe, my hatch struts, I undercoated the wheel wells, then once it was all together... my alternator took a shit. Replaced that pretty quickly then drove 370 miles no problem and got 41 mpg O_o From Milwaukee to Bloomington and used just over a half tank.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

wut. Are you serious? You need to post pictures of this process!! lmao! :rollinglaugh: :rollinglaugh:

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

you cut your struts in half??

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Cool Story
http://data.whicdn.com/images/141976...3287_large.jpg

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

LMAO. too awesome BROTUS!

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Yeah, I cut them in half. I couldn't figure out how to get a spring compressor in there. The bolt would hit the wheel well. I'd have taken more pictures if I wasn't too busy scrubbing hydraulic fluid off of concrete. :P

Pic of one of the struts cut in half and one of the rear wheel well undercoated with struts, springs, bushings, and new arms.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Oh the reason that strut was cut in two places was so that I could salvage some of the hardware. It was seized on. PB Blaster couldn't save that one.

So has anyone else ever had to do some shady shit to get a project over with?

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Do you not know you are supposed to take the strut out of the car to do springs?

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

LOL might want to research how to do it correctly next time.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Yeah. That's why I replaced the struts at the same time. But in order to get the assembly out, I was supposed to compress the springs. There wasn't room for the spring compresser.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

For 2gs, you dont need to use a spring compressor. Im extremely confused as to why you would cut the strut, Did you use the strut after cutting it? or did you replace the strut and spring?
To get them out you simply undo the bottom bolt, slide or hammer if off of the bottom, then undo the top bolts and slide out the strut assembly. Easy as pie. You should have checked vfaq or else invested 20 bucks into a haynes guide.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

I once put grease on my brake pads to quiet the squealing.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Dont forget to put solar salt in your oil. You dont want to have hard oil. Hey it works in your house, why not your car.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

LOL, yeah you don't need to compress the spring to take the strut assembly out of the car.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

I've painted my brake pads blue once. not sure why it's fading away. maybe the grease should help.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Yeah. I replaced the struts and springs. Every bolt was seized. PB Blaster couldn't save most of them, several broke and several had the heads rounded over before I had the car.
I didn't want to hammer the strut off the lower bolt because I didn't want it to expand and damage anything. I ordered a Haynes months ago from Amazon but it never came in and I didn't have my laptop with me for the project. But when I looked online a while ago, people frowned upon Autozone spring compressors but bought their own.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

^The strut will not "expand" once the car is off the ground. You take the whole strut assembly out in one piece, then compress the springs, take off the top hat, and de-compress the springs. Then install new ones, and put it all back in the car.

Re: Gettin Medieval
 

Well not the way I would have done it hence the thread title but if it all work out for ya more props to ya.