Coilover install?

[H22WAGON93]

Can anybody help me with putting coilovers on a CB9. do I need a spring compresser. This garge I go to said they would do it 4 120. I've been Cb7 since oct07 but have not put pics yet will be doing that this weekend. Any help will be apprciated.

[chrischhorn]

are you putting the coilovers on stock shocks/struts? if so yes u need spring compressors to take off the old springs. If on aftermarket shocks/struts, then most likely not since your coilovers will most likely be shorter. But if you are putting them on stock shocks, be ready to blow them out within a month or 2. Trust me im drive a cb9 too lol

[H22WAGON93]

there already blown, this is just for this summer or intill I can get a complete coilover. So I should probly pay the $120. to get them install.

[Father Time]

there already blown, this is just for this summer or intill I can get a complete coilover. So I should probly pay the $120. to get them install.

If they are already blown I wouldn't install the coilovers. It will ride like garbage and be very bouncy. It would be better to put that $120 back in your wallet and get a good set of shocks and do it all at once instead of installments. Why take everything apart twice when it only needs to be done once the right way. Just my opinion though.

[H22WAGON93]

there ebay coilovers and if I put new shocks in them they will probly bow real quick, right. Thats wat I heard.

[Father Time]

Ebay coilovers on stock replacement shocks isn't something I would recommend. Suspension is definitely not a place where you want to go cheap. Like I said, it would be better to just save up. If your shocks are blown now, then I would save up and buy some better shocks (KYB AGX/Koni Yellow's/Tokico Illumina's) since you plan on lowering it. Some are a little pricey but you do get what you pay for.

[H22WAGON93]

If I get good shocks and put them on ebay coilovers, how long untill those shocks go. I got kids if I drive fast its going to be on the dragstrip not corners.

[deevergote]

Driving on blown shocks is very unsafe. Driving on blown shocks with a lowered car is very unsafe. Driving on blown shocks and cheap springs (which those coilovers are... just adjustable cheap springs) is EXTREMELY dangerous. If you have kids, replace those shocks before ANYTHING else. You're risking their lives every time they get in that car. Even on the stock springs... your braking will suffer (wheel hop, causing a hard stop to take longer), you can lose control while cornering (hit a bump and one or more tires will leave the road), and your car can easily be thrown off course at speed (hit a rut in the road, and blown shocks won't take any of the force).


Stock springs on blown shocks are bad enough. Ebay coilovers are garbage as it is, but already-blown shocks and ebay coilovers is just a recipe for disaster.



At the very least, buy some KYB GR2s or Tokico HPs. They will handle the drop. What spring you run has nothing to do with how long the shocks last. It's how low you go that really matters. Just don't slam the think 3.5" and expect them to last. Lower it about 2" and they'll hold up for a while.



And yes, you NEED a spring compressor to remove the stock springs. Well, I did it without the first time, but it's not smart. The spring could cause the top nut to fire off like a bullet if you aren't careful. Chances are, you'll be on top of it while removing it... which means it will shoot you. Spring compressors are FREE to rent (with a refundable deposit... about $40, I think) at just about any major autoparts chain store.

$120 isn't a bad price, but it's really not that hard. My suspension was the first major mod I did to my car. My friends helped me, and I redid things myself afterward.

[ChIoVnIdCa]

I got kids

im in ma ill do it for $60

[H22WAGON93]

Thanks for the info, your right. My shocks are not blown yet, just worn out, they might be orginal. I was in my friends cb7 going around in a courner w/ a CRX and the CRX hop and lost it. That was going about 90mph and was scary. I going to look for shocks and try a 2in drop. Then save up for a good setup.

[deevergote]

GR2s and HPs are definitely decent for the price. They usually hold up to a drop. They're basically stock replacements, but they always seem to last with even a crazy drop. I wouldn't trust it for more than 2" though (I've seen it... but I wouldn't recommend it)

[chrischhorn]

yeah on my cb9 im runnin tokico hps with sprint springs and a 2" drop and like deever said.......they just couldnt hold up on the rear. I now i have one blown shock on the right rear. happened about 2 weeks ago after 3 or 4 months of driving but these texas rodes are nasty. A lot of construction goin on around my area.

[deevergote]

Wagons DO have about 200lbs on the coupes and sedans... that's like having a 200lb guy riding in your trunk ALL the time... as most of the weight is in the rear. The fronts are made for the weight of the engine. The rears aren't. When you lower, and have lots of weight... it kills the shocks.

[nine_deuce]

Spring compressors aren't necessary. I used 2 pairs of really strong vice grips... worked just fine

[H22WAGON93]

what is the right set up for a wagon