Sap

On Saturday I installed my Eibach Prokit and thought it would be good to write a how to as it was more complicated then it appears initially. Please post any comments, thoughts, etc.

This install is much easier with two people.

Tools Needed :
Standard 3/8 & 1/2" Drive Sockets and Ratchets
Standard & Metric Wrenches
2 Jacks standards and 3 ton jack (low profile is better as jack may be hard to remove from under car if its too big)
*Highly Recommended* - Air Tools - Impact Gun & Air Rachet
Strut Spring Compressor - Autozone Rental
Coil Spring Compressor - Autozone Rental
Big Hammer - Yes, yes, you ALWAYS need a big hammer =)
Big flatblade screwdriver
*Optional, possibly necessary* - Chop Saw or Grinder w/Cutting blade


Let me first say that I have wrenched on cars & trucks my entire life and felt this install would be easy, it took us around 9 hours with breaks and a break for dinner included.

Rear Spring Install
1). Chock front tires
2). Loosen Lug nuts on both rear Tires
3). Jack up Car from rear and put jackstands under framerails, let suspension droop
4). Remove Lug nuts and passenger side tire
5). Undo bolt holding Brake line to frame,
6). Using Strut spring compressor compress the spring
* Note * : this is where air tools is great, compressing the springs using airtools was very easy
* Note * : The standard Strut spring compressors from autozones threaded shafts were too long and hit the fenderwell, I had to cut them, a chop saw or grinder will work great for this
7). Remove the spring from vehicle
8). Transplant top spring isolator from OEM spring to Eibach rear Spring
9). Compress Rear Spring using strut compressor
10). Insert Rear Spring into seat and slowly decompress, use BFH to manipulate spring into place if needed, make sure the isolator doesn't get jammed up and the spring is seated properly
11). Reinstall Brake line bracket, visually inspect for any problems or possible complications
12). Reinstall Tire and hand tighten lug nuts
- Repear Process for Driver Side -
12). Lower Car from jackstands and tighten lug nuts

Front Spring Install
1). Chock Rear Tires
2). Loosen lug nuts on both front tires
3). Jack up car and support on jackstands
4). Remove Tires
5). Remove brake caliper (two bolts) and place aside, be careful of rubber brake line
6). Support Lower Control arm using Jack
7). Undo top strut nut (place big fltbladehammer in grove and remove the nut (easier w/2 people), Put strut nut and rubber grommet aside
8). Unbolt the sway bar
9). Using jack slowly lower (uncompress) the spring until you can fit the Coil spring compressor through the space in between the coils.
10). Compress spring using Coil Spring compressor
11). Lower jack slowly until spring can be removed from vehicle, leave jack under pressure (i.e. dont remove it)
12). Remove OE Spring and use Coil Spring Compressor to compress Eibach spring
13). Transplant OE Isolator or if using new ones, place them on Eibach spring
14). Place spring into spring perch and slowly uncompress, make sure Lower arm is supported back the jack
15). Once spring is uncompressed enough, remove the Spring Compressor - Lower jack if needed
16). Slowly jack up Lower Arm, first make sure sway bar bolt goes into sway bar, then verify top of strut goes in hole properly
17). Reinstall strut rubber grommet and bolt up strut
18). Reinstall Sway bar bolt
19). Reinstall Brake Caliper
20). Install Tire and hand tighten lug nuts
21). Lower Car and tighten lug nugs

Good luck and remember, if you dont have air tools or a friend helping, it will be a PITA install.

E.

Miliock

Nice work. Me and a freind installed my tokico kit (springs, shocks, struts) and it took us a little under 3 hours. ON A LIFT WITH AIR TOOLS!!!