alright heres the deal i am going to be deploying soon and want to drop my car off at home but i have to change out the struts and shocks, i plan on getting tokiko's. was just wondering how easy of an install it is myself, i dont want to take it to someone because they'll charge and arm and a leg and i love to work on my car, practice makes perfect, right???? any help would be greately appreciated

 

You will need to buy/rent a spring compressor for the front struts. Other than that it's pretty simple

 

Agreed they are easy but you will probably have to have the front end aligned if you really want the job to be perfect when you do the fronts. It isn't the top mounting that changes the alignement necessarily, it is the two lower bolts that might.

 

Definitely. You will have to use the binder on top to break it loose from the strut tower. Loosen the top first, then compress the coil spring, and then the bottom nuts and it will fall straight out. Make sure you use your rubber grommets on your new springs. They help reduce metal on metal noise. Tou will have to have it alligned, you can get it close, but that only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. Oh yea, you have remove the front sway bar to take off the bottom bolts.
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By the way, it will take you about 4 hours to do it yourself, unless you have someone help you who has done it plenty of times. Then it will be 2.5 to 3 depending on if your bolts are rusted.
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I'm doing the same thing. Is the '98 set up like a '95? Does the '95 require a spring compression too? What is the "binder"? Is that the tool used to go in the slot on top of the strut shaft to hold it still while turning the nut? If so, where do I get one of these? Thanks!

 

a spring compreser makes everything much easier, and its free!!

go to autozone and use their "lend-a-tool" program

ps. i dont mean to steal the thread, but with a spring swap would a realingment be nessisary?

 

shoot emann007 a pm. he'll email you a good tutorial.

 

The binder is the two washers and grommet that sits at the top of the strut tower. You would use a pry bar to "bind" them so you can unbolt the strut. It's the same way on the back. And as far as I know, a 98 suspension is the same as a 95. Anytime you mess with the front end geometry you will need to have an alignment done.
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