Installing coilovers without air tools?

[jayuuey]

Any pointers on installing coilovers without air tools? I'm concerned about removing the nut on top of the front shocks. Can you please share you experiences with this?

Also, what is the best ride height adjustment to get zero wheel gap? By the way, I am installing Koni coilovers.
Thanks,
Jay

[Phrost]

You don't need any air tools at all. I don't have any and plan on installing my suspension by myself...

The nut on the strut mounts should come off with a breaker bar, it isn't on there that tight. But one thing I want to stress, is to look up the torque spec for this nut and be careful to not over tighten it! If you do there is a high probability the mount will crack and break, and you'll have to pay for another 1/4 installation. Bad bad bad situation, I had it happen on one of my VW's when a "side job" guy used his impact gun to tighten the shit out of both of mine.

[VMRWheels]

No air tools needed. Iv always used hand tools, breaker bar, and a torque wrench.

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

[Buttafuoco]

Phrost, are you talking about the bolt for the lower strut mount? I've been having some problems with my vogts...this might be something worth checking out.

[Phrost]

Now that I stop and think about what I said, our strut assembly is completely different than the Mk4 I had that this happened to. I have not done an install on a B7 yet.

However, torque specs are most likely just as important with your A4, so don't just hammer stuff down as tight as you can get it. Does anyone have torque specs for suspension install? I've been meaning to look everything up

[DCR]

Does anyone have the torque spec for the front top nut?

[GhostSquadGarage]

Breaker bar and torque wrench.

Will handle most anything on a Euro :D maybe a mallet too hahaha

[A4addict]

You don't need any air tools at all.

I might need air tools for you new avatar. Good job.

[Phrost]

Thanks, I like taking pictures of myself and I liked this one a lot. teeheet

[m0nk89]

i gotta say differently, air tools is almost a must. the tightness of the top nut is NOT the issue, its the fact that the strut is able to freely rotate. a breaker bar isnt gonna help get off the top nut because the strut just rotates around in circles. if you wanna do it without airtools, your gonna need a special wrench that is deep yet is hollow, so u can stick an allen wrench inside. i went to sears, kragen, autozone to find a wrench like that, carrying my suspension assembly around, and no one could help me. ended up using air tools. good luck!

[tribe]

i gotta say differently, air tools is almost a must. the tightness of the top nut is NOT the issue, its the fact that the strut is able to freely rotate. a breaker bar isnt gonna help get off the top nut because the strut just rotates around in circles. if you wanna do it without airtools, your gonna need a special wrench that is deep yet is hollow, so u can stick an allen wrench inside. i went to sears, kragen, autozone to find a wrench like that, carrying my suspension assembly around, and no one could help me. ended up using air tools. good luck!

^^^ Yeah that. A 17mm socket that you can grab with a vicegrip or something and a long allen wrench through the socket's hole (6 or 7mm I don't remember). You'll need that setup to assemble the top nut anyway. Air tool is good to take the nut "off" only.

[Zebman]

Spring compressor is required unless you can compress a spring designed to carry and rebound about 900 lbs. of weight.

What tribe said above is what I did. Good way to ensure you don't overtighten.

You'll want a small floor jack for compressing the suspension, which you'll be doing very frequently.

Some boards to put under your wheels to ensure you can get your car off the jack once it's lowered.

Just have a lot of wrenches and speed ratchets ready to go.

I had a whole page of shit to remember when doing a suspension install after I did it myself, but now that its been about a month I can't quite remember as much.

[autoverruckt]

Expect to allot at least 5 hours of your time without airtools.

[dj_dub]

Expect to allot at least 5 hours of your time without airtools.

5 hours??? there is no way that it accurate.

it took me 3 hours to install my coilovers in my driveway without airtools, a standard jack and jackstands, common sense and knowledge about cars while taking my sweet ass time.

[Doctor]

How much does it cost in US to change your suspension in an appropriate shop...?
Safely, the right way...With an afterwards alignment in the steering system

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[autoverruckt]

5 hours??? there is no way that it accurate.

it took me 3 hours...

Absolutely no way? lol Good for you getting it done in 3 hours.

[i3oricua]

You'll need a spring compressor for sure. You'll also need a 17mm OFFSET BOXWRENCH and a set of allen wrenches since I have no idea what size you'll actually need. Other than that you'll just have to have a good set of of normal tools and some time and patience. I've done 3 installs, but I had air tools. However, that is because I had them available but it could be done without them. Just takes a little longer.

[Phrost]

I have a 250ft/lbs 1/2" drive electric impact that I could use if I need to... I'll try to not use it but we'll see if I'm man enough haha