4 Day Transformation

[r1ashad]

This is my 4 day transformation from rags to riches. Okay, maybe not rags to riches but hope you get the idea. It took me 4 days to install Eibach lowering spings and mount my 19's. It basically took me a spring per day. Now someone might ask, why did it take me four days. Well, I will say having the right tool for the right job really helps! I could go on and on but my top three unforeseen conditions involved a broken spring compressor, crappy tuner lug bolt key adapter, and seized steering link pinch bolts.

Before




After

[Altech75]

Ehh?

The rims really aren't my style. I do like the drop in height though.

[EuRo_KiD]

Yes, the rims are a little bit too.....flashy?.. But to each their own. I also like the drop in height too!

[Seerlah]

You shouldn't have touched that pinch bolt. I am currently installing my coilovers, and you could have done it differently. I unbolted the upper sway bar link from the front lower CA, unbolted the inner pivot bolt for the front lower CA (when you drop the rear of the CA down, you can take out the struts/shocks), removed the bolts from the swar bar that hold it underneath the vehicle, remove the 2 13mm bolts in the engine bay that hold the top hat, and that will give you more than enough clearance to get everything done. It may seem like a lot of things to move, but it really isn't. I also did not have enough room to get the lower strut bolt out at first, but I just removed the rear lower CA from the knuckle and had all the space in the world. Also, don't cheap out on spring compressors. It's just not worth you losing a finger or worse, by saving a couple bucks on cheaper compressors.

But on topic, are those chrome or machined? I would not have gone 19s. But as long as you like it, that's what matters.

[jturnbull]

damn i wish my paint was mint like that.

[r1ashad]

You shouldn't have touched that pinch bolt. I am currently installing my coilovers, and you could have done it differently. I unbolted the upper sway bar link from the front lower CA, unbolted the inner pivot bolt for the front lower CA (when you drop the rear of the CA down, you can take out the struts/shocks), removed the bolts from the swar bar that hold it underneath the vehicle, remove the 2 13mm bolts in the engine bay that hold the top hat, and that will give you more than enough clearance to get everything done. It may seem like a lot of things to move, but it really isn't. I also did not have enough room to get the lower strut bolt out at first, but I just removed the rear lower CA from the knuckle and had all the space in the world. Also, don't cheap out on spring compressors. It's just not worth you losing a finger or worse, by saving a couple bucks on cheaper compressors.

But on topic, are those chrome or machined? I would not have gone 19s. But as long as you like it, that's what matters.

Yeah, I was using some Pittsburgh Coil Sping Compressors (Item 03980 if your anyone has one) at first which actually took a good chunk of time. I made the one time mistake of not using an impact wrench on the first spring and compressed it with a socket ratchet by hand. I told myself I would never ever do that again because it took me almost 2 hours to just get the new spring on the strut. And I had help! Half way through the 3rd spring installation the Pittsburgh spring compressor nut broke its weld. The Pittsburgh spring compressor was my neighbor's. So on that third day O'Reilly Auto Parts loan me a heavy duty MacPherson Spring Compressor for 48hrs which was more time than enough time at that point. I changed out the driver's side front spring last and with "Deep Creep" penetrating lubricant as my solution to my pinch bolt issue (Note: WD-40 was absolute crap for this application), I was done in 2.5hrs from start to finish.

The wheels are polished alloy. I'm not a personal fan of chrome for maintance and durability reasons. Like Euro_Kid said, "....to each their own." I love em! It was between the wheels I have now or Hypersilver RPM 505s. I thought too many folks already had the RPM 505s for our cars and I wanted to be different. Plus I got a better deal on my wheels than the 505s.

[PoormansA4]

not a fan of the wheels but nice drop, and ya ive done a few things with some mickey mouse makeshift tools before and yup triples the time it takes lol

[BlackLock_A4]

I'd say all that time paid off. Looks great!!

[r1ashad]

I'd say all that time paid off. Looks great!!

Appreciate it. Thanks!

[walky_talky20]

Looks good. Not my favorite wheels, but not bad at all.

x2 on the pinch bolt. Don't need to touch that, just drop the LCA and remove just the shock and spring, not the entire upper plate.