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 Post subject: Found an easy way to lower Front
PostPosted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:10 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:35 pm
Posts: 139
Location: Findlay,OH
I lowered the front of my car by 1" today in about 30 minutes.
All you need is:
1: 3/4" wrench
2: adjustable wrench
3: air cut-off
4: Jack
5: safety glasses (A MUST) trust me on this one
6: tape measure
You don't need to remove even the tires to do this.

Step #1. I started by measuring the distance from the ground to fender lip on each corner. Record measurements.
#2.Then pop hood and remove the nut on top of strut in center by using the 3/4" wrench and adjustable to hold the center from turning.
#3. Jack up one side of front, Slowly while making sure the strut is coming out of tower.
#4. At this point the strut should be loose at top and spring tension off. Can move coil by hand.
#5. Pull spring away from base, Just enough to cut it (only take a half of coil, not half of the whole coil just one of the windings of it) Save this first piece it will be the template for further cuts.
#6. Lower car back down very slowly aligning strut with hole in tower. You may want a helper for this step. You must also guide the spring onto base of strut. You will have to rotate the spring to get it to seat properly.
#7. Measure the distance from earlier. Record measurement.
#8. Repeat on other side, but this time use the coil piece you cut off of other side. Lay it on top of other coil and align one end flush with coil. Mark and cut.
#9. Repeat until desired drop. Do not cut off more than 1/2 at a time and no more than 1 without driving for a week to recheck measurements. You CAN NOT reverse this when done so take your time and do it right. Also the more you cut the worse it is for your car. I only cut one turn off of my coils. It actually rides nicer than before, but if you cut too much you might as well take them out and weld your suspension because that is how it will ride.

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 Post subject: Re: Found an easy way to lower Front
PostPosted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:24 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:06 pm
Posts: 1415
Location: Atlanta GA 30052
:D good post. may try it.

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daily driver: red 1991 Metro 3cyl 5sp, roof rack, 8 degree advance, got 61 mpg combined
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 Post subject: Re: Found an easy way to lower Front
PostPosted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:48 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:35 pm
Posts: 139
Location: Findlay,OH
xrw44 wrote:
:D good post. may try it.

You should was super easy and quick, no pulling tire, no spring compressor. Just Wam, Bam, thank ya mam.

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 Post subject: Re: Found an easy way to lower Front
PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:50 pm 
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Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:23 am
Posts: 527
Location: Houston TX
Quote:
#6. Lower car back down very slowly aligning strut with hole in tower.


that step seems kinda hard. How do you do it without jaming your fingers between the springs while lowering the car?

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 Post subject: Re: Found an easy way to lower Front
PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:58 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 5:17 pm
Posts: 3560
Location: Georgetown, Guyana
Actually there's a related question I've been curious about ...

The how to does not discuss the removal of the upper strut mount from the body, so I assume it isn't done - now on my car there is a needle roller bearing that fits between the top of the strut and the underside of the mount - four, maybe five pieces, including a very fragile plastic race - I'd love to know how they get that back into place.

Maybe US market cars use a different mount and bearing...

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 Post subject: Re: Found an easy way to lower Front
PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:05 pm 
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Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:40 am
Posts: 565
Location: Quartzsite az
and the lower spring will try to twist now that it does not sit in its seat and it will wear through the lower seat plate

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