Help with Eibach springs/Tokico HP Shocks

[fugetaboti]

I am really unsure about my installation of the Eibach Springs and Tokico HP's. I replaced the shock on the driver side front. Got everything bolted up and then I realize that the spring will not seat. The entire strut assembly is loose. I realize that the Eibach spring is much shorter than the stock spring, so what do I do? Is this supposed to be this way untill you drop the car on the ground? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Rick

[jmortensen]

Totally normal for most lowering springs. I bet if you search you'll find a bunch of other similar threads. Stiffer springs have to be shorter than the original, otherwise it would ride higher than stock.

[Pete 73 240Z]

I have the exact set up you have and when the car was put on ground it's all tight. My car does'nt appear much lower than it did on worn out springs and blown shocks.

[ZG240Z]

Yes, this is normal. Once you have the weight of the car on the spring, everything will look much better. Take it for a spin, let the suspension settle in, and that will give an idea of what your new ride height is going to be.

One nice thing about the lowering springs is that you won't need to use a spring compressor any more......

[fugetaboti]

Thanks for the help, those are the answers I was looking for. Hopefully everything goes well for me.

[fugetaboti]

Now I'm having a problem with my front control arm bushings. I sucsesfully removed the old rubber, but now the urethane bushing won't fit. It almost seems like the metal shell needs to be removed, but the 20 ton press wouldn't make it budge. According to the parts list in the bushing kit, the bushing I am attempting to install are the correct ones, but they just will not fit. Should I have a machinist drill the shell out? Is this shell a part of the control arm, or is it just seized in place?

Thanks,

Rick

[jmortensen]

Cut the shells. Take a hacksaw to them. Cut towards the meaty part of the control arm so that if you go a little more than through the shell you don't weaken the arm. Once you cut through the shell it looses it's tension and you can pry it out with a screwdriver.

[fugetaboti]

Thanks Jon, I'm going to give it a try tommorow. I'll let you know how it turned out.

Rick

[fugetaboti]

Ended up taking the control arms to a machine shop, and a 60 ton press got them out pretty easilly. NAPA's machine shop charged me 30 bucks to do 5 minutes of work...not too sure I'm willing to go back for anything like that, but they were the only ones open on a Saturday morning. Anyways, I finished the front end, and have been driving the car for the last few days. What a difference it's made. I can't wait to drive it when the entire thing is complete. Thanks for all the info.

Rick

[Pete 73 240Z]

I did mine the hack saw and chisel method and I think you got a deal at NAPA after burning out old bushing and cutting and chiseling my whole suspension.