02 Kia Rio Struts in my 94 Aspire

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Ok so yesterday I finally got to the JY and picked up the 02 KIA struts/springs for my car. I got them installed and took it for a test drive and the difference is amazing.

My concerns are the springs tho, the car now sits a full inch higher in the front, and its thrown the alignment off. I was wondering if anyone knows exactly how many coils need cut off the bottom to make it the original stock height an aspire should sit. I dont know because i think my car was sagging a little from the wore out springs...

Also, if I just had an alignment done right now could they correct the issue 100% or is it a necessity to chop the springs? I don't mind the extra height, it actually is a lot nicer not feeling like I'm driving into the pavement..now I dont see the hood as much when im laid back driving lol..it feels alot like a normal car..aside from the occasional wind blowing you around feeling from the alignment being off. You can clearly see the tires are slanted V shaped more now than before.

If your interested in pics you can see em here on fa.com in my build thread..i might start one here someday if I ever get time to copy/paste all the picture links.. I hope the mods don't get mad about the link..if there's an issue just delete the link from my post!

http://fordaspire.5.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=5450&st=30

[FestYboy]

link doesn't work.

alignment will fix the issue and show how much the camber has changed with the new struts. take one coil out before the alignment and things should be great.

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Hmm I just clicked it and it worked for me..I dunno..try this? Mantel you haggard be a member there? I'll get a link to the Facebook album.

http://fordaspire.5.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=5450&st=30

Bah stupid new phone changing my words.. **mabye you have to be a member there for the link to work.

Is it necessary to cut a coil off? I mean I don't understand it, can sum1 explain how it will make a difference? Is it just height or a real issue with the camber?

Original unedited pics I took in no particular order:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.254635167896591.82477.100000503297459&l=8d9ec6d3a3&type=1

[rollertoaster]

Higher than normal ride height will throw camber off. Higher the ride height the more positive the camber will get. You probably should cut a coil out of each front spring.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I was hoping you guys would chime in here with a "no its fine get it aligned" lol.. I've never taken the springs off a strut so I need to rent a 55$ spring compressor kit and hope I don't kill myself in the process..lol I kinda like the ride height and don't understand what exactly an alignment corrects so I don't understand why more positive camber would be an issue after the alignment....but if you guys say I need to chop a coil..ill do it. thanks for the replies, ill post pics when I do it, probably tomorrow I want the alignment soon so i don't burn off the edge of my tires.

/e lol..

Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using my thumbs.

[FestYboy]

eh zoom, keeping the camber and toe settings corrected is the only thing keeping you from burning the edges off your tires... and the added spring rate on the rio struts will cause a positive camber and TOE issue. toe is easy to fix as there's plenty of adjustment available from the factory, BUT, there's NO camber adjustment built into the struts save for the .5* that you can get out of rotating the FACTORY strut mounts (rios don't have this option). if you find that your camber is too positive even after the cut coil (doubt this), you CAN get what's called a camber bolt (specially machined bolt with an offset that allows the strut to be pushed or pulled into spec). doing so WILL change your toe setting and thus throw off your alignment.

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ook that's the answer i was looking for, the rio spring needs cut to keep the camber where it needs to be because there's no way to adjust the camber other than cutting the spring to make it sit at the right height.. thanks i wasn't sure if there was a way they could adjust the camber when it went in for the alignment.. so i was trying to avoid taking those springs off, but it's no biggie i'll hack em up as soon as i get the spring compressor tool.. i was thinking about doing it with some little ratchet straps, but i just don't know if i really want to chance it.

[FestYboy]

that's not even an option, straps won't hold and then the upper mounts becomes a projectile that can break bones. get the right tool, and i recomend using the weight of the car to compress the spring and have the tool there to just hold the position.

[PhoenixSHO]

These ''harbor freight'' tools runs for 10$ on ebay , not worth the risk.

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that's not even an option, straps won't hold and then the upper mounts becomes a projectile that can break bones. get the right tool, and i recomend using the weight of the car to compress the spring and have the tool there to just hold the position.

gotcha i wasn't sure how much force was actually on these tiny little baby springs.. i'll take your word for it tho, i'm not in the mood for getting myself or someone close hurt.



@ phoenix, yea i didn't even think about checking harbor freight >.< thanks, i'll check there today, since i didn't wake up in time to do it before work.. stupid 12 hour shifts wear you out sometimes.


/e yea harbor freight has it for about 15 bucks.. nice call, i'll probably just buy their kit now instead of paying that 55$ to rent it. never really cared for harbor freight tools, but this has macpherson name on it, so mabye it'll work.

http://www.harborfreight.com/macpherson-strut-spring-compressor-set-3980.html

[FB71]

yup, those tools are exactly what you need!

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I just don't like the idea of harbor frieght tools. I used to swear by em but they have a tendency to break when you need them the most. Some things might be alright to use.. like this..something ill only use occasionally, but as far as wrenches/sockets/ratchets..ill stick with my Stanleys.

[getnpsi]

i have the HF spring compressors they have worked fine for me so far with 3 different cars. Stay away from the other hand tools especially socket extensions and adapters, like 1/2 to 3/8" and so on. They always break off with almost no force applied. Then you have to jab at it with a screwdriver to get it out of your socket and lose another 10 minutes and so on.

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k.. i got off work early today so i went and rented the advance spring compressor kit for 55 bucks and cut the coil off the bottom of the springs.. it does make a difference, it's not quite as squirley as it was, hopefully an alignment will fix any other issues, i uploaded more pics to the facebook link if anyone wants to look at them it's the bottom 20ish pics.. thanks for the advice guys! i might end up buying that 18$ spring compressor kit from HF next week when i get paid just to have it around lol.. i ended up making my old lady give me the cash to rent the Advance Auto kit.. i just don't like having to ask her for MY money back after i give it to her.. i'm cheap like that.

[Safety Guy]

I bought that HF spring compressor set and I was disappointed in it. It worked okay on one set of springs (Rio, IIRC) to disassemble them, but did not work on the Aspire springs. I had to rent a good set from AZone. I plan to buy the AZ style set some day.

YMMV, I suppose.

Karl