how much can i lower my festiva?

[newcomb]

Sounds good to me so the aspire struts bolt right under festy??? And so I don't need a spring compresser to disasymbol my springs? I wanna cut down old springs first so I don't screw up those aspires when I get em

[FestYboy]

you need a compressor for the fronts, but not the rears. and DO be careful, as you can very easily injure yourself with the rentable compressor tools from McAuto Parts.

[91_festy_Gl]

I almost got punched in the face one time trying to do the front springs without a compressor.

[FestYboy]

i'll give you a step by step when i get home from work.

[newcomb]

Alrighty that will help out alot

[FestYboy]

start with the rear as that will give you the most trouble. first, tilt the rear seat the entire way forward, if aplicable. then remove the rear speaker covers and sholder belts (again if aplicable). then remove the rear plastic strut tower covers. Now lift the rear by the body so that the tires are about 6" above ground, then remove the tires. place a jack under the center of the rear axle and push it up a little (to take the stress off the strut).

back to the inside: remove the top nut of the rear struts (there should be 2 per side). then i recomend an impact gun for the lower nut's removal but it can still be done by hand. Once the struts top retaining nuts are removed, you can lower the jack on the rear axle. you can now push the axle down and compress the strut so you can sneak the spring off.

now, the fun part: removing the rear struts from the axle. Idealy, the lower bolt will come out and that's that! but that never happens :devil: how everyone does it is different, but i found that if you have a cutoff wheel, you can remove the strut by cutting the bushing collar in halfs and pealing it all out, then you just need to remove the bushing and bolt (there is an internal collet that can be spread open once the bushing rubber is removed and doing it this way allowes you to retain the bolt and captured nut).

installation of new struts/springs is reverse of removal.

now the fronts: do one side at a time here. lift one side and remove that tire. then place a jack under the rotor and lift the car by that (you wont hurt the car). Now with the strut under compression, place the strut compressors on the spring (at the very top and bottom of the spring) and add some tension to them. you can now release the jack and unbolt the 2 lower bolts and top nuts. The spring should be kinda loose (at least enough to cut a coil off OR remove the spring from the strut).

again, installation is reverse of removal.

if you have questions, PLEASE ask.

[newcomb]

Ok so I can cut the coils down while there still in car? I thought u had to completely pull them out

[FestYboy]

the front struts have to come out of the car to do it safely, but they don't have to come apart to cut the springs. the rear springs are easy enough to remove before cutting. if you plan on using stock festy springs, 1.5 coils in the rear and 2 in the front are the limit to keep things together and safe.

[newcomb]

Yea I wanna run the stockens till I get all the stuff for aspire so just a rundown I glhave to add pressure to the coils in rear then unbolt strut and release pressure and pull coils?

[FestYboy]

correct, it is done in that order to keep things as safe as possible. i've seen springs injure and have heard of deaths as well (though not from festiva springs).

safety first, last, and always.

[newcomb]

Sweet and for front same concept?

[FestYboy]

if you read the "how to", YES, same concept. i recomend you read it again before attempting the project. the fronts are the ones you must be the MOST careful with.

[mattman]

Festyboy you said that you can cut 2 in the front an 1.5 in the back ...how much does this lower the car ? I'm on stock 12's right now but may go 13 or 14 later on

[Movin]

start with the rear as that will give you the most trouble. first, tilt the rear seat the entire way forward, if aplicable. then remove the rear speaker covers and sholder belts (again if aplicable). then remove the rear plastic strut tower covers. Now lift the rear by the body so that the tires are about 6" above ground, then remove the tires. place a jack under the center of the rear axle and push it up a little (to take the stress off the strut).

back to the inside: remove the top nut of the rear struts (there should be 2 per side). then i recomend an impact gun for the lower nut's removal but it can still be done by hand. Once the struts top retaining nuts are removed, you can lower the jack on the rear axle. you can now push the axle down and compress the strut so you can sneak the spring off.

now, the fun part: removing the rear struts from the axle. Idealy, the lower bolt will come out and that's that! but that never happens :devil: how everyone does it is different, but i found that if you have a cutoff wheel, you can remove the strut by cutting the bushing collar in halfs and pealing it all out, then you just need to remove the bushing and bolt (there is an internal collet that can be spread open once the bushing rubber is removed and doing it this way allowes you to retain the bolt and captured nut).

installation of new struts/springs is reverse of removal.

now the fronts: do one side at a time here. lift one side and remove that tire. then place a jack under the rotor and lift the car by that (you wont hurt the car). Now with the strut under compression, place the strut compressors on the spring (at the very top and bottom of the spring) and add some tension to them. you can now release the jack and unbolt the 2 lower bolts and top nuts. The spring should be kinda loose (at least enough to cut a coil off OR remove the spring from the strut).

again, installation is reverse of removal.

if you have questions, PLEASE ask.

excellent write with safety as well, should save this some where. Add some of the Q and A and sticky it ?

[newcomb]

now is there a way i can do the front without the strut compressors?