Tools needed to install lowering springs and rear camber arms.

BobbyLight

I had a shop quote me $898 for installing swift springs, SPL camber links, and an alignment. I don't know if that is "high" but I am definitely not paying that.
Plan b, do it my damn self. I've never attempted anything like this, so it should be interesting.

I know I need:
-jack
-spring compressors,
-a metric socket set
-metric wrenches
-a breaker bar
-a vice

However , I had some questions about some other tools.

I need to buy an impact gun anyway, but curious how many ft/lbs you would recommend for this job? Also, electric vs air?

How many jackstands do I need? I only have 2 at the moment.

I once saw on a thread here that I now cannot find that suggested picking up a "box wrench" and an offset wrench of some sort? Are these necessary?

Thanks in advance

YzGyz

Buy a 150+ pc set from Sears on sale. Trust me, it's worth it. You will do all sorts of things with the car after you have tools. Get a low profile floor jack (I have a orange one from HF and it does a great job), might as well print out the 20% coupon. Get a breaker bar too.

Borrow the spring compressor from Advance auto for free. Impact gun is nice but not needed. Spray pb blaster and hand tools go along way.

Make sure you chock the tire when the car is lifted. 2 stands are enough.

Leave the 2nd to last nut on barely threaded on when you remove the final nut from the struts so that the whole assembly don't drop and fall on the floor.

Make a diy video. You get 2 tries to make a good video. ☺

Gl
YzGyz

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Chuck33079

This. Also, reach out to some of the z guys around you. Someone will help for pizza and beer.

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OTW Z-Boy

10/12/14/17/19/21 Sockets and wrenches and a breaker bar. No impact gun needed. I'm sure it would be easier but save the 200 and get some more parts

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2014: Nismo 370z #495 Magnetic Black - Stillen Gen3 CAI | SPL F/R Camber Arms | HKS Hypermax IV | JDM Rear Fog Light |GT-R Push Start Button | Z1 2 Piece D/S | Illuminated Kicks | Tommykaira | Work VS-XX BKB Step Lip +23/+13 19" 9.5/11 | Fast Intentions RHFC TDX CBE 12" CF | EcuTek

Slartibartfas

Yes and no. My O'Reilly's made me put down a deposit equal to the price of the tool.

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2011 Journey Sport sedan 7AT | SPL front, SPC rear camber arms | ARK Grip cat-back |

kenchan

898 at $90/hr is like 10hrs. dafaq is the shop thinking it needs to do?

front 2.5hrs
rear 1.5hr
camber links (if rods) 15min
alignment 1.5hr

5.75hrs max 6hrs at $90/hr = $540

Zbrah

You forgot nap time and sh!t breaks, and God knows what else they do in the bathroom, ken...that should total 10 hours right there.

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YzGyz

That is correct. You put a deposit the price of the tool to borrow it. You get it all back when you return it. Think about it. Would you lend out a expensive tool to anyone that walks through your door with out some collateral?

Yzgyz

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kenchan

u right.. forgot about painus time... dat can take a while especially post-tacohell..

BobbyLight

You would be even more surprised if I told you who it was. They have always done work for a fair price when I had my 350z. Maybe they think I'm made of money now? Or maybe their services are high demand? Either way, not paying it.


Thanks for the advice all. Got it done this weekend. Only real problem I ran into was that the spring compressor I had compressed from the center of the spring, so I had no way of compressing the new spring back on since I obviously couldn't get the strut inside the spring. Solved that issue with trip to lowes and a handful of hose clamps.

All is good now, except that at low speeds (parking lot speeds) something creaks over small bumps? I don't know if that is the springs settling or what. is that normal? Note that on the front springs I did not take that little rubber piece that wraps along the bottom ~1.5 coils of the oem springs and wrap them on the bottom of the swift springs. They were basically rotted.

Also, I believe this is unrelated since I didn't touch anything brake related, but when I brake at 20+ mph with medium pedal pressure I get a high pitched squeal most of the time. When I barely brake or brake hard it doesn't make the noise. Sometimes even with the pressure that usually makes it squeal, it wont. Kind of puzzled since pads have some life left?