DIY coilover install

azn370z · 03-13-2010, 02:03 AM

Be safe and put the car in gear, or park, hand brake up, use wheel chocks, etc.

Download the service manual here 2009 370z Service Manual Complete ready to Download! and study the front and rear suspension components.

You will need 4 jack stands, floor jack, breaker bar, torque wrench that goes up to 120lbs of torque, open wrenches 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, deep socket set 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, normal 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, extensions. Some of these sockets don't have to be deep sockets but you can buy at sears 6pt deep socket set for $50.

Before you begin you may want to remove your interior plastic parts from your hatch especially if you're installing coilovers and the rear adjustment knob extends too far. The bc br coilovers do not and I didn't remove the rear interior plastic parts. I did remove the front top strut brace to make it easier to access the nuts attached to the shocks.

Roll down the drivers window, unlatch hood, place wheel chocks behind and in front of rear wheel. Take out the scissor jack from the trunk. Then raise the car and place the front on jack stands then rears. Next remove wheels.

Loosen the top 3 nuts that hold the shocks, shown in the fifth pic. Do not remove these nuts until you complete the steps listed below.
Spray penetrating oil on the nut that's on the left side and right side in the first picture, which is circled in red. Use a wrench to hold the bolt in the second picture, this bolt most likely won't move until the nut on the opposite side is completely free. But keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't move as you loosen the nut. If the breaker bar doesn't create enough leverage, remove the handle from your floor jack and slide it over the breaker bar. I only needed to extend the length of my 2 foot breaker bar by 6 inches. Once that nut is off remove the three bolts circled in green. You will need to turn the steering wheel to get better access to it. Turn your cars accessory mode on and turn the steering wheel. Next remove the nut holding the cable to the shocks, in the third pic. Also, unsnap all cables that are attached to the shocks. Next remove the nut in the fourth pic that is attached to the front sway bar. Once this nut is off you can slide out the bolt that is holding the bottom of the front shocks. But before you do this place the scissor jack to support the bottom of the front suspension to release tension on the bolt.
With the jack still supporting the bottom of the suspension remove the 3 top nuts that holds the shocks. When removing the shocks be careful not to snag any cables.

Loosen the bolt in pic six. Loosen the nut in pic seven and place the scissor jack underneath aluminum arm. Remove the two nuts in pic 8 then remove the bolts that you have loosened. The bolts in the seventh pic should come out easily but if it's really stuck loosen the nut but don't completely remove the nut off the bolt that is attached toward the middle of the car in pic 7 next to the red arrow. You will need to use the scissor jack to line up the holes when you remove and replace the bolts.

abakja1 · 03-14-2010, 02:44 PM

Great that this has started...
Thanks and subscribed..

JB-370z · 03-14-2010, 03:48 PM

Yup will be ordering HKS Hypermax lll's soon so this may help me thanks!

Minicobra1 · 03-19-2010, 02:27 AM

Subscribed

LinPark · 04-16-2010, 03:04 PM

Subscribed. +1 rep

Do you have to do any realignment after the install?

azn370z · 04-16-2010, 04:54 PM

Yes you will want to do an alignment. Should wait a few days after the install for an alignment. Should cost no more than $150.

djpathfinder · 07-18-2010, 12:34 AM

Do you need spring compressors for this?

azn370z · 07-18-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

Do you need spring compressors for this?

Not for coilovers.

fuct · 07-26-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azn370z

Not for coilovers.

true, but the rear spring isnt attached to the shock. wont that spring be under compression?

azn370z · 07-26-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuct

true, but the rear spring isnt attached to the shock. wont that spring be under compression?

No spring compressor is needed. If you need to compress the rear springs you can use a floor Jack. I think that's in the diy.

fuct · 07-27-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azn370z

No spring compressor is needed. If you need to compress the rear springs you can use a floor Jack. I think that's in the diy.

great! i have a spring install to do this weekend. the fronts i will need a spring compressor though.

tjlazer · 08-22-2010, 01:13 PM

Tried to do the fronts yesterday and it was an epic FAIL! Rears were no prob at all. I guess I'm taking it into Nissan to sort out!

I could not remove the 19mm bolts for nothing, even a breaker bar did not want to work. Used PB Blaster several times. I did end up stripping one of the side bolts, I sure hope they can remove that one. I hope they can sort this out for me!

azn370z · 08-22-2010, 02:03 PM

It shouldn't strip if you have a 6 point socket and if you keep an eye on the socket so it sits flush. Sliding a cheat bar over the breaker bar helps too. I'm sure the dealership will fix it.

tjlazer · 08-23-2010, 11:44 AM

It was confusing to me, are you supposed to remove the three smaller bolts first (from the first pic) then the larger 19mm? I tried to remove the 19mm first and it was not budging at all. (I guess I need a 6 point socket!) Also are those three bolts even required to be removed at all? Seems if you just remove that 19mm and the sway bar bolt it should come out...

azn370z · 08-23-2010, 11:57 AM

You can remove the larger nut first, it won't make a difference which ones you remove first. You couldn't get the other side off either?

03-14-2010, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
JB-370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 1,859 Drives: Stage 2 Twin Turbos Rep Power: 19	Yup will be ordering HKS Hypermax lll's soon so this may help me thanks! __________________ ll Baker Tuning ll GTM ll Powerhouse Amuse ll HKS ll Up-Rev ll iForged ll AP Racing ll Pioneer ll SPL ll Bride ll Top Secret ll OS Giken ll GTM Stage 2 Twin Turboed 370z (First in Texas, Thanks To Baker Tuning)

03-19-2010, 02:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
Minicobra1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County, CA. Posts: 1,205 Drives: 370Z Tour, Spt, 6mt Rep Power: 645	Subscribed __________________ 370z Tour\| Spt Pack\|Navi\|BERK CBE\|Berk HFC's\| Eibach Springs\| Hotchkis Sway Bars\|SPC Camber Arms\|15mm Ichiba Wheel Spacers\| 19"Factory Nismo Wheels-Matt Black\|Stop Tech Rotors\|TWM Shifter\|3M Tint\|Black Fangs\|Black Rear Valance\|JDM Fog Light\| MY BAND-www.myspace.com/petroleum

04-16-2010, 03:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
LinPark A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,077 Drives: '17 Camaro 2SS A8 Rep Power: 23	Subscribed. +1 rep Do you have to do any realignment after the install? Last edited by LinPark; 04-16-2010 at 03:33 PM.

04-16-2010, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	Yes you will want to do an alignment. Should wait a few days after the install for an alignment. Should cost no more than $150. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

07-18-2010, 12:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	Do you need spring compressors for this? __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

03-14-2010, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
abakja1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 351 Drives: STI, MDX, Titan Rep Power: 305	Great that this has started... Thanks and subscribed..

08-22-2010, 01:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 20	Tried to do the fronts yesterday and it was an epic FAIL! Rears were no prob at all. I guess I'm taking it into Nissan to sort out! I could not remove the 19mm bolts for nothing, even a breaker bar did not want to work. Used PB Blaster several times. I did end up stripping one of the side bolts, I sure hope they can remove that one. I hope they can sort this out for me! __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

08-22-2010, 02:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	It shouldn't strip if you have a 6 point socket and if you keep an eye on the socket so it sits flush. Sliding a cheat bar over the breaker bar helps too. I'm sure the dealership will fix it. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

08-23-2010, 11:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 20	It was confusing to me, are you supposed to remove the three smaller bolts first (from the first pic) then the larger 19mm? I tried to remove the 19mm first and it was not budging at all. (I guess I need a 6 point socket!) Also are those three bolts even required to be removed at all? Seems if you just remove that 19mm and the sway bar bolt it should come out... __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV Last edited by tjlazer; 08-23-2010 at 12:10 PM.

08-23-2010, 11:57 AM	#15 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	You can remove the larger nut first, it won't make a difference which ones you remove first. You couldn't get the other side off either? __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

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