Spring installation

[arkums razor]

I need to get my H&R springs and KYB Shocks installed. Can someone recommend a place? Wasn't there someone on the boards that did some of you guys spring install? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[143hawaii]

Clint's the fellow to ask! I don't have the time or the desire to do any more springs installs after my friend's Integra :bang: Plus my compressors both broke!

[QWKsilvr808]

The guys have been paying Sean and I $100 to do the job. Let me know if you're interested and we can set it up. I'd charge less if it didn't require a few tools I don't have myself and if Sean didn't have to step in and help out, and if it weren't so time consuming. And with all the work I've been doing on the guys cars, my jack has gone kaput. I need to buy a new one.

Shop rate is usually about $125-175... but like the guys have been finding out, Speedgear/Evolutions is charging some pretty unreal rates for installs right now. You might wanna check them out and take advantage of that if they can hook you up. :)

[arkums razor]

I have a 2 ton floor jack and a electric impact wrench if tools are a problem. The only thing I don't have is a spring compressor. If you need help with the install I don't mind helping. What day is good for you? Is this weekend during the day good for you?

[QWKsilvr808]

weekends are a killer! If you have an impact wrench and floorjack, I can borrow Sean's spring compressors and shouldn't have a problem. If it's more of a job you just need help with, rather than something you want me to do for ya, I can just lend a hand rather than charge you. :)

Have you done something like this before?

The best days I have to do this would be Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday nights. I work 60 hours a week, so the few hours I have off during the day I use to run my errands and do other stuff. Is a weeknight not good for ya? I could prolly even swing this tonight if you want... Wednesday would be optimal, since I get off at 6 and don't have to work early the next morning. :)

Depending on whether or not I have to involve Sean in the affair... if he has to help out I've been having the guys pay him $60. I think I've gotta keep that standard just to keep it fair to everyone else that's come before. With me, I've just been taking $20-40 for the job, depending on what you can afford. Sean has had to do the bulk of the job taking apart the coils since he has the compressor and bench vise.

[arkums razor]

Is next Wednesday good? I won't be able to meet you until around 8pm. How long should something like this take?

I've never had to change my suspension before. This will be the biggest thing I've had to do. But yes, I need a hand with doing this with someone who has done this before. If you got some free time and you don't mind teaching someone. I've gone over to the link with instuctions on the spring install on the celica in one of the posts and I think I'm familar enough with the procedure. I heard the rear is a bitch to do.

As far as compressing the spring are you going to need a vise to hold the strut while compressing the spring? I don't have a bench vise.

Also, am I going to have a problem with safety check after the install if I don't get recon? My saftey check expires at the end of this month.

[143hawaii]

Wow! I should've upped my rates when I was doing them! I would've payed off my tools much faster!

No need for a bench vise, let me see, I'd say you need the following: 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm sockets, 3/8" or 1/2" ratchet, extensions, floor jack, stands, impact wrench, some threadlock, and that's about it. It's really easy, if you need compressors, you can go to checkers and rent a set for $6 a day. Otherwise you can buy a set for cheap. I got one for $20.00 online + shipping. It's too bad it only lasted me about 9 or 10 spring jobs before it bust! *Made in China* :gap:

[QWKsilvr808]

we usually use the vise and an allen key when we bust the nut off the upper mount. We don't need it when we use the compressor, but the impact wrench will help. Compressing the springs with a socket wrench by hand is hell.

The rear is easy, now that we've done it enough. The hardest part about the whole job is compressing the spring, taking it all apart, and putting it together. Install and de-install is not too bad.

If your car is one of those that I've worked on with stubborn bolts, it's gonna be a pain in the ass. I never look forward to doing this job to be flat out honest.

About safety check, it's hard to say. Some places you go to might not notice the drop, and others who can recognize these things won't pass you right off the bat.

If you wanna try to get recon, after we do the drop you'll have to get an alignment before you can get the recon permit.

I'll check my schedule for next week and let you know. The job will honestly take about 3-4 hours, quicker if all runs smoothly, but things always go wrong. There's always something that doesn't turn the way it's supposed to that causes a pain.

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by 143hawaii
Wow! I should've upped my rates when I was doing them! I would've payed off my tools much faster!



The only reason I make sure Sean gets paid that much is because the standard fare was set by Sean's friend Terry at $100 a long time ago when he installed Jay's TEINs. Since Sean and I seem to have taken over doing this kinda work for the guys, I try to help by doing my share for next to nothing. I make sure that Sean is paid the same amount every time because he shouldn't even have to be working on the guys cars here since he doesn't own a Celica, and because a great deal of work is done with the help of his tools, and sometimes garage space.

Also, I don't think it's fair to everyone if I swing prices from one to the next. The only requirement I have is that Sean gets paid the same amount every time. If in the end one of the guys is hard up and can't afford to pay me even $20, then I'm willing to put my part in just out of aloha.

It's not to make money at all. But if they guys need a place to go for help, and don't want to pay a shop a higher price for the job and have to schedule an appointment, I'm willing to help. Believe me, after a 60 hour work week, it's not easy for me to find the time to spend a few hours underneath someone else's car in the evening.

This is the only job I really charge for tho, and only because Jay first paid the $100 to have it done at Sean's house and that standard was set. I can help out a little by doing some slave labor, but it's not fair to go much lower than that. I actually was going to only charge Warner $40 to do the whole job myself, but ended up needing a lot more of Sean's tools and help than I thought I would. Even tho Sean didn't want the money and refused to take it, Warner insisted on paying him $60 for his help (ontop of what he paid me) voluntarily.

Since then, I don't think anyone else should pay any less. That's just where I stand on that. Most of the work I've done on the guys/girls cars has been $free-99. I've only asked on occasion, for people to cover the costs of the supplies I need for doing wiring, and a little to help cover my time and gas that takes to get them.

Just wanted to explain that. For the most part I'm here to lend a hand just to help... but there are some instances where I have to hold a standard.

I only ask that people be fair with me, and my friends for their inconvenience.

(P.S. I know you didn't mean anything Mitch, just after reading what you wrote it occurred to me that people might think we're trying to rip people off here)

[skamikaze]

WHAT A RIPOFF!
:gap:
but yeah, when it comes to tough 3-4 hour installs, you should feel like paying for the help even if you do all the work but borrow tools and garage space.

[skamikaze]

oh yeah, and i think i actually paid $80. basically i felt bad for terry especially as i watched him struggle for the install, so i decided to match the price of $80 which hypers would have charged me for the install. but then again, full coils w/ shocks are easier installs than springs alone.

[143hawaii]

Originally posted by QWKsilvr808
(P.S. I know you didn't mean anything Mitch, just after reading what you wrote it occurred to me that people might think we're trying to rip people off here)

No, no, no!! I didn't mean you were ripping off anyone! I totally agree with your infact! When I first started doing other people's cars I asked them for $100, and they said, "WHAT! I can get it done for a $100 @ a real shop!" So I'm like, "Umm, how about half the cheapest shop's rate." Then again, for most of my friends I ended up charging less cause I felt guilty. I just did my last friend's integra for lunch and a pack of cigs. But it ended up making me lose money since my stuff broke :( I was definitely bummed after.

But ya, if I were to do it again, I would've tried to charge what you are. Even a real shop can get "messy" sometimes forgetting things or have less experience on a Celica. I never meant to make money either, I just wanted tools to work on my car so I used the money from the installs to makeup for the cost of a compressor, impact, impact sockets, reg/oiler, etc.

I'd definitely recommend and trust you over a shop (personally I don't like the idea of a shop working on my car, I think some would agree with me for reasons I'll left unsaid).

[matrixguy707]

what i find sad and distressing is that your "friend" didn't offer to pay to replace your tools. to me thats just wrong. if someone is gonna go out of their way to help me and their stuff breaks doing my crap i sure as hell am gonna pay for it...

bottom line is this: time = money.
if you dont got money, it aint worth the time right?

if your friends balked at you and your prices you should have told them, if you can get it done cheaper and better go there instead... less headache for you. if they want YOU to work on THEIR car... charge um what you think your time/tools/effort are worth. thats business man.

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by skamikaze
oh yeah, and i think i actually paid $80. basically i felt bad for terry especially as i watched him struggle for the install, so i decided to match the price of $80 which hypers would have charged me for the install. but then again, full coils w/ shocks are easier installs than springs alone.

Hypers' going rate for spring or coilover installs is anywhere between $120-175, depending on who goes there. $100 being the hooked up price, $175 being the joe blow price. :( Delo did get his springs installed for $80 by a Chevron that Hi-pace outsourced the job to tho... that was a good deal. I think the guy said he'd never charge that little again, heh.

Full coils with shocks are just as hard as doing spring swaps, as we've learned in the past few times we've done this. :(

Unless the full coilovers come with their own upper-mounts, we still have to compress the spring and dis-assemble the stock strut assembly to get the stock upper mount off. You don't have to compress the new spring, whether it's just a spring swap or a full coilover, but if you need that upper mount, regardless of if you're installing a full coilover, new struts and springs, or springs on the old strut, you have to do the same amount of work. Coilovers (both full and sleeve-type) actually require more work, because you have to assemble them.

Thanks to that tip from Mitch ;), getting the rears out is simple. Just painstaking. Sean has his own method he uses on his side... we're still debating who's faster, and usually he is. We're both stubborn tho.

The front is cake.

Like I said, it's mainly taking apart the strut assembly that's a pain in the ass. That, and putting all the rear plastics in the trunk back together properly. :thumbdown

Don't worry Mitch, I didn't take offense to anything you said, I just feel odd charging that much, but I feel that it's only fair that if others have paid that amount, I gotta keep the standard the same. I hope people understand that... if not, I'm more than willing to try to hook up the job for people elsewhere. :)

Honestly, I don't want to do these kinds of jobs if I don't have to. But I'm always willing to help you guys if you need it. I make more money going to work in the evening than I would busting my butt under someone's car. ;)

But I wouldn't have to charge anyone for just my help. If I have to involve Sean, that's another story.

[gts_celicaCB99]

i think that the price that they charge is totally fair. they did installs on my springs and did a great job. its hard work doing these installs and they deserve every penny of it. thanks again for helping me with my springs!:)

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by gts_celicaCB99
i think that the price that they charge is totally fair. they did installs on my springs and did a great job. its hard work doing these installs and they deserve every penny of it. thanks again for helping me with my springs!:)

No problem Chris. Glad to help. :) Did you adjust the ride height at all or are you still fine at where you are?

[143hawaii]

Originally posted by matrixguy707
what i find sad and distressing is that your "friend" didn't offer to pay to replace your tools. to me thats just wrong. if someone is gonna go out of their way to help me and their stuff breaks doing my crap i sure as hell am gonna pay for it...

bottom line is this: time = money.
if you dont got money, it aint worth the time right?

if your friends balked at you and your prices you should have told them, if you can get it done cheaper and better go there instead... less headache for you. if they want YOU to work on THEIR car... charge um what you think your time/tools/effort are worth. thats business man.

I was wondering if I was wrong for being a bit sad that he didn't say anything. At least someone else out there agrees with me! After this last job it definitely turned me off from working on anyone else's car. And you got it right on, time is money!

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by 143hawaii


I was wondering if I was wrong for being a bit sad that he didn't say anything. At least someone else out there agrees with me! After this last job it definitely turned me off from working on anyone else's car. And you got it right on, time is money!

I totally agree with that dude. I always worked on my car at my uncle's shop or house, where I have access to any tool I need. The only reason I started investing in tools here is because of the amount of cars we started working on. I couldn't expect Sean to keep doing installs at his house.

I've lost and broken quite a few things working on cars here, but I don't mind helping the guys. Anything to help everyone build their cars.

But I don't want it to ever get to the point where people expect it out of me. As long as the help is appreciated, and I'm not being taken advantage of, I'm here to lend a hand. :)

But sometimes it's gotta be worth your while to be banging your hands up and have to wake up to an aching back the next morning!

[skamikaze]

hey um clint, i need to drop by tomorrow night, i got a drop the engine and install some sways, then we can do a tune up. afterwards you can wash my car. :gap:

how good of a friend is that? if something broke while doing a favor for me, id front some money to replace it.

[QWKsilvr808]

what I wanna know, is that if I drop the engine on my head, are you gonna pull me out from under the car or what? :)

[skamikaze]

sure, after i hear you squirm like an angry gorilla :gap:

[A22R-TE]

just thought I would lend my two cents...:cool:

Scott's right by saying time=money.

I feel bad for you mitch that yer stuff broke. That kind of situation also brings about the stuff about wear and tear of tools. THAT means money as well. Sadly yer friend does not understand that...

I feel strongly about everybody paying cause to start off we huffed and puffed on Jay's car and also Kevin's. They both paid us for the jobs and deserve to know that everyone else is being treated equally. If one pays...everyone should pay. If I was in Kevin or Jay's position I would be pretty offended that someone else didn't pay.

Spring installs dont take us nearly as long as they used to and we got everything pretty wired so I am more than willing to do these jobs.

I know mitch was scratching his head about the vise. Its kinda necessary if you dont want to use an impact wrench to loosen the top nut. You dont want the shock rod to spin around and possibly damage the shocks seals. its the "proper way" to do it by clamping the allen wrench to hold the shock rod still when you bust the top nut. I know most guys just "tufi" it and blast it right off. I dont want to be damaging people's stuff tho. :gap:

Everyone is more than welcome to ask us two munky's to do stuff but to keep it all fair, we gotta get compensated.:D

[matrixguy707]

my biggest concern is someone getting hurt. my next biggest concern is tools either being stolen (borrowed) or broken. In my day (long long ago) I had a full set of craftsmen tools... everything you can think about. Now all i have is an extended set of metric sockets and a few screwdrivers. Everything else either broke or someone "borrowed" it. Tools are damn expensive! I priced out a set of self wratcheting box wrenches and it was like $78 bucks for a set of just 5!!! Granted I need only one but if i buy just one its $22 bucks.

I trust these guys. Look at Clints car.. look at Seans car. They dont cut corners and they dont do the Tufi unless they have to. But eventually their tools will break and unless someone pays then it doesnt make any sense for them to help out. Imagine if you were them.

Sometimes I know they dont mind helping out just to hang out with us though. We do make good company right? :)

BTW... Mitch.. yer friends an ass. If it were me i would have bought you the new compressor, lunch and probably dinner as well.

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by matrixguy707
Tools are damn expensive! I priced out a set of self wratcheting box wrenches and it was like $78 bucks for a set of just 5!!! Granted I need only one but if i buy just one its $22 bucks.



Hey! I bought that set! I love 'em... I dunno why I never had a set before!! :D

[matrixguy707]

i wanna "borrow" hehhehehe
;)

[143hawaii]

Originally posted by matrixguy707
BTW... Mitch.. yer friends an ass. If it were me i would have bought you the new compressor, lunch and probably dinner as well.

And I'd even get a free date too! Hehe ;)

I know about using an allen wrench/key method. But I've talked with people that are certified mechanics and doing it with an impact may look more "tufi" but it certaintly won't damage anything if you take some care. Well, I hope no one thinks my car's "tufi" but I guess it's another reason to stop working on anyone else's car.

[QWKsilvr808]

Sean didn't mean that you're car is "tufi'd" haha. Altho I am a Tufi fan personally. :)

[A22R-TE]

Yah dood your car ain't tufi'd. I was blown away after seeing your setup. Very awesome!:gap:

My friend Terry is also ASE certified and licensed as well. I just rather be safe than sorry. I am just a "by the book" kinda guy. Freak accidents do happen.;) Specially when clint is involved.

I just know that alot of guys who work on cars that aren't theirs don't really give a crap. I know that alot of mechanics have their shortcuts and doubts about the way some jobs should be done. Its just that I know am far from a master mechanic so I dont think I am up to doing "shortcuts". I just want to know that when the guy drives away that I did it "by the book" even if guys scoff at me and call me a doofball.

I'm not saying I know everything Mitch... or that I am a master munky mechanic. I just like to cover my butt in everything I do. :D

Hey by the way did you find an intercooler alternative for your car? I have a stock intercooler off a AE92 4agze if you wanna buy that. Jon and I were trying to remember your engine bay and we think it might fit in pretty cleanly with little modifications. Let me know man! I would like to see it find a good home.:burnout:

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by A22R-TE
Freak accidents do happen.;) Specially when clint is involved.



HEY!!!!! :monkey:

[143hawaii]

Yeah it's true, some mechanics take shortcuts don't "care" as much as others. Obviously if one were working with custom revalved independently adjustable rebound/compression Konis, being safe is better than anything else. But I've seen a majority of stock struts and at best Tokico Blues a couple times.

I'm pretty sure the AE92's 4agze IC is similar if not the same to the AW11's IC...is it a small top mount about 9"x9"? I found a bunch of the SW20 owners getting rid of their ICs + stock fan/shroud for cheap, I'm talking like 1 plate lunch! But I'm going to see how much intake temps drop after I get my water injection in. But I'm still waiting for school to be over before I can finally finish my aquamist setup and put in a new little electronic toy. Unfortunately, in an effort to afford the new FMU (even though it was a KICK booty deal! :D), I'll have to sell the S-AFC. So I'm going to be without my car until I finish school (July 3) and can setup everything soon.

[A22R-TE]

yup right there is a perfect example of what I dont know hehe.

I really dont know much about shocks right now... Thats something I am still learning about. :gap: Moreso why I do it the way I do it. Don't know any better heh heh.

I didn't know that many guys had intercoolers just sitting around. Woulda pretty much given it to ya anyway heh heh. I really want to see your car succeed too.

Gonna finish my GZ swap soon too. Maybe we could have a friendly little race when I am done. You probably will be squeezing out more power than me though.
:burnout: Gonna do Nevo pulley later and I picked up the safc2 for the Corolla. Should be fun

[143hawaii]

Yep, most of the SW20 ditch their ICs for some fancy greddy sidemount, trunkmount, or air/water IC. Those dam power hungry guys with their "fancy" motors ;)

I can't wait to see how your swap comes out! Man, I just found out one of the IMOC guys wants to sell his Mk1 MR2 after he JUST finished a JDM 4AGZE swap! He wants to get a hatchi again (he previously sold it). I still love that car! Reminds me of my $325 NA Mk1 I had for a short time and how I owned a car I paid for all by my wee self in one "big" lump sum! :D But my parents b*tched at me about it and told me to get rid of it. :( Even though it had warm ac, slipping clutch, custom rust, crapped out 5th synchro, power nothing, broken odo, cracked windshield (that I replaced), I loved it because it was everything I wanted that I paid for with no guilt. *sigh*

But ya, I'll race you once we both get our stuff finished! IIRC, the Nevo pulley bumps up boost to like 14 or 16psi, right? My 4AGE/ZE is kind of hazy now.

[arkums razor]

Clint,

How's you're schedule this week? Are you going to have time to help me with my spring installation? If you don't have time thats ok. I realize that you are really busy.

Thanks,

Alan

[QWKsilvr808]

Alan, Wednesday evening is still clear for me. I finish work around 6... and will need a few tools, if not help, from Sean. He gets off at 8. If you wanna drop by around 7:30, I can get started on dropping out the stock suspension.

We'll prolly have to meet at Holiday Mart or something because I don't think you've been to my house before. ;)

[matrixguy707]

i trust Clint and Sean because the only thing they care about besides munky wrenching is doing the job right. no short cuts unless they have to tufi something to get it in or out. heh.

[arkums razor]

Sounds good. Thanks alot. I really appreciate it.

I'll bring floor jack (its not the one that lifts half the car, only the corners), jack stands, impact wrench, breaker bar, Allen wrenches, anything else?

Could you PM me your number and I'll PM you mines.

Thanks again.

[QWKsilvr808]

I have a 3-ton floor jack. It's acting funny, but I think it's just because it's got air in it that I have to bleed out. I'll let you know if I need yours. Impact wrench would be nice... I have a full set of allen keys, sockets, wrenches, extensions, adapters, breaker bar, gorilla bar... etc etc, so there's no need to worry about that kinda stuff. I'll need to use Sean's vise and spring compressors, so I will have to make a trip to his house to assemble and disassemble the regardless.

All I can think of is the impact wrench. Sean has that, but if you have one you might as well bring it. :)

Wren (T-Rock) might be joining us, so if the rest of you can come over and cruise for a bit, maybe we'll make a small meet out of it. :D

[gts_celicaCB99]

yeah i was wondering how the spring works... if i loosen the screw down will it lower the car or will it raise it... it dont remember?

[QWKsilvr808]

hmmmm I think down raises the car... I don't remember! Last time I adjusted my suspension I had to do it twice because I went backwards and slammed the car instead of raised it LOL. If you wanna fool around with it, just lemme know. ;)

[skamikaze]

i always get confused too :)

[CR-XRS]

Originally posted by QWKsilvr808


Wren (T-Rock) might be joining us, so if the rest of you can come over and cruise for a bit, maybe we'll make a small meet out of it. :D

I'll go, but you gotta tell me how to get there.

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by CR-XRS


I'll go, but you gotta tell me how to get there.

Maybe we can meet up at Holiday Mart? Alan doesn't know how to get here either. James will prolly drop by after work too. ;)

I'll PM you my number... just gimme a call. :D

[skamikaze]

i might drop by, wednesdays im already down that side

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by skamikaze
i might drop by, wednesdays im already down that side

kewl. You guys wanna make a small kine pot luck? We can have drinks and pizza or something.

[skamikaze]

im pretty sure i'll have eaten by then, but i dont mind bringing down something for everybody. jus let me know what to bring.

[skamikaze]

oh and keep in mind the mascot might be coming down too. sporting his new look only a few have seen :D

[QWKsilvr808]

hmmm... maybe it's time to start a new thread on it. Hehe Hoku looks like a rabid Ewok now. :D

[dsquared]

LOL! i jus saw hoku on campus with ronnica again today...still trying to get used to his new do ;)

i should be free wednesday nite so i'll be there....u want me to bring food or drinks?

[skamikaze]

rabid ewok, haha that's funny now that you mention it, youre kinda right.

i always jus looked at him as an overgrown cat.