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Today I decided to install my SVT suspension kit. I figured I would have no trouble finishing up the rear suspension today and maybe even the front. HOW wrong was I? Quite wrong indeed. I went to Kragen this morning at 11 to get the spring compressor. But the local Kragen did not have one, so I drove to the Kragen in Poway...not too far from my house and I managed to pick it up. So I went home and took off the rear right wheel. I then removed the shock..which took all in all about 5 minutes. This is where it got complicated. I then realized the shock compressor I got was no bueno..so I went to Kragen to get the other kind of shock compressor which they didn't have..nor did Poway. So I called Autozone in Mira Mesa and they clarified that they had plenty in stock so my buddy drove me there since my car was up on stands. When I got there they let me know they did not have any of what I was looking for...and called the Poway Autozone who said they did and put them on hold. So my buddy drove me all the way to poway (for two rubio's fish taco's) so we got there and they gave me the box which I opened up only to find out it was the spring compressor I had already gotten!!! By this point I was pissed..so I said I needed the other one..which the ass took about 10 minutes to find..but finally did. I took it home and by this time it was 3:30 and I had already spent "4 hours" on the first wheel. I had about 4 more hours of daylight to finish so we hauled ass home..through traffic..and I got home and started again!
I think I may have gotten stuck with a piece of shit compressor because it took me an hour and a half to get it off cause it kept slipping and I didn't want the 400 pounds of spring going off in my face. So I finally got that off..then I decided to do the cross bar after that..which was another fiasco because the stock rubber inserts in the clamps didn't fit back on the new bar cause it's wider.
Just to let you guys know I'm not mentally retarded..I have a busted middle finger on my good hand and its in a splint and screwing/unscrewing stuff and anything that requires some elbow grease was much more difficult.
So I finally got the spring off and the cross member back on and the sun was starting to get close to the horizon.
So now I had to get the new spring on there..and I tried to get the spring compressor to work but the black piece kept on sliding to the side and bending the spring sideways. I was really getting nervous that i'de have to find a ride to work tomorrow...then I decided to drop the bolt off and lower the holder down and then use my jack to compress the spring...and finally this worked. So I got the spring back into place and tightened every bolt down...and put the wheel back on...and lowered the car back down...
and it was no lower than it was with the old spring! My guess is that having one stock spring on the back and one SVT spring on the back probably made it even out. So anyways I took it for a quick spin to see if I noticed anything..and it felt a little bit better on the turns...but then I heard a rattle in the back and I had read in my manual that if you hear a rattle it means you're missing a sleeve or something. So now I have to remove the whole thing and figure out the rattle.
I'm INCHES from forking out the cash and getting a pro to finish this project for me...I think I rebroke my finger too.
Sorry bout the length just feelin' shitty! and covered in grease...[?|]
I think I may have gotten stuck with a piece of shit compressor because it took me an hour and a half to get it off cause it kept slipping and I didn't want the 400 pounds of spring going off in my face. So I finally got that off..then I decided to do the cross bar after that..which was another fiasco because the stock rubber inserts in the clamps didn't fit back on the new bar cause it's wider.
Just to let you guys know I'm not mentally retarded..I have a busted middle finger on my good hand and its in a splint and screwing/unscrewing stuff and anything that requires some elbow grease was much more difficult.
So I finally got the spring off and the cross member back on and the sun was starting to get close to the horizon.
So now I had to get the new spring on there..and I tried to get the spring compressor to work but the black piece kept on sliding to the side and bending the spring sideways. I was really getting nervous that i'de have to find a ride to work tomorrow...then I decided to drop the bolt off and lower the holder down and then use my jack to compress the spring...and finally this worked. So I got the spring back into place and tightened every bolt down...and put the wheel back on...and lowered the car back down...
and it was no lower than it was with the old spring! My guess is that having one stock spring on the back and one SVT spring on the back probably made it even out. So anyways I took it for a quick spin to see if I noticed anything..and it felt a little bit better on the turns...but then I heard a rattle in the back and I had read in my manual that if you hear a rattle it means you're missing a sleeve or something. So now I have to remove the whole thing and figure out the rattle.
I'm INCHES from forking out the cash and getting a pro to finish this project for me...I think I rebroke my finger too.
Sorry bout the length just feelin' shitty! and covered in grease...[?|]