it's actually a LOT easier to install coilovers. I'll never do springs again lol.
If you've got spring compressors then doing springs/struts is barely any harder than full coilovers...
I'm not sure which spring compressors you use, but the ones I rent from the parts store are a huge pain to use. Actually, suspension was a piece of cake on the AE101 because of it's simple suspension design layout, but the IS300 was a nightmare to fit springs, no room for the spring compressors. Coilovers are 100 million times easier because they are already compressed for you, one package piece.
No room for the compressors? If you're pulling both struts/shocks and springs out then you don't put the compressors on until the whole unit is out of the car - the top hat and piston nut keep the unit together (just make sure you crack the piston nut whilst still installed in the car to make it much easier to remove later). You use the compressors to take the load off the top hat allowing you to take it off, pull the springs out (and then take the compressors off and fit them to the new springs), fit the new springs (already compressed), fit the top hat and piston nut and THEN uncompress the springs, then re-install into the car.
These are the ones I used
And here's a MCM video showing the same process I used
magweal New Zealand Rep
Posts : 1403 Reputation : 42 Join date : 2011-12-14 Age : 40 Location : Auckland, New Zealand
it's actually a LOT easier to install coilovers. I'll never do springs again lol.
If you've got spring compressors then doing springs/struts is barely any harder than full coilovers...
I'm not sure which spring compressors you use, but the ones I rent from the parts store are a huge pain to use. Actually, suspension was a piece of cake on the AE101 because of it's simple suspension design layout, but the IS300 was a nightmare to fit springs, no room for the spring compressors. Coilovers are 100 million times easier because they are already compressed for you, one package piece.
No room for the compressors? If you're pulling both struts/shocks and springs out then you don't put the compressors on until the whole unit is out of the car - the top hat and piston nut keep the unit together (just make sure you crack the piston nut whilst still installed in the car to make it much easier to remove later). You use the compressors to take the load off the top hat allowing you to take it off, pull the springs out (and then take the compressors off and fit them to the new springs), fit the new springs (already compressed), fit the top hat and piston nut and THEN uncompress the springs, then re-install into the car.
These are the ones I used
And here's a MCM video showing the same process I used
DITTO. Haha you beat me to it.
Yankee Norway Rep
Posts : 645 Reputation : 5 Join date : 2013-01-17 Age : 40 Location : Norway
The windows will get tinted this week and my car is going too get fixed next wednesday because it needs a new wheel bearing
magweal New Zealand Rep
Posts : 1403 Reputation : 42 Join date : 2011-12-14 Age : 40 Location : Auckland, New Zealand
Subject: Re: !"#¤%& useless moneypit!! Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:23 am
Yay, I bet your happry as a kid in a lollie shop now that there here. Don't forget your car is around 20ish year old, parts are getting old.
gold94corolla Site Administrator
Posts : 5234 Reputation : 181 Join date : 2011-04-29 Age : 37
Subject: Re: !"#¤%& useless moneypit!! Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:45 am
You know, I can't believe I didn't think to take off the suspension all as one unit until after I had done them all. I took off the strut nut instead of the 3 on the hat.
Yankee Norway Rep
Posts : 645 Reputation : 5 Join date : 2013-01-17 Age : 40 Location : Norway
Subject: Re: !"#¤%& useless moneypit!! Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:50 am
Thats right magweal, I could not be more happy at the moment!
I know I will need too replace the shocks but I want too replace the springs with coilovers in the future.
I'm not gonna build a showcar out of my daily driver, all I want is a Corolla that does not look like every other stock Corolla where I live, here those cars are perfect for people that dont have alot of money.
I talked too the guy thats gonna tint the windows on my car and he said he will get it done sometime this week.
Last edited by Yankee on Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:55 am; edited 1 time in total
Hiro Super Member
Posts : 544 Reputation : 16 Join date : 2012-04-27 Age : 39 Location : Newcastle, Australia
Subject: Re: !"#¤%& useless moneypit!! Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:11 am
gold94corolla wrote:
You know, I can't believe I didn't think to take off the suspension all as one unit until after I had done them all. I took off the strut nut instead of the 3 on the hat.
n00b....
gold94corolla Site Administrator
Posts : 5234 Reputation : 181 Join date : 2011-04-29 Age : 37
Subject: Re: !"#¤%& useless moneypit!! Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:41 am
Hey, yeah I was totally a noob the first (and only) time I did it! It took me like 7 years to finally get to that point haha.
Yankee Norway Rep
Posts : 645 Reputation : 5 Join date : 2013-01-17 Age : 40 Location : Norway
I stopped by the garage today too see how hard it would be too fit a set of loweringsprings and the mechanic told me that it would easily cost £1100 with parts and labour, then after he had taken a look at my car he told me that it looked like my car had been in an accident at some point in its life and he could fix it but he told me it would be cheaper for me too buy another car and send the corolla too the junkyard...
I'm so !"#¤%&/( mad right now!!
What should I do? /end rant
What a rip off £1,100 to fit springs . I can fit all 4 in less than 1.5hrs , For the price he is looking I'd fly over to Norway and fit them for you
Cini_T97 New Member
Posts : 45 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2013-03-02 Age : 26 Location : Tipperary Ireland
Thats some rip off! I installed 4 sprins into my rolla today in less than an hour! All you need is a decent socket set and a loan of spring clamps and a friend or 2 to help!
Yankee Norway Rep
Posts : 645 Reputation : 5 Join date : 2013-01-17 Age : 40 Location : Norway
Dirty1 and Cini_T97: I have gotten the front loweringsprings on and I will have a go at the rear springs this weekend, I was planning on getting the windows tinted but there are things that are more important at the moment.
And btw, I have ordered a new frontlip and I will post a picture when it is on my car, all I care to say now is that I have not seen that frontlip on any Corolla here since I joined.
Cini_T97 New Member
Posts : 45 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2013-03-02 Age : 26 Location : Tipperary Ireland
Just a quick tip for the rear where the 2 break lines meat not split them unless you wanna go bleading brakes! What i did was cut out a small piece out of the mount on the shock... I will post a pic in a few minutes!
Yankee Norway Rep
Posts : 645 Reputation : 5 Join date : 2013-01-17 Age : 40 Location : Norway
Thanks Cini, I keep thinking what might be wrong with my car since the 16" 4x100 wheels I have in my shed dont want to fit after I changed the calipers..
Cini_T97 New Member
Posts : 45 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2013-03-02 Age : 26 Location : Tipperary Ireland
Thanks Cini, I keep thinking what might be wrong with my car since the 16" 4x100 wheels I have in my shed dont want to fit after I changed the calipers..
The photo wont upload my laptop is slightly on the old side but ill just write it easier to understand....
1.Remove wheel jack up car 2.On the shock remove the clip that secures the brakes to the shock 3.Push down on hose to get it out of the way 4.Get an angle grinder and make a slit about 8mil in size or big enuf for the copper solid line to pass out..
Simple after that!
Yankee Norway Rep
Posts : 645 Reputation : 5 Join date : 2013-01-17 Age : 40 Location : Norway
It should be interesting! ;)But its 10cm to short by the wheelarches.. Maybe I'll put it on my car anyway and see how it looks before buying another VR6 lip.
Mon Aug 21, 2023 2:26 am by motorsportbd
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£1,100 to fit springs . I can fit all 4 in less than 1.5hrs , For the price he is looking I'd fly over to Norway and fit them for you 
