I used an impact and was on and off the trigger like a blinker. My instructor explained that a bolt being steadily hammerd on will not budge as easy as one that is allowed to correct it's own twisting forces.
1. 30 min for rear and test drive, 1 hour for driver side front(dropped tower bolts and couldnt find one for over 30 minutes), 20 minutes for passenger front.
2. Yes but it is highly possible to use a strap wrench or a 21mm socket with the bolt head rear end so you can get it with a wrench.
3. I have been using tools since I was 4 years old and took apart a tricycle, I have been wrenching on cars since Highschool(6 years)
Wow... how small are your tires? I have 245/45/17's and with the tenzo R's my rears are tucking tire and my fronts are about 1/2 inch from tire to fender.

 

Anybody know what size bolts they are? I got my springs today and want to do the install but need to know what sizes I need and is a breaker bar good enough or are power tools needed?

 

Nobody knows the bolt sizes for this job?

 

you mean all the bolts?

any regular socket set should have everything you need. as far as a breaker bar, it will help, but some of them are tough to get the breaker on because there's not a whole shitload of room with the fender liners there.

 

I want to try to do it today but I am scared I don't have the proper size sockets and I dunno if my tools are up to the job as they are cheaper tools. I read somewhere that the top front strut needs a 21 size socket which I don't have. I could buy one and return it after I am done or just wait to the weekend until a friend is available but thats like 3 days away still lol

edit: Yeah I just tried the top bolt and the biggest I have is 17mm which is too small

 

Please read this:

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/how-guide-43/front-strut-spring-r-r-23418/

 

Well I lowered the car today. Started around 11:30 and was done everything at 4:00. LOL took a long time but it all done properly.

Top strut bolts are 13mm
Bottom strut bolts are 19mm
Bolt to take top of strut is 21mm

Bolt for the rear was 21mm

All in all, looks good so far

 

Few questions:

1) So the top plates just come right off as soon as the springs are compressed? No tools or anything necessary?

2) Will any excessive force be necessary to adjust the struts back to the point in which the bolts can be re-installed in the struts (being at the top or the bottom?

3) Is an alignment 100% necessary right away? How will it hurt the car if you don't do one? Just un-even tire wear?

4) Is this something you can do by yourself, but it'll just take longer?

5) Any special tools you need aside from a basic tool set to do this project?

6) Is the top nut difficult to remove/reinstall on the front struts?

 

1- you have to take the 21mm bolt off first
2-if you dont reinstall the top plate on right, then yes... make sure you mark everything, how you took if off so you put it on exactly right. remember.. The little lip on the top plate, you will se what im talking about.. it faces the motor..
3- YES
4 and 5- YES...air is better but ive done it with and without,, the only difference is 30 minutes of your life
6-if you have spring compressors, no

 

A local shop quoted me at a book rate of 4 hours to install. Seems crazy. 200 bucks. I figure I can do this myself without too much of an issue. But do you think I should do the Sportlines and the Koni Yellows or get coil-overs? I already have the Sportlines, but I don't really want to remove and re-install everything twice, plus you have to modify the Koni's anyway.. But for install on the springs, you're looking at (without power tools, and it being a single person job), about an hour and a half to 2 hours? My friend said he'd do it for 50 bucks, but I might just tackle this myself on Saturday.. And will you notice the drop right away? My struts have 54k on them, and the springs have about 20k on them..

 

You can do it yourself ESPECIALLY if you have acess to power tools. Also a word of advice loosen the nut at the top of the strut assembly before you remove the assembly from the car. It will make your job so much easier. Remember dont jump the gun and remove it because that will be a bad no no.

Dont pay anyone to do it unless if you are just that scared to do it. I promise I havent had much experience at all working on cars and I did it on my own with power tools with not one problem at all.

the struts also should be fine. I have the tenzos and they are lower drop and lower quality springs than the sportlines and i havent blown mine yet.

If you have the money go ahead and spring for the Konis but really they arent a neccessity

 

Yeah.. I'm just gonna go head and give this a shot on Saturday.. Just went downstairs to check them out (got them in today).. They're used.. They have a sort of rubbery cover over the lower part os the spring.. Is that cool? That's how I got them, so I assume it's cool.. And I'm gonna probably just add the Koni's later on.. Maybe in a year or something.. Is the camber kit necessary? I remember there being a camber kit somewhere..

 

Yea you wont need that.. its the bumpstop for the rear. It should be the same thing on your car.

You will see what i mean when you get the spring off

 

So I don't need the little rubbery covers on the springs? They were on there when I got them.. Or did you mean something else?

 

if you are talking about the round thing that has a little titty that fits inside the coil then no you wont need it. There is already one on your stock springs you can use

 

These are the springs from the guys picture thing.. See the little sleeves on them?

 

oh ****... I dunno what that is.. Mine had nothing like that on em

 

I noticed only the Eibachs do..? lol

 

maybe just a sleeve that keeps them from making noise? I have no idea..

 

That's good, because my stock suspension squeaked alot in the rear.. lol

 

exactly. so when the springs are compressed it's not metal on metal rubbing.

 

Word. Me and my friend are both installing our springs tomorrow afternoon.. I'll post if for some reason I get stuck!

 

Thanks for all of your help on this install.. Got it done today.. Took forever because we were using hand tools, and we got caught up on that one set of bolts, and super slowed down by the spring compressors.. But the car looks great!! Can't wait to go road these it here in a minute.. Hope the strut doesn't shoot up through my hood.. haha

 

nice im guna do it

 

well another way instead of using a spring compressor if your lazy is to loosen that bolt before you jack the car up, which slowly releases tension, then remove the strut, not as safe but I'd much rather have the spring shoot up into the wheel housing than if a spring compressor gives out or slpis, releasing in any directoin.