[DarrenDriven]

Replacing Struts and Installing Coil Springs

Purpose
This is the shadetree mechanic's guide to removing your strut assemblies from your BRZ/FR-S, replacing your stock coil springs with lowering springs and then re-installing your strut assemblies.

Warning
As with all my DIYs, I take no responsibility for any mistakes contained herein or any mistakes you make because you drank your victory beer in celebration of your lowered car before you even lowered it. Drink the beer after, duh! And you should always wear the proper safety gear and follow proper shop safety even though I wore flip flip-flops and employed child labor.

Time
This shouldn't take more than two hours if you are sober and you don't break or lose anything.

Tools Required
- Floor Jack
- Jack Stands
- Socket Set with Metric Standard & Deep Sockets
. . . 12mm, 14mm, 17mm & 19mm
- 9" Socket Wrench Extension
- Air Impact Wrench (optional, but recommended)
- Closed-end Wrenches (17mm & 19mm)
- Flat-tipped Screwdriver (for plastic rivet removal)
- Flashlight
- Beer for Victory Celebration





Section One: Preparing Your Car


1: Here is my FR-S in 4WD mode on the stock springs. Many people have commented that my car is just too high, and my 50-series tires aren't helping anything.



2: Before you do ANYTHING you should park your car on a level, flat surface and measure from the ground to the top of your wheel wells on all four corners. I measured 26 3/4" on all four corners.



3: Here is my weapon, Eibach Pro springs which say they will lower the car 1.0" front and rear (but actually only lowered it 7/8") and have an increased spring rate of 3.6kg/mm front (2.3kg/mm stock) and 4.9kg/mm rear (3.8kg/mm stock). How do I know this? Because the Suspension Options List tells me so:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8739



4: I am going to use air tools in this DIY, but if you are using hand tools then you should definitely break loose the studs before you jack up the car. If you jack the car up first then your wheels will want to spin. If I have to tell you lefty-loosy then you should probably take your car to a shop for this procedure.



5: What the? How did the car get up onto jack stands? Well, there is already a handy DIY on your car's jack points and how to safely support it. Follow this DIY if you need help:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10111



6: Now that your wheels are off the ground you can remove the wheels.



7: The patient is now prepped for surgery. Don't drink that victory beer yet, though!