Spring Installation
 

Bought a set of the Eibach springs and am looking to get them installed. Was wondering where folks have gotten them installed and mor eimportantly how much they paid to have springs installed (aside from those who installed themselves.)

You shouldn't have to spend more than $150, but you'll need an alignment and camber bolts

Nick C.

I installed my springs myself, and it was really quite easy. I didn't even have to use a spring compressor to do the install. Took me and a buddy about 3 hours, with breaks due to the intense heat. I can understand wanting to get them installed though!

What camber bolt would you recommend specifically?

Get the OEM crash bolts. You won't get quite as much adjustment as the thinner Whiteline or SPC camber bolts, but those only torque to about 70 ft/lbs. The oem crash bolts are torqued to 106 ft/lbs, making them hold up much better. I feel that not worrying about hitting potholes is worth a little less camber, although from personal experience camber really helps this car's handling. Another piece of advice, I would do something to adjust camber in the rear, either cheap control arms or the whiteline camber kit. It really helps the handling to get the rear camber properly setup, before I got mine done, the rear was a little loose.

A good shop should be able to help you install them and get your alignment back to factory specs, unless your looking for more camber lol

http://memecrunch.com/meme/48R9/camber/image.png


Nick C.

Quick question, with camber bolt and springs (not more than 1" drop). What offsets and tire sizes can you fit in front. I want to run 8.5 +45 with a 245/40 tire. But I fear it will rub...

You'll most likely rub unless you run 0* camber up front, and even then you might still rub.

Is this at the world's cheapest mechanic?

I'd guess $400 minimum.

Also not true.

I had rubbing issues with 245/35/18 tires on my brz with just crash bolts and -.5 camber. With 245/40 tires, might work on 17" wheels, won't work for 18" wheels. I have switched to using the whiteline com-c top hats, and have no rubbing issues with -1.3 deg camber using the top hats. Adjusting camber at the top really helps for fitment issues. I am using RCE Yellow springs on the stock struts and my wheels are 18x8.5" in the front.

$400 would be 4-5 hours labour, which is extortion for installing springs. I can do it in half that time in my driveway with only hand tools. If it's more than 2 hours for spring installation I'd be questioning why. Alignment is on top of that.

Do a search, there are quite a few people rubbing with 245/40's on stock springs and stock alignments, or slightly dropped on stock alignment. The drop doesn't matter since it rubs on the lower spring seat, which is a fixed position compared to the wheel/tire.

I have 225/45's on 17x8" +45 wheels and I have half an inch of clearance on the stock alignment at most, I'm sure 17x9" +45 would rub for sure.

I'm sure 245s will rub. The OP didn't say what size wheels or tires he was running. Stock tires will take, what 2-3 degrees or so. For aftermarket tires, it depends on the width and offset.

My comment was directed to the guy who posted right before me asking about 8.5" wheels with 245's.

Thanks for the replies, Guess I have to run coilovers to run 245/40/18 on 8.5 +45 or 255/40/17 on 9.0 +42

D:

In case it matters to you, a 245 on a 8.5 wheel with 35 offset will fit with room to spare and will not poke on a car lowered on Eibachs (one inch drop). That's what is on my car. So if the wheels you like can be had in a 35 offset, don't be afraid to go that way.

My shop(Subaru dealership) would charge 1.5 hr per strut. Plus another 1.5 for alignment. At 85 an hour, it gets expensive fast. If you can find someone to do 4 springs installed for 150 like previously posted, by all means go for it before they change their mind lol.

When my work schedule was hectic and didn't have time to DIY nor knew anyone to help because I new to the area, I paid $600 for springs and alignment at a Subaru dealership.

The next time I changed my springs, I had time to DIY and found it to be straightforward. Just did my buddy's springs today in 3 hours (took our time and torqued every bolt to spec). These new tricks make it even easier: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32414

When I changed my MkII MR2 springs it was a nightmare having to bleed of all 4 brake lines just to remove/replace the struts. With the FR-S, I didn't even have to unbolt the strut mounts nor the struts (they simply tilt while staying bolted to the hub or LCA) nor any bolts that affect alignment. As if this car is gifted for DIY. Don't think a spring swap could be made any easier.

^^ I bet that's 3 hours with hand tools in a driveway too? Any shop trying to charge an hour + per corner is way over estimating the job. It's a 2 hour job total with a hoist and air tools.