Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB

GrimmSpeed DIY Guide Series

BRZ/FR-S Coilover Installation

Updated 7/26/12

Introduction: This guide will illustrate how to install coilovers on your BRZ/FR-S. Installation of springs/shocks will be very similar, but with a few added steps if you’re reusing your factory shocks. We know there's a great writeup for a spring install, but figured another set of instructions and photos wouldn't hurt. The coilover installation is also a bit different. As always, if you have tips, suggestions or corrections, please don't hesitate to speak up!

Tools: The tools listed below are suggested for this task.

- Floor jack
- 4x Jackstands
- 1/2in Ratchet
- 1/2in extension, 19mm socket
- 3/8in Ratchet
- 3/8in extension, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm deep well sockets
- Flathead screwdriver

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Tips: There are a couple spots where having a friend around will make the installation easier, but don't be afraid to tackle it yourself!

Procedure:
1. Begin by following our guide to safely jacking up and supporting your BRZ/FR-S and remove your wheels once all four corners are supported.

2. We’ll start with the front passenger’s side first. Familiarize yourself with what’s going on up there. Be sure to identify your sway bar, endlink, brake line, ABS sensor line and strut mounting points.

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3. Begin by disconnecting the swaybar endlink from the strut assembly. This will require a 17mm socket and you’ll make the job easier for yourself with an extension. If you find that the end link is spinning with your ratchet, you’ll need to us a 17mm wrench with an allen wrench to keep the stud from spinning. Remove this on both sides at once to release any tension in the swaybar.

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4. Now that you’ve got the swaybar completely disconnected and the endlinks out of the way, disconnect the brake line from the strut assembly. A 12mm socket with an extension will make this an easy job.

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5. The last step before moving onto strut removal is to disconnect the ABS sensor line from the strut assembly. This can be a little tricky, but requires finesse, not force. You’ll release the first clip with a screwdriver, depressing the tabs on the back side of the clip. The second clip will pop open, releasing the line along with the bushing.

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6. Now the strut is ready for removal. Remove the two 19mm nuts on the lower strut mount bolts. If need be, hold the opposite side with a wrench.

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7. With the two 19mm nuts removed, you should be able to work the bolts out of the strut/hub assembly. The brake caliper/rotor is heavy, so be careful to let it down easy. You should be able to tip them away from the vehicle and let them rest.

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8. The only thing holding the strut in place are the nuts on the top of the strut. Loosen these all with a 12mm socket before moving forward. If you’re by yourself, you’ll want to hold the strut with one hand while you loosen the nuts the rest of the way with the other. If you’re with a friend, have him/her hold the strut for you while you remove the three nuts. Remove the strut assembly from the vehicle and set it safely aside.

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9. Strut assembly removal will be exactly the same on the driver’s side. You may choose to do that now or wait until you have this side back together (minus the sway bar).

10. Now, get your coilovers ready to go. We’ll start by setting the ride height and locking the collars in place using the provided spanner wrenches. We decided to start low and raise the car as needed, after installation. Most coilovers will feature three collars. One locks the strut body into the coilover housing after you’ve adjusted the ride height. Another acts as a spring perch, allowing you to preload the spring on the coilover assembly. Lastly, the middle collar locks your preload into place.

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11. The next step will be up to you a little bit, as to how you want to set your original ride height. It may also vary based on which coilovers you’re installing. Here’s what we chose to do. First, we preloaded the spring. After snugging up the ‘set preload’ collar to the spring, we used the spanner wrench to preload the spring 1/4in. We then tightened the ‘lock preload’ collar up to it, using both spanner wrenches to tighten them towards eachother.

12. The last step is to set your ride height. We chose to start low, and left an 1/8in gap between the ‘ride height collar’ and the ‘lock preload’ collar.

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13. Now would be a good time to make sure you’re setting up the passenger side coilover. Compare it to the stock assembly that you removed, noting the side of the strut that the bracket is attached to.

14. You’re almost ready for reinstallation. Remember that pesky clip for the ABS sensor line? You’ve gotta remove that from the OEM strut and reinstall it onto the new one. It’ll release similar to the first one and remember, finesse, not force.

15. Alright, grab that tiny little coilover and set it in place in the wheel well. Everything look right? Make sure the ABS sensor line is running below the two large bolts, not above them. When you’re ready, check that the camber plate is correctly oriented, line up the studs and get it bolted to the strut tower. Similar to disassembly, a friend will make the job easier, but you can definitely do it alone.

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16. With the strut supporting itself, get the two 19mm bolts reinstalled, noting again that the ABS sensor wire is correctly routed. Tighten the 19mm nuts to 114ft-lb once the bolts are installed.

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17. Reconnect the endlink to the strut assembly using your 12mm deepwell socket to hit the required 34ft-lb.

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18. Lastly, we’ll reconnect the brake line and abs line to the strut. Use a 12mm socket to tighten the brake line to 24ft-lb. The ABS lines should clip right into place. (driver’s side, pictured here)

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19. Torque the nuts on the top of the strut to 17ft-lb on each side. Double check that the coilover collars are tightened properly before reinstalling your wheel! Installation on the driver’s side should be just about exactly the same. Take your time to make sure that everything is done right!

20. Now, we’ll move to the rear of the car. Begin by removing the trunk liner.

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21. Next, pop the four (4) clips on each side of the trunk interior so that you can pull the pieces back, exposing the top of the rear struts. If you’d prefer, you can remove them completely. The clips are released using a flathead screwdriver. Pop the center section up just a big and the whole clip should loosen and can be removed.

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22. The passenger side is very similar. Expose those studs as well.

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23. Now, start on whichever side you wish, they’re both the same again. Remove the two 14mm nuts holding the top of the strut to the chassis.

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24. Next, remove the 17mm bolt/nut to disconnect the strut from the control arm. Once removed, you may need to push down on the push down a bit on the hub/caliper if you’re doing one side at a time in order to remove the strut from the vehicle.

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25. Now, we’ll get our rear coilovers setup for installation. It’s a similar process to that of the front. This is how we set ours. Of course, you’ll be able to make final adjustments once the coilovers are installed. Remember to make sure everything is snug, or you’ll be hearing terrible noises. Take note that the rear coilovers are also unique for each side, so pay attention!

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26. Reinstallation is a breeze. Place the new strut into the control arm and slip the 17mm bolt back into place. Tighten the nut to 59ft-lb.

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27. You’re getting close! Move back up to the top of the strut, aligning the two studs with the holes in the trunk. An extra set of hands will make this portion much easier, but aren’t critical. If you’re working alone, use a jack to help hold the strut so that you can sneak around and reinstall the two nuts in the trunk. Once you’ve got those tightened to 22ft-lb, you’re ready to move over to the other side. Complete the opposite side the same way.

28. Reinstall your trunk liners, double check again that coilover collars are all snug, throw your wheels back on and lower the car. You’ll want to drive a bit to get the wheels to scrub out and let the springs settle a touch before really fine-tuning your ride height.

29. Adjusting your ride height requires simply raising the front or rear of the car and removing the wheels. You’ll ‘unlock’ the lower collar and spin the strut assembly in or out of the body, depending on whether you’re going higher or lower.

30. Make sure you get an alignment after replacing such a critical portion of the car’s suspension!