First time Springs Install... Help please
 

So last night for thanksgiving my dad and I decided to lower the car together. This is good because we never spend time together. Anyway:

Got it done the "car noob" way. A video on YouTube if you guys know what it is. (Car Noob FR-S: Lowering Springs)

So we followed it step by step but did not have access to a torque wrench so everything is tightened by hand and with as much strength we had...

Should I drive around listen for clanks and stuff, and come back and re tighten everything?

Basically will the springs settle after everythibg shakes around a bit and then should I re-tighten everything?

Or go buy a torque wrench and re-tighten :( ?

Eibach Sportlines by the way.

Personally when I am working on my car I like it to be done the right way (especially critical parts like suspension). And that means owning a torque wrench and torquing all bolts to spec. Fastened joints are specifically designed to the torque spec. When torquing the bolt, you are stretching the bolt ever so slightly. This is very important.

So if I were you, I would go buy a torque wrench because if you plan on working on your car yourself you need to have a torque wrench in your toolbox.

Also, the stock wheel studs are known to snap (more than likely from over tightening). Not owning a torque wrench I assume you just tightened the lug nuts as much as you could so you have probably over tightened those bolts as well.

Doing it as tight as possible by hand could lead to stretched threads that can slip over time or snapping due to the stress. Torque wrenches are on sale at Sears for like 30-40 bucks for black friday. I would hurry over there and grab one.

In the meantime (if you need to drive the car over) I usually go hand tight with a socket on an extension and then about another 1/4 turn. Then I just keep an eye on it.

Just remember not to use the torque wrench on the strut top since you cant hold the shaft in place. Just tighten that down with ease and then give it the extra 1/4 turn or so. Check up on it from time to time.

Thank you all!! Guess I'll invest in a torque wrench

lol noob: i was using a torque wrench. i meant an impact wrench

Nothing I've come across on this car needs anything more than the leverage available from a simple ratchet. The crank pulley bolt is a bit awkward to get to so I used a long handle breaker bar on that. But an impact gun wouldn't fit there anyway.

A rattle gun in the hands of an inexperienced and uneducated diyer is not a good idea. If you get a cheap gun you'll just waste money. If you get a good one you can easily snap things off.

My most used rattle gun is good for 900ftlbs. Its a rare day that I use it on anything but its lowest setting. But a cheap one rated for the same torque as the lowest setting will do nothing but annoy the hell out of you because the job would be faster with a ratchet.

yup so im good to go. no gun. Drove around no clunks and clanks so far. will continue to keep my ears open though