Thanx for the DIY on springs. Just installed my Eibachs and looks great. The fronts were a B I T C H to get out though!

 

I read this thread a couple months ago and it took me forever to find it again. I'm subscribing so I can find it easier next time.

 

I decided to do this today and went to autozone to rent a spring compressor.

Ended up can't even use the spring compressor on Eibach Spring because of the Eibach's structure... I think the autozone's spring compressor is too big for eibach spring.

Maybe only in my area thoe...

Is there anything else I can do?

 

Just take the whole strut assembly (and new front springs) to an auto shop and have them swap out the front springs for you. Cost me $20 and 30 minutes. Well worth it.

 

If you got rounded head bolts, you could buy Craftman BOLTS-OUT

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952166000P

Thanks to Black Betty for the tips

 

finally got in the garage and tried to do this mod myself...and i can't get that bolt (blue) off
i used pb blast and the longest breaker bar u can imagine and it started stripping the bolt a lil so i ended up giving up

 

For you guys who are rounding off the bolt heads, I'd recommend drenching the bolt in penetrating lube and letting it sit at least overnight, maybe a couple of days. A 6 point socket is less likely to round off a bolt head than a 12 point socket. Then try it with a long breaker bar - 24" or more. If you are still having trouble, try heating it first if you have a torch or a heat gun.

Anyone else got suggestions?

 

i still can't get it to come off.....and i used a bar way longer than 24"....more like 5+ ft long LOL.....thinking it would just twist right off since i have used this bar for hard to remove bolts before

i felt like i was gonna break something, like my wrench

i'll drench it with pb blast for a few days then give it another go....or heat it up, that would be my last resort before taking it to a shop...i hate using the torch i be scurred

 

Impact wrench.

 

is that stronger than urself with a big breaker bar?

 

Completely different dynamic forces are applied. Pulses of high torque are applied in rapid bursts. The amount of torque and the pulses per second depends on the specs of the gun.

The pulses are what you need.

 

hmm...mayb i shoulda gave that a try...have all the tools but i was thinking if i cant remove it myself with the breaker bar than it would loosen it up either

 

I had same problem... I used 24" breaker bar and rounded the bolt...

Ended up going to local shop to take them out for me and install my spring =D

That was very frustrating for me ...

I bet Impact Wrench will do the job.

 

i had the same problem with this bolt
used a breaker bar=fail
impact wrench=fail
breaker bar with wd-40=fail
impact wrench with wd-40=fail
stronger impact wrench=DING DING DING worked like a charm

i also had a hard time compressing the eibach springs. i got the spring compressor from autozone and like someone mentioned it was to thick to fit between the coils. went to kragen and it was still to thick. took it to a little auto shop where my friend did his tl and they said it was to much to compress. so my last resort was to take it to a shop where my i know they charge up the **** and got it swapped out for 40 bucks =(. the front springs altogether were a PITA. but the rear was a relief took maybe about 20 ot 30 mins for the rear.


i also scraped a little comming out of the driveway we were working in cause i was used to being so high and didnt think the drop was that drastic

 

$40 to swap out the springs for you? They did do you any favor did they.

Good info, not all impact wrenches are equal. The $50 impact wrench I have doesn't hold a candle to my dad's $350 one.