How to Install Lowering Springs

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Installing lowering springs refers to the process of customizing your car's suspension, enabling it to ride closer to the ground. The process is not difficult, so anyone with garage access and a little know-how, can accomplish this modification. Follow these steps to learn how to install lowering springs.

Steps

1. 1
   Loosen the lug nuts in the rims and confirm that the emergency brake is firmly set.

   
   
2. 2
   Raise the front end, centering the floor jack so the vehicle is raised evenly.
3. 3
   Place jack stands under the frame rail as close to the front end as possible and remove the front wheels.
4. 4
   Turn the steering wheel all the way toward the opposite side of where you are working.
5. 5
   Locate the bolts which hold the caliper on and remove the two innermost bolts using a breaker bar.
6. 6
   Shift the caliper away from the rotor, tying it to the bolt at the rear of the firewall, and be careful to not put too much stress on the brake lines.
7. 7
   Pull the wire leading to the Anti-lock Brake System out of its bracket if the vehicle is equipped with ABS.
8. 8
   Position a hydraulic jack directly under the spring in the A-Arm. Raise the jack until it is holding the A-Arm firmly and the spring is compressed.
9. 9
   Remove the caster/camber bolts from the strut and, if you have a camber gauge, get a reading so that the camber will be properly set during reinstallation.
10. 10
    Remove the bolt from the sway bar's end link, which is the metal piece that leads from the A-Arm to the sway bar.
11. 11
    Use a properly sized wrench to remove the strut nut.
    • A large flathead screwdriver should be inserted into the slot in the strut shaft to prevent it from spinning.
12. 12
    Lower the hydraulic jack 4 to 6 inches (10.16 to 15.24 cm), assuring that no one is near the spring as it decompresses.
13. 13
    Prevent the jack from lowering any further, confirm that the spring is still supported, and compress the strut shaft manually.
14. 14
    Pull the strut out from under the fender.
15. 15
    Allow the spring to finish decompressing.
16. 16
    Remove the jack and use a pry bar to pull the spring loose from the A-Arm.
17. 17
    Remove the isolators from the top and bottom of the spring.
18. 18
    Slide the isolators onto the new front spring.
19. 19
    Slide the spring into the top and bottom grooves of the A-Arm. Confirm that the isolators have remained in place and that the spring is properly aligned.
20. 20
    Compress the strut and rotate it, into mounting position, under the fender.
21. 21
    Remount the strut.
22. 22
    Reinstall the nuts on the strut shaft.
23. 23
    Align the bolt for the end link and reinstall the end link into the sway bar.
24. 24
    Release the caliper from its tie, shift it back into position, and replace the innermost bolts.
25. 25
    Inspect the brake line by depressing the brake pedal to look for leaks.
26. 26
    Repeat this process for the other side.
27. 27
    Chock the front tires and raise the rear end of the vehicle, being sure to center the jack.
28. 28
    Position the jack stands under the torque boxes.
29. 29
    Remove the rear wheels and examine the positioning of the springs. Mark the location of the lowermost coil.
30. 30
    Dismount the rear end shocks and pull them away.
31. 31
    Use the hydraulic jack to push up the rear end mount where the control arm meets the axle.
32. 32
    Remove the rear brake calipers and caliper bracket. Remove the spring.
33. 33
    Repeat this process on the other side so that both struts and springs are removed simultaneously.
34. 34
    Finish the rear spring installation in the same manner as the front.

    
    

Tips

• If you don't have access to a breaker bar, add a length of steel pipe to a socket wrench to provide more leverage.
• When raising the hydraulic jack, be sure that the vehicle doesn't rise away from the jack stands.
• If your vehicle is not equipped with ABS, it will not be necessary to remove calipers in the rear.
• It is strongly recommended that an impact wrench be used for this procedure, as it allows you to properly gauge the torque of the bolts.
• These instructions may vary slightly according to the make, model and year of your vehicle.

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