[nightkhan]

So I've had my CSL reps on for about a month now, and got springs already. I just had to get them installed. Up until last week, I was in San Diego, and never had time to drive up to San Gabriel to get them installed for super cheap, so i figured I'll get them done once I move up to SF. I realized all the shops here charge you an arm and a leg for just an install, and the cheap shops are a bit of a drive aways. I would make the drive for it, but I don't have any time during the week to send my car in. So, why not do it myself? It'll be fun, I'll save money, and I'll learn something new.

So I studied Ini's DIY guide (which is damn good), got all the tools necessary and began the process.

Start time: Wednesday (11/14) 8:00 PM

Got the car jacked up, put jackstands in on both rear sides, and took off the tires. So far, so good. I then got the upper end links off, which was also easy enough, and that's where things took a change. Step 4 required me to remove the nut that holds the shocks to the lower control arm. For some reason, I thought I was suppose to remove the nut that held the black bar to the wheel assembly. I've pointed it out below as the spawn of satan, which I'll explain why later:



When it came off, the entire wheel assembly kinda jumped out a bit.

So, i thought that was step 4, and proceeded to 5 and 6, which is jacking up the control arm just a wee bit, and removing the bolt for the control arm along with some nuts for the exhaust mount. Now, this control arm bolt is where my progress came to a dead stop. It wouldn't budge. I gave it all I had, and struggled with it forever, but no matter how hard i pushed and pulled, and whichever angle i went at it, it just wouldn't budge. Photo below:



So i was reading over the DIY guide again just to make sure I got it right. This is where I realized I removed the WRONG nut earlier. Remember spawn of satan? WRONG BOLT. I named it that because it gave me the scare of my life! I guess i thought wrong, but I was really suppose to remove the nut for the shock and arm piece. Oh well, so I figured, no biggie, just screw it back in...right? WRONG!! Oh man, i guess when i removed the lug, the entire assembly adjusted, and the angle at which the lug met the hole was thrown way off. At first I didnt know, but I was screwing it back in, and then when i stopped, it'd just fall right out. It wasn't going in. I started panicking. I thought this is where I was going to have to call the tow truck and get my baby to the shop to get it fixed. This thing just would not go back in. After a couple minutes of cold sweat and struggling, I was finally able to pull the bar out and angle it a bit, and push in really hard when i was screwing the lug back in. It started working a bit, but because of the angle, it would become really tight a quarter of the way in, and then wouldn't budge again. More panicking. The lug would just come to a dead stop a quarter of the way in, and the ratchet i was using was not long enough to provide enough torque. Luckily there was a repair guy in our building's garage finishing up some stuff, and was able to lend me a longer ratchet and helped me adjust the bar and lug angle. I unscrewed the lug a bit, adjust the angle and started at it again. It took awhile, along with several adjusting and loosening and retightening, I FINALLY got the lug back in secure and tight (i hope!!). Man, by this time, I had had enough and decided to call it quits. I was tired and almost had a heart attack, and 2 and half hours had already passed!! and I didn't get further than step 3!!!

For those of you who've successfully done the install, was that nut holding the control arm tough to loosen?

So, after finally getting all the bolts and nuts back on, i proceeded to put my rear tires back on. On the last tire, as i was tightening one of the bolts, i gave it a hard pull on the ratchet, and suddenly felt my lower back muscle expand. Oh man, i pulled my back. So now, did I not only waste 2 and half hours, almost f*ck up my car, and still have no springs installed, I messed up my back! What a night.

Maybe I'll give it another shot, or maybe i'll just send it to a shop and let the pros do it. Unless someone else around the SF area has done it before and can lend me a hand?

So there you go, my first major DIY attempt...unsuccessful. I did snap some photos of the other cars in our building's garage though. We got a 6 series with Hamann bodykit and rims I've seen before, but can't remember the name:





A new Audi S6, and when I say new, I really mean new. Up until this past weekend, he had a 6 series as well, and just traded it on sunday:







And finally, the granddaddy of them all, the 911 Turbo!!:







So there you ahve it folks. Even though I got absolutely nothing done, I was able to snap some pics, and learn which lug NOT to remove from the car.

[hkj]

Dude you live in some baller neighborhood, with all the fancy cars parked in common area. And is that a Mercedes G-class in one of the shots?

Sorry to hear about the DIY problems. I'm not too familiar with the shops in SF. Maybe someone can suggest a good shop that'd do it for cheap. There's also EDGE motorworks in Dublin you might want to check.

Keep us updated!


-hkj

[nightkhan]

Yeah, that's Merc G. We also got 2 Mercedes SL's, and a regular 911 on the other side of the garage.

[TXSoxFan]

I would be pissed if I was the one going out to the beat up red jeep every morning looking at these beautiful cars (background 1st pic)...

[canucklion]

the rim on the 6 is ACS

[thd13]

Anyone notice that the 6er is blocked in by the Jeep as well?

[Boondoggler]

Dude, I'm feeling your pain!! There is nothing more nerve wracking than being in the middle of a DIY and thinking...."Oh crap, I just F'd my car up!". I know that cold sweat feeling way too well! My advice, if you fail at a DIY, thank your lucky stars you didn't wreck your car, put your tail between your legs and go to a shop and get it done by a pro.

[txusa03]

I almost got a heart attack reading it (seriously). Yes, i read the whole thing. My only suggestions are when it comes to springs, leave it to the pro. 1) springs are compressed and if you make a wrong move, the pring is like a freaking rocket and can really be very dangerous and if not life threatening if you happen to be on the other end of a unloaded spring. My other suggestions should you venture to do other less complicated DYI is to give yourself plenty of time for unforeseen road blocks. For example, I would never rip my car up on a wednesday night knowing I need to go to work the next day and I only have one car (that will def gives you the cold sweats). I always rip my car up on a friday night (that give me plenty of time before Mondays comes). Also, if i know I do not need to go anywhere between Friday and Sunday. Best of luck with your springs.

nah, I am not ripping at you for trying, just some words of encouragement. Thanks for sharing.

[shragon]

sorry to see that. hopefully you can get some further help.

the wheels on the 6 are acs type IV's.

i like the s6!!

anyway, i got mine done at carlab in santa clara for $175. took them about two hour to complete. only thing is they don't have an alignment machine, so you'll need to find another place to get that done at. some people suggest waiting a week for the alignment to get the springs settled in, so they may work out. if you're interested, ask for darwin www.carlabms.com

there's also auto innovations in milpitas that does a great job and can do alignments.

[nmulax]

Originally Posted by thd13

Anyone notice that the 6er is blocked in by the Jeep as well?

I'm guessing some units have two spots -- his (assuming it's a guy who drives the 6) might just be infront of one another. If you look again, you'll notice the lines marking the spot go all the way from the rear of the 6er to the end of the Jeep.

Seriously,
black 6er with Hamann and ACS goodies
black Audi S6
black Mercedes G class
black Porsche 911 turbo
and you say there's also two SL's and a regular 911.

I want to live in your building

[shragon]

Originally Posted by thd13

Anyone notice that the 6er is blocked in by the Jeep as well?

i'm assuming it's tandem parking.

my friends' old apartment had that. if one person wanted to leave, sometimes the roommate would have to go down too to move his car.

[nightkhan]

yeah, it's tandem parking. so the old beat up jeep....same owner as the 6. i guess that's their weekend/fun car, and the jeep is the commuter in the city.

i don't drive to work, so i really don't need the car during the week. and i was going to be busy all this weekend, so figured I'll take a stab at it. guess i learned my lesson, leave this one for the pros!

[longtran]

nightkhan, you are doin git all worng. theres a much easier way to do it man. all the bolt you show is unnecessary to remove.

[longtran]

we need to revise the DIY rear spirngs install. this is the easiest way to do it.

for the left side we remove the 21mm nut and bolt, 10mm control arm sensor and 19mm strut nut.

for the right side we remove the 21mm nut and bolt and the 19mm strut nut.

there is only 1 control arm sensor, that is located on the left side.

for the left side:

1. remove the 10mm bolt that holds the control sensor

2. remove the 19mm strut bolt

3. pry the strut off the control arm

4. remove the 21mm nut and bolt

5. the control arm should be free, remove the spring

6. make sure all the slot are line up when putting in the aftermarket springs

7. lub (use wd40) the bushing where the strut goes in so it can easily slide right in place.

8. reverse the steps to put everything back.

the arm should swing down just like the DIY provided by Ini except the arm should swing down from the other side.




the arrow is showing the control arm should swing down. dont worry, its normal.

[txusa03]

Long (master diy), what part under the car did you jack the car up with "jack stands"? Any photo of that? I think it is very important to know where to place the jack stands. Any photo for clarification would greatly appreciated.

[so gti]

yea man...shouldnt be too bad...suspension, brakes, exhaust..you should be able to DIY.

if you need help let me know, although, i'd have to make a trip over to the city! lol

[longtran]

Originally Posted by txusa03

Long (master diy), what part under the car did you jack the car up with "jack stands"? Any photo of that? I think it is very important to know where to place the jack stands. Any photo for clarification would greatly appreciated.

i dont use jack stands. i just use a jack at the jack point. i have a second jack handy to lift the arm up when putting it back.. i do not know where to put the jack stand.

[ksfrogman]

You know since the car is so rigid, you could always place chock blocks under the other jack point (same side) for safety. Just a thought.

[longtran]

hey nightkhan, thats a good thing you didnt loosen that bolt. you were suppose to mark it before removing it. your alignment woud have been off.

[nightkhan]

Originally Posted by txusa03

Long (master diy), what part under the car did you jack the car up with "jack stands"? Any photo of that? I think it is very important to know where to place the jack stands. Any photo for clarification would greatly appreciated.

the jack stand points are right behind the wheel. it's this long bar this curved a bit downwards. i should've snapped some photos of that too since it did take me a few minutes int he beginning to figure out where they were. but once you jack up your car, peek at the space right behind the wheel, you'll see it.

[txusa03]

thanks, I saw a pic of it in lni's H&R DYI post. The pic shows the rear tire and where to place the jack stand on the rear tire. Good to know for future reference. Just need to look for the front one.

[so gti]

now that i can see some pix...i guess its a lot different from e46