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questioning if i should try to install coils or not

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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:16 AM
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Default questioning if i should try to install coils or not

I'm about to buy some coilovers and rear camber kit. However, I'm not sure if I should pay $150 to have a local mechanic install them or do it myself. I'd rather do it myself b/c I feel more accomplished.

Since i've never done anything very extensive on my car i'm not sure if i should try to do the install with my friend. I would also have to buy a jack and jack stands since i'm down at college.

How hard is this install keeping in mind i've not done anything like this before?

thanks for any help.

Edit:
new question,
sorry to up this... but didnt wana start a new thread for a question. what tools will i be needing for this? im at school, so im having to buy it all. jack, jack stands, full socket set and a screw driver is all im thinking... but let me know if i need anything else.
thanks in advance

Last edited by 350z-Jason; Sep 29, 2008 at 09:59 AM.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:19 AM
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honestly, im surprised they are only charging 150......thats a good price....

i dont think its a hard install at all! but if you have never done anything like this, it could take you up into about 4-5 hours to do...

and remember once your done with the install, you have to down jack the car.......check the height.......if you dont like the height.....you gotta jack the car back up, unbolt everything all over again and give all sides some turns and do it all over again till you get it where you want it..

-j
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:20 AM
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i dont mind it being long... sucks i'll have to do it in the parking lot
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:25 AM
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It's actually reall straight forward, especially if you're buying coilovers cuz you won't have to use a spring compressor.

My 2 recommendations for you:

1) Look in the DIY section, there's tons of info on how to install/un-install suspension components.

2) Ask a local my350z member for help. I'm sure somebody near you has done this before.

Save urself the $150 and buy you and your buddy some beers.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:27 AM
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its as simple as removing the wheels, and then unbolting the stock suspension and bolting on the new suspension from the looks of some pictures.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:29 AM
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ya dont get me wrong.....its not a tough job.......it sounds like your mind is made up.......i say go for it....

-J
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:29 AM
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i didn't miss anything did i?
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by 350z-Jason
its as simple as removing the wheels, and then unbolting the stock suspension and bolting on the new suspension from the looks of some pictures.
But remember you have to jack the car back up, and remove the lower bolt to the coilovers and turn the lower housing in order to adjust the height.......you may need to do that a few times to get it at the height you want....

thats the part that will take long...

Also, for the rear camber kit, you have to dremel, cut/extend the slot to fit the toe bolt? im guessing you got a camber arm and toe bolt to install?? if you have a stock rear exhaust.. you have to drop the exhaust in order to get a dremel tool lined up to cut the slot in order to install aftermarket toe bolts.......more work there. but still not hard..

-j
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:35 AM
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i have the hks exhaust. i saw that diy. shouldn't be too hard. jacking it up and down to adjust will be pretty frustrating.

but thanks for the help, i feel i can do it now.

what low profile jack do you guys use? mine as well get a low profile one for when its gets low.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:39 AM
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$150.00 sounds shady, $300.00 is more like it. I would tackle it myself, but that's just me I love a good DIY.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:46 AM
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a store here has a relationship with a mechanic. he does it under the table.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:48 AM
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pay him to have him help you......for that price its probably worth it...if hes a mechanic, he probably has all the jacks/jack stands you would need to buy anyways..

but ya, i think you got it...let us know how it comes out...post pics...

-j
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 11:50 AM
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well im pretty confident that my friend and i can do it. what jack do you guys use?
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 12:09 PM
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just normal crafstman. If you're cars lowered you can always drive onto some wooden planks and then jack the car up from there.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 12:12 PM
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ya...i have a 30 dollar craftsman that i use....works great.

-j
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 01:07 PM
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Installing my coilovers was the first time I've ever done anything suspension related. Very straight forward, and I also ended up doing it by myself. Took a good 5 hours to do though. That didn't even include my camber arms and a-arms. If you have any mechanical ability then this will be an easy job.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 01:15 PM
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thanks for your input man
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 03:04 PM
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Sry off topic:

To JasonZ-Ya:

Do you know the exact min. height and max. lift height of ur craftsman? I was debating on buying them because my car is lowered and was afraid the sideskirts wasn't going to make it. Did you have to drive up to a ramp?

Also, I have a question on jack stands. I bought some "teeth" jack stands but it's going to crush my sideskirts if I use it. Do you use a teeth jack stand as well?

Thx.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 03:21 PM
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Craftsman makes a low pro 1 1/2 ton jack with a min height of 3 1/2 in. But costs around $170. Not sure about anything lower.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 03:22 PM
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i did mine all by my self wasnt too hard. if you have questions you can PM me.
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