A arm installation tip
A arm installation tip
I installed my Ichiba A-Arms to day and it was fast and easy thanks to a trick I used to avoid messing with the strut tower brace, sway bar end link, and shock/spring.
The tutorial I used says you have to drop the shock/spring down from its mount and pull the top out of the way in order to remove the bolts on the stock A-Arms. Otherwise, when you try to remove one of the bolts, it hits the spring before it is out of its hole and can't be removed.....
But, if you have the car on jack stands, you can use a hydraulic jack to compress the shock and spring just enough to move the sping [up] out of the way of the bolt. This trick made the install very easy for me.
*Note 1* I have RS*R Ti2000 springs so I don't know if this trick works with other springs. I was able to get at least a half inch of movment (probably more) with my springs.
*Note 2* The ichiba A-Arms came with the bushings, so I didn't have to take the old bushings off the stock arm.
*Note 3* Don't use the bolts that come with the Ichiba arms (for the ball joint) unless you also use a washer (not included). I ended up using the stock bolts because the ones that came with the arms were not wide enough and started to go in the hole. (The stock bolts are flared and don't have this problem.
The tutorial I used says you have to drop the shock/spring down from its mount and pull the top out of the way in order to remove the bolts on the stock A-Arms. Otherwise, when you try to remove one of the bolts, it hits the spring before it is out of its hole and can't be removed.....
But, if you have the car on jack stands, you can use a hydraulic jack to compress the shock and spring just enough to move the sping [up] out of the way of the bolt. This trick made the install very easy for me.
*Note 1* I have RS*R Ti2000 springs so I don't know if this trick works with other springs. I was able to get at least a half inch of movment (probably more) with my springs.
*Note 2* The ichiba A-Arms came with the bushings, so I didn't have to take the old bushings off the stock arm.
*Note 3* Don't use the bolts that come with the Ichiba arms (for the ball joint) unless you also use a washer (not included). I ended up using the stock bolts because the ones that came with the arms were not wide enough and started to go in the hole. (The stock bolts are flared and don't have this problem.
Last edited by Z1NONLY; Dec 27, 2009 at 06:03 PM.
I installed my Ichiba A-Arms to day and it was fast and easy thanks to a trick I used to avoid messing with the strut tower brace, sway bar end link, and shock/spring.
The tutorial I used says you have to drop the shock/spring down from its mount and pull the top out of the way in order to remove the bolts on the stock A-Arms. Otherwise, when you try to remove one of the bolts, it hits the spring before it is out of its hole and can't be removed.....
But, if you have the car on jack stands, you can use a hydraulic jack to compress the shock and spring just enough to move the spring [up] out of the way of the bolt. This trick made the install very easy for me.
The tutorial I used says you have to drop the shock/spring down from its mount and pull the top out of the way in order to remove the bolts on the stock A-Arms. Otherwise, when you try to remove one of the bolts, it hits the spring before it is out of its hole and can't be removed.....
But, if you have the car on jack stands, you can use a hydraulic jack to compress the shock and spring just enough to move the spring [up] out of the way of the bolt. This trick made the install very easy for me.
*Note 3* Don't use the bolts that come with the Ichiba arms (for the ball joint) unless you also use a washer (not included). I ended up using the stock bolts because the ones that came with the arms were not wide enough and started to go in the hole. (The stock bolts are flared and don't have this problem.
Flared HAT NUT?
-J
No. Koni sport shocks. "Yellows" . But I don't think they are any "shorter" than stock shocks. And the Z is an 05
Correct.
Not needed for most coilovers since our spring have a smaller OD
yes i have seen that on my coilovers, im able to get it at with a little wiggle, etc.... or i remove the preload on the spring perch and turn the shock and like you say get it out inbetween coils..........
OP,
i only asked those questions so that is super clear for anyone else later doing these installls
I think ill add this thread to the suspension 101 thread as a data point for front control arm installs...
-J
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
