lowered front

[Bitsa]

I've a rt142 wagon and want to lower the front and would prefer to do it myself if possible so I'm hoping someone here can explain how it's done.

Any help appreciated, even if it comes down to "take it to a mechanic".

[oldcorollas]

usually you just get shorter (and possibly harder) springs.
need to take out the struts, compress the springs, take off strut top, compress new springs, put them in, put strut tops back on, etc.. and then get alignment after (so i skipped a few bits...)

it depends how much lower you want to go?

[Bitsa]

Well I'm thinking 2". I know I have to take the struts out change the springs, but, I've no idea how to take the struts out never having had a car with struts before. Call me old fashioned.

[LeeRoy]

Ok.

1. Before doing anything, open the bonnet. On the strut tops remove the plastic cover in the middle of them and crack the bolt beneath - it will save you some headache later. If you can't undo it please see below for tips (reps to Wilbo for this tip)
2. Jack the car up, put it on stands and remove the front wheels.
3. Remove the brake line from the strut - you made need to remove it from the caliper to do this.
4. Remove the caliper, there will be 2 bolts behind it that hold it on.
5. At the bottom of the strut there will be 2 bolts, undo these and it will free the strut from the steering arm.
6. Undo the 3 bolts on the strut top (top of strut in engine bay), being careful as the strut will now drop out.

Once out;
1. Compress the spring until it is no longer captive.
2. Remove the plastic cap in the middle of the strut top and undo the nut beneath it.
note: If it is just spinning the shock tube try and undo it with a rattle gun. If a rattle gun is unavailable then get an old radiator hose and cut it into a 3 inch section, then slice down the middle. Slip this around the shock tube and clamp it with vice grips, plyers, multi grips, whatever, then try and undo that bolt again.
3. Remove strut top, upper spring perch, spring, any spacers, rubbers etc - take note of how they went on as reinstallation is reverse.


If your also changing the shocks;
Once the spring is off you will need a pipe wrench to undo the gland nut which is the nut at the base of the shiny shaft/at the top of the strut itself. Once this is undone the shock tube should come out.

Standard shocks often use the strut to hold oil and will have a rubber seal under the gland nut. Remove this and it will help in removal of the shock. Be wary of oil as lots will come out so dont do it in your carpeted living room. If it is a sealed shock it should just slide out.

Good luck

[wilbo666]

Step 0; to avoid "Once out; step 2"...

Crack the strut top nut 1/2+ a turn before doing anything... i.e. when the weight of the car is still on the struts

Cheers
Wilbo

[Bitsa]

LeeRoy & wilbo666 thank you very very much and also thanks very much to oldcorollas for the apt, if I'd known how to take the struts out, compressed version.

[Gavatron]

Do as Wilbo said. Saves a lot of time.

Also, dont do the last bit in LeeRoy's post if you are not changing the shocks.

[Bitsa]

Gavatron. Ok thanks. I only want to change the springs not the shocks. Probably should change the shocks, but, finances dictate that'll have to wait for another day.

[LeeRoy]

Do it once do it right. You can probably get away with doing the fronts for less than $400 for both shocks and springs.

Get some king springs and go talk to wholesale suspension about some lowered shocks. They will make the world of difference.

Edit: In your case you car is old and the shocks are probably flogged anyways. Putting the lowered springs on standard shocks is bad enough, let alone flogged ones.

(Edited above post to reflect Wilbo & Gav's input)

[Bitsa]

LeeRoy. I was hoping to get away with doing the springs now and the shocks later, but, does make far more sense to do them both at the same time and if I can get it done for around $400 that'd be a small price to pay really to get to go around a corner. The old Corona purrs like a kitten and rolls along the road great in a straight line but as soon as it's turned into a corner it's hopeless. Anyway, thanks again for your help. Appreciate it.

[HAVABEER]

never having had a car with struts before.

what did they use instead of struts

[oldcorollas]

A-arms and the like..

[lexsmaz]

You will have to do a wheel alignment after lowering the front ..

And you will need to lower the back too otherwise it will go around the corner still pretty shitty ..

[Drifty Midship]

Should lower the back also if you can afford it... just doing the front and leaving it high in the arse, especially with the extra high up glass weight of a wagon and rear factory softer springs will make it handle bad... worse.
Hard to predict if it would O/Steer or U/Steer probably both. Front would push out cause the tighter springs wouldn't allow the weight to shift onto the fronts as well, then when it did catch the big high rolly arse would wanna come around.

[frostyadonis]

LeeRoy,
im impressed.have you ever considered becoming a automotive technical writer.
workcover would also be impressed.give yourself a pat on the back....