I have a competent mechanic friend to help, but in general, is it pretty easy or should I take it to a shop? One of the better shops in town wanted $500.00 to install the coilovers and do the alignment. We would only have the car up on jacks in the garage (obviously no lift). And regarding alignment-- going from stock to coilovers (Skunk2 Pro C), is it something where the car is going to be totally out of whack until you get the alignment? I mean, if we install on Saturday and can't get to the alignment until Monday, is the car driveable/can I still get a feel for the suspension? or does it just vary from case to case?

 

I would think that you would be fine to wait until Moday to do that. It would just be important that you eye ball the alignment as straight as possible and it should be fine to drive for the next 36 hours. Just make sure everytihing is tightly fastened. But others may have a difference of opinion here. Good luck with the install and sorry we couldn't help you out.

Justin

 

Since fronts are struts and rears can't be adjusted (unless you shim it) your alignment wont change much if at all. You can wait couple of days to get id done.
Also when you get to the point of torquing front two strut bolts to the hub mount, push it in with one hand before torquing top bolt!
Shear weight of the hub with a rotor and caliper makes it hang down into positive camber position and pushing it in will shift it back into negative.
There is enough play even with stock bolts to change camber.
When I put 15x7's, offset +38 with 205/50/15 I was rubbing up front, so I loosened the bolts and pushed in and no more rubbing.
Looking at the before and after pictures I can actually clearly see the difference in camber!

Ivan

 

Thank you guys! That is very re-assuring coming from two experts!

ciburri-- I am not totally clear what you are suggesting exactly, though I get the general idea. I am sure it will be more evident once actually doing it, and I will be sure that my mechanic friend reads this (as well as posts about front axel popping out-- I hear that is a real nightmare!).

Tony from Skunk2 assured me this should be something we can handle, though some shops have said it's a many hours project etc. etc. Tony said it should take an hour or so? Does that sound about right? Guys at specialty shop quoted 2 hours just for removal of stock suspension (?). But they got to make their money of course, and I respect that.

 

after doing and spring/suspension work you shoudl get an alignment. camber is not so adjustable on these cars, but your toe will be way off....and toe is the main cause of tire wear.

i would get an alignment as soon as possible after the install, but driving around for a few days will not really do any damage. but please try to get an alignment at least within 2 weeks of doing the work...or you might start to see uneven tire wear.

i think the fit has the same kind of setup as my last car (06 civic SI),coilover front, separate spring and shock in the rear....if this is the same, with teh right tools you should be able to get it done withing a couple of hours.

 

with coilovers do you have to replace them every 50K or 60 like regular shocks

 

^many aftermarket coilovers can be rebuilt. so i guess the answer is no, but they do need servicing.

 

jsenk,
an hour sounds about right, but do not rush it.
Since you guys are doing it, take your time and do it right.

 

ciburri-- wise words indeed! We will proceed with the utmost care. I was worried if I needed to be able to get it done in time to be able to make it over to an alignment shop before they close or something.

Now I have found a HIGHLY recommended shop about 2 hours north of me that would do the install, set all parameters, align and corner balance for about $500.00. These guys are suspension tuning and alignment specialists (it's all they do) and you have to make an appointment at least one week in advance. I can't decide if this is necessary or not, and if I am going to do it I need to confirm the appointment. What do you guys think? Is that overkill? I am not heading to the track anytime soon, but do want this done right. My friend is confident about doing it, but these guys are pros. I am not excited about spending the money after dropping over a grand on the coilovers, but then, you get what you pay for (usually!).

 

Dude, contact a local community college or high school who has auto shop classes and offer them a teaching opportunity. Let them install the stuff for you and get the labor for free....

 

jsensk-

BigBadMadMan's advice was good, but I will bet that in this era of "sue-the-bastards" over any issue, and so few industrial arts classes in existence due to budget shortfalls, you won't find any such class willing to do modification work for you. Oil changes, brake jobs, maybe, but altering stock systems, I'd bet not.

My point here is: just because you have not done this kind of work before does not mean that you can't do it. Especially with the help of an experienced friend, save the $500.00 and enjoy the learning experience. If you make a mistake and have to do it twice to get it right, so what? Your alignment won't change enough to make the car dangerous to drive, and if it is necessary, it sure won't cost $500.00 (less than $100.).

 

I just think that any shop who would legitimately charge a guy $500 to put on coilovers is either very VERY proud of their work, or seriously taking advantage of people.

And a little piece of paper that waives liability would work fine, I'm sure. I've not done that yet myself, but when spring hits and I start adding on, I'm gonna be offering LOTS of teaching opportunities...haha

 

That might be an overkill!
I mean if you have money to burn go for it, but I would not do it.
It is not a rocket science for a DD Fit. You are not building a professional race car. LOL!
BigBadMadMan's idea is a good one indeed! Not to mention you can watch them do it and learn something yourself.
Many experienced mechanics have too much of an ego to be open minded and accept pointers. In fact, majority are ASE glorified part exchangers. Same as surgeons. They fix the problem, but in many instances entirely disregard the cause of failure on the first place. I was lackey enough to work along old fashioned mechanic who embraced modern technology. He was a Polish guy and he also restored classic cars. He was trained machinist and would make parts if he could not get them. At first he considered me as his competition being in High School and hungry to work on cars. I was a quick study and he took me under his wing. Total contrast was my family friend, the shop owner. He was an idiot. I did not learn much from him!

Tip to everybody young with a desire to work on their own car:
Establish friendship with either local school shop or an old fashioned mechanic - take advantage of it! Old timers are excited to pass on their knowledge to a right, eager to learn younger individual. Even if you are not planing to make it a profession, it is a good stuff to know. Nobody can take an advantage of you when you take your car in for a service even as a senior citizen over a half a century from now!

 

I agree with chiburri. Do it yourself or find some sly way to get the work done cheap or free.

I understand liability issues of using a high school or technical school shop, but I'd bet if you walked in with springs (or coilovers), wheels, an intake, a cat-back exhaust, and $1000 worth of stereo equipment, I have NO doubt that the instructor would jump through all kinds of hoops to try to get it installed for you....

WHY???

Because it's relevant. All of these kids look at these kinds of cars...work on these kinds of cars...or otherwise have SOME kind of interest in these kinds of cars. What better way to keep their attention, get them excited, and still be able to teach? I think it might be easier than you think...


I may be naive...but that's what I'm gonna be trying.

 

You were right with the second one!

 

Ok-- then we try an do it ourselves! You guys convinced me! I guess I got concerned when this guy stated talking about corner weighting or corner balancing and all this and that--stuff I only have a very basic understanding of, and he makes it sound really important that the installation be perfetc for all this to work properly.

They were charging $380.00 for the actual installation, then $130.00 for alignment is where approx. $500.00 number came from.

So maybe we do the install ourselves then I'll drive up (2 hours about) and have these alignment "pros" do a first quality alignment and maybe even corner balance-- and save the $380.00 from install, and get to see and learn from having been right there doing it myself. Plus the nice drive up to Austin would be fun I imagine with new coilovers, intake and exhaust!

I don't have money to burn (I went over budget with this my first round of mods getting T1R VIP exhaust, T1R carbon intake, Mugen pedal kit and Progress rear sway PLUS Skunk2 Pro-C coilovers all at one shot! Ouch!)

That brings me to another question about use of the Progress rear sway with coilovers-- but maybe I'll make a separate post about that.