First timer Spring Installation [Archive] - Toyota Yaris Forums

ZING

01-22-2009, 04:30 PM

When it comes to anything to do with cars, I am useless. Tomorrow I will attempt at installing my springs with some professional help to guide me from a friends dad. I know that there are a lot of topics on this, and a DIY...but I am pretty nervous on fucking up my car, so any pointers would help. Read that I have to cut something off before installing the springs? :help:

Thej3sta2

01-22-2009, 05:23 PM

be ready to be pissed the front is a pain in the arssss. The rear should be left for last because it only takes like 2 minutes to installl.

Bring a rag, youll be sweating tears for the front ones

MadMax

01-22-2009, 05:33 PM

Don't sweat it, I not only installed spacers on my Jeep (which required taking the springs off and re-installing them); but I also put shocks on and I did the entire job by myself with just my usual tools. You'll need spring compressors if you can get your hands on them, if not a lot of people use ratchet straps to compress the springs. But as long as you take care jacking up your car and while it is off the ground, you shouldn't have any problems. All the do is pop in and out, basically...

A lift would make this a much easier job. It sure beats using jacks and stands like I had to with my Jeep; but once you get it done you will not only be proud of yourself for having accomplished the task, you'll also know your Yaris a little better. Consider it a "bonding" experience!

Cheers! M2

ZING

01-22-2009, 05:36 PM

Bring rag: check
Compressor: check

I will be using a fully operational garage, I should be fine, I hope hehe. Well it's just a remove old/put new operations, isnt it?

RagnaCaT

01-22-2009, 09:24 PM

bandaids: check?
Triple antibioptic: check?
or gloves and somewhere to scream?(that helped me)

PetersRedYaris

01-22-2009, 10:16 PM

A spring compressor isn't really needed. Once the struts are removed, the stock springs have just a little tension on them. The lowering springs will go right in without a compressor.

bzinn 1

01-23-2009, 03:00 AM

You only need spring compressor to get the old springs off for safty......I did mine a good 7 months ago with a buddy and we were done in 4 hours,most of that was talking about how good it went........and pounding a few cold ones.

I do recomend gettign an alignment after a few weeks........or you will eat the inner side of the front tires......I finally aligned mine last week and after almost 10000 miles driving my inner tire tread was gone,old tires so no biggie but car now actually feels much better to drive aligned......imagine that.

eii

01-23-2009, 04:15 AM

The things you have to cut are the bumbstops, the yellow thingies. There was a thread here showing the bumbstops before and after they were cut. There was a huge difference, I dont remember if it was posted before the hack or not.

ZING

01-23-2009, 06:08 AM

DONE! took 4hrs and 30min. Yeh I do need to align the wheels...should I take it to some garage for that?

mikenacarato

01-23-2009, 06:11 AM

take it to an allignment shop for that.

nice job! the fronts suck though. haha

ZING

01-23-2009, 07:41 AM

^^ Why do the fronts suck?

MadMax

01-23-2009, 11:29 AM

ZING

Post a pic or two!

Cheers! M2

ZING

01-23-2009, 12:41 PM

I will once I get home. I got a before/after picture :)

Phaeton

01-23-2009, 01:22 PM

The front suck because the nuts on the top of the strut towers are in a tight place,and you need to use 2 tools at once to get the nut loose.

largeorangefont

01-23-2009, 03:53 PM

The front suck because the nuts on the top of the strut towers are in a tight place,and you need to use 2 tools at once to get the nut loose.

Thats why you have 2 hands.

ZING

01-23-2009, 04:36 PM

ZING

01-23-2009, 04:38 PM

And by the way, measurements showed that on stock springs my right side was higher by 1cm hehe.

jaserhunter

01-23-2009, 05:46 PM

sweet man what kind of springs did you use? this made me feel better about me put them with my buddys help. and again great job man :clap::thumbup::clap:

spookz

01-23-2009, 06:16 PM

In his YW Garage, it looks to be the NF210. That drop looks perfect and practical. =)

ZING

01-24-2009, 05:00 AM

Yes sir, NF210's. Perfect for the roads I face here. The drop was ideal, not to low not to high, it's great. Performance wise it changed as well...a little tighter on corners and a new feel which I haven't fully identified yet. I barely got to drive it.

ZING

01-24-2009, 05:02 AM

sweet man what kind of springs did you use? this made me feel better about me put them with my buddys help. and again great job man :clap::thumbup::clap:

NF210's, and thanks :)

I was scared the whole way home tho, was thinking the whole time "oh shit did i forget something, did i put the breaks back on right...etc". Was scared of one of the springs just flying of any second.

TheRealEnth

01-24-2009, 12:14 PM

lmao springs pop out like the jump jacks in the mach 5 LMAO

ZING

01-24-2009, 12:26 PM

lmao springs pop out like the jump jacks in the mach 5 LMAO

Huh? hehe

Can someone please identify the color of my car as well? Have been calling it dark gray since I got it.

MicroHB

01-26-2009, 12:55 AM

A spring compressor isn't really needed. Once the struts are removed, the stock springs have just a little tension on them. The lowering springs will go right in without a compressor.
true!

dont sweat just make sure to take off front plastic with wipers and you will be ok just 10 min extra of work but saves some skin on your knuckles and un needed stress

ZING

01-26-2009, 05:16 AM

true!

dont sweat just make sure to take off front plastic with wipers and you will be ok just 10 min extra of work but saves some skin on your knuckles and un needed stress

The installation has already been completed, check first page for pics :thumbsup:

CtrlAltDefeat

01-26-2009, 06:02 AM

Thought he meant suck as in my installation sucked. Got the pics, but they don't really do it justice. Picture kinda suck as well, but it will do.

Before:

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee339/kaychian/1.jpg

After:

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee339/kaychian/2.jpg

I'm looking to install some spring of my own, and I was trying to decide between the NF210s and the DF210s... What size are your wheels in that picture? I have 15s and worry the DFs will be too low...

ZING

01-26-2009, 06:11 AM

I'm looking to install some spring of my own, and I was trying to decide between the NF210s and the DF210s... What size are your wheels in that picture? I have 15s and worry the DFs will be too low...

I have 15's as well, stock. I personally think that the DF's would have been to low. I sometimes carry a friend or 2 with me, and roads are bad. The NF's gave an optimal drop, not to low not too high, like I mentioned earlier. Plus the drop looks a little more significant in RL, picture doesnt really capture the full drop. I will take more pictures for you if you want.

tk-421

01-26-2009, 06:24 AM

Huh? hehe

Can someone please identify the color of my car as well? Have been calling it dark gray since I got it.
I believe your color is called Flint Mica, and your color code is 1E0 (more info here (http://toyotareference.com/#YA)). That is the color I wanted originally, but it wasn't available when i bought my egg. Got 1F8 instead (still quite a nice shade IMO).

CtrlAltDefeat

01-26-2009, 06:24 AM

yea more pics would be great but you don't have to go through any trouble:biggrin:

ZING

01-26-2009, 06:27 AM

I believe your color is called Flint Mica, and your color code is 1E0 (more info here (http://toyotareference.com/#YA)). That is the color I wanted originally, but it wasn't available when i bought my egg. Got 1F8 instead (still quite a nice shade IMO).

FINALLY!! MY QUEST IS COMPLETE!!

Thanks :)

ZING

01-26-2009, 06:29 AM

yea more pics would be great but you don't have to go through any trouble:biggrin:

Don't worry, I will PM you once I get back home to take the pics. ANd I will post them up here for others as well.

Good that I took loads of pics before I installed hehe.

CtrlAltDefeat

01-26-2009, 07:10 AM

cool, thanks!

ZING

01-26-2009, 07:49 AM

Here it goes.

Before:

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee339/kaychian/IMG_2317-Copy.jpg

After:

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee339/kaychian/IMG_2324-Copy.jpg

Before: http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee339/kaychian/IMG_2319-Copy.jpg

After:

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee339/kaychian/IMG_2327-Copy.jpg

ZING

01-26-2009, 07:51 AM

And I seem to have a problem. Before installation the back right side was 1cm higher than the left. After Installation it fixed itself...but 2 days after (today) I measure it and again the right back side is 1cm lower than the left. I am going to empy the trunk of everything and check again..but does anyone know what it could be?

CtrlAltDefeat

01-26-2009, 08:03 AM

Well I've heard they are supposed to settle for a couple weeks... maybe they aren't settling quite at the same rate, and will even up once they are completely settled...

ZING

01-26-2009, 08:04 AM

meh, maybe. I will pass it by the dealer one day, see what happens!

CtrlAltDefeat

02-08-2009, 04:59 AM

hey did that uneven height thing work itself out? After the alignment?

SwooshICE

02-13-2009, 01:31 AM

some cars are build that way since the distrubution of weight is not perfectly centered between left and right. Nothing you can do to fix unless you get adjustable coilovers.