Replacing my front struts.....

[91DX Sedan]

91 Civic DX Sedan

Hello everyone on the Suspension Corner.
I got my front shocks last night finally. in the Haynes manual and from visually looking at the parts and the car, it looks like a really easy job. Anyway is there anything I should really look out for?

In a couple months I will be able to aford my springs.

Happy Holidays everyone.:D

[Siege911]

nope, shocks/springs are pretty straightforward...

depending on the type of shocks you get, though, there might be different instructions for them. Read the instructions that came with your shocks!

[91DX Sedan]

Im really stoked about getting them in. I got so much to do and never enough money.
I just couldnt figure out why Meineke wanted a shitload of money to replace them. 4hrs@80bucks an hour = wallet rape:sadface:

[K2e2vin]

$80 an hour is the normal labor rate. They charge you by the book(how many hours it will take), but can do it in way less time.

[Siege911]

I started mine at like 7 at night, ended at like 2 (shocks and springs, but that was my first time, with TONS of interruptions, including pizza and watching sin city lol)

so probably about 3-4 hours of actual work, maybe even less. Oh, and a buddy helps a lot too lol.

[91DX Sedan]

Im just not rich enought to pay 80$hr.
Especially for something I can definitely do myself.
Thanks for the reply though k2e2vin. have you done any work on shocks and struts?
Can you tell me why I would need an alignment after I put on new shocks?
I can see when i replace the springs as the ride height would be different, but to my untrained eye, it looks like the shock can be replaced without negatively affecting alignment.
Is that a stupid question?

Anyway Happy Holidays

[Siege911]

in order to replace your struts, you have to take the lcas off, which, if you tap it/move it in any way, will throw off the alignment. It's just safer to have it done, but if you're going to be adding springs later then just wait.

[K2e2vin]

You can swap the front shocks with the LCA's still on; that's how I do it except for my first CRX when I couldn't get the ball joint off.

For our Honda's(double wishbone setup), a alignment is not necessary because the tie rod and upper control arm align the front wheels(and "traction bar" where it applies like EFs and Accords).

Only reason I can think of why it's recommend is because worn bushings can throw the alignment off; when changing the shocks chances are you are going to move the bushings around out of their "normal range" and possibly work them out of alignment(VERY rare though unless your bushings are pretty much gone). If the springs are stock rate, then the suspension is already setup for that shock(only thing you can really change, stock-wise, during an alignment is the toe settings, which is more of a tie-rod and wheel issue than shock issue)

It's the McPherson struts that need, or is highly recommend, to get an alignment when swapping/replacing shocks. Reason being, the strut itself controls the camber.

Chances are, if the shop told you this, they are just trying to make money off of you by selling you service. I've swapped shocks plenty of times in my EF(88 CRX), and never had alignment issues.

Yes I've worked on shocks and struts; mainly with trucks and Hondas, but the only car I've worked on with struts are Neons and Nissan cars.

[99EJ6T]

Anyway is there anything I should really look out for?

pick up a spring compressor, if you don't have one already. make sure that it has the small "fingers", otherwise it will not be able to compress the spring enough.

[mark7901]

in order to replace your struts, you have to take the lcas off
no, you dont

[The_Acid_Beaver]

Also, before you bolt tighten all the bolts up, make sure you put some weight on each corner, for exanple, use your stock jack to raise the suspension up enough to barely lift it off your jack stands that you shouldn't do anything to your car without anyway. Doing this "normalizes" your bushings and prevents your car from doing wierd stuff while you drive and possibly making your bushings last longer.

[gloryhog]

Also, before you bolt tighten all the bolts up, make sure you put some weight on each corner, for exanple, use your stock jack to raise the suspension up enough to barely lift it off your jack stands that you shouldn't do anything to your car without anyway. Doing this "normalizes" your bushings and prevents your car from doing wierd stuff while you drive and possibly making your bushings last longer.

very true...and tighten your shock tower bolts to full torque after you have put the car down on the ground...this is all in the haynes/helms manual...so get one and live happy!