[parapaul]

I am, at the tender age of thirtysomething, not in the least ashamed to say I am very excited about this! I'm working all night tonight, home to bed for a few hours in the morning, and plan to have the car up on stands on the driveway by lunchtime.

I have a garage full of Bilstein, Eibach and M parts, a mate who's equally useful with spanners to lend a hand, and his girlfriend to serve drinks while we work

Hoping realistically to have it all done by 5 or 6pm, which leaves loads of daylight leeway for when - sorry, if - anything goes wrong

Pictures by this time tomorrow

[Mr Singh]

Have fun!

If you don't know already some of the trim in the back has to come out to get to the top mount nuts, we managed to do it without removing the drivers side rear as it was easy enough to push the trim over. Passanger side will have to come off.

Front isn't too bad but you could do the rear 3 times over the amount of time the fronts take lol.

[zltm089]

nice one!!!...look forward 2 a review!!!

[YvesD]

Prepare to be astonished by just how bad the original set up is...

Yves

Originally Posted by parapaul

I am, at the tender age of thirtysomething, not in the least ashamed to say I am very excited about this! I'm working all night tonight, home to bed for a few hours in the morning, and plan to have the car up on stands on the driveway by lunchtime.

I have a garage full of Bilstein, Eibach and M parts, a mate who's equally useful with spanners to lend a hand, and his girlfriend to serve drinks while we work

Hoping realistically to have it all done by 5 or 6pm, which leaves loads of daylight leeway for when - sorry, if - anything goes wrong

Pictures by this time tomorrow

[phil200tdi]

Please Take photos!!

And write a DIY!!

What bilsteins? B4?

[jada07515]

awaiting photos....im debating what springs to put on...is the standard set up really that bad lol

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

Please Take photos!!

And write a DIY!!

What bilsteins? B4?

There's a couple of DIYs on the forum already, but I'll definitely take some pictures as I go.

I've gone for the B4S dampers - hopefully they won't over-damp the springs and make the ride too hard.

[makkan00]

Good luck Parapaul.
My rear one M retrofit kit was fitted today, and front one are going in on Monday.
Looking forward to see some photos from the same spot before and after work done.
Also some measurements will be handy, how much drop you actually get?

[m1bjr]

Rears - unbolt the OUTER lower arm and not the inner cam bolts.
Its easier (with an aux jack) and you won't mess up the geo so much.

I doubt you will be done by five.
Dont forget you need an alignment too - don't drive too far until that's done.
The wheels will be toe out and it will be all over the shop.

If you find the struts are seized in the hub carriers then its an awful job - be prepared for this - it happens.
I would lube everything with PlusGas before going to bed.

You can reuse (and you will need) all the oem bump stops and washers.
If you dont have oem suspension already, don't start the job

Front - try to slacken off the piston topnut before jacking the car even.
Unless you have the right tools - then this can save hours of aggro.

Front wheel off - jack the lower arm up to compress the struts.
Means you have less spannering on the spring compressors.

Tape up the wing edges or you will dint them.
struts come out when compressed if you stand on the lower arm thay just clear the wing.

GLHF!

[parapaul]

Cheers for the tips

We'll see about the timescale - we've lowered quite a few cars now between us, it's only nuts and bolts, right?

Totally agree about the front struts being a pig of a job if they're seized, we've had that before!

I have vortex sockets for the strut top nuts - and swan neck spanners too

Possibly my best investment though, is a 1/2" square drive adaptor which goes in the chuck of an electric drill and reduces the endless ratchet work compressing the springs down to a couple of minutes. Genius

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

Rears - unbolt the OUTER lower arm and not the inner cam bolts.
Its easier (with an aux jack) and you won't mess up the geo so much.

I doubt you will be done by five.
Dont forget you need an alignment too - don't drive too far until that's done.
The wheels will be toe out and it will be all over the shop.

If you find the struts are seized in the hub carriers then its an awful job - be prepared for this - it happens.
I would lube everything with PlusGas before going to bed.

You can reuse (and you will need) all the oem bump stops and washers.
If you dont have oem suspension already, don't start the job

Front - try to slacken off the piston topnut before jacking the car even.
Unless you have the right tools - then this can save hours of aggro.

Front wheel off - jack the lower arm up to compress the struts.
Means you have less spannering on the spring compressors.

Tape up the wing edges or you will dint them.
struts come out when compressed if you stand on the lower arm thay just clear the wing.

GLHF!

Thanks for posting!...

I think hes installing shocks and springs...so will fitting the shocks take more time than when just fitting springs?....and is the process the same when fitting springs only?....

[zltm089]

ohh yes Paul, please take lots of pics and DIY guide plssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Thanks for posting!...

I think hes installing shocks and springs...so will fitting the shocks take more time than when just fitting springs?....and is the process the same when fitting springs only?....

From my experience and getting M sports packaged fitted, spring will take less time.
For shocks, you have to unbolt screws from the trunk (under the boot trim).
Similar job, but springs only is less hassle compared to springs + shocks.


Waiting for my Indy to give me a shout for the fronts one to go in soon.

Originally Posted by parapaul

Possibly my best investment though, is a 1/2" square drive adaptor which goes in the chuck of an electric drill and reduces the endless ratchet work compressing the springs down to a couple of minutes. Genius

Mate, do you have photos of it or link for it.

Thanks.

[westsidee90]

zltm was you not taking notes when i was doing it the other day lol!

[YvesD]

Slightly off topic, maybe, but for everyones encouragement

Here are some lovely shiny new FSD's prepared with new bumpstops, Pro-Kit springs & new spring pads all round that I found laying around recently.

Beautiful arent they.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Slightly off topic, maybe, but for everyones encouragement

Here are some lovely shiny new FSD's prepared with new bumpstops, Pro-Kit springs & new spring pads all round that I found laying around recently.

Beautiful arent they.

Work of art Yves.

I'd buy a deep picture frame,arrange the parts in a Pollock fashion, and hang them on the wall

@Parapaul,what's taking so long?

[YvesD]

Kind words, thank you

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Work of art Yves.

I'd buy a deep picture frame,arrange the parts in a Pollock fashion, and hang them on the wall

@Parapaul,what's taking so long?

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by westsidee90

zltm was you not taking notes when i was doing it the other day lol!

man, i shud have! lol......

Just seems that according to Steve, that might take much longer!....but you did it in 2/3 hours.....so wanted to know how different was it from fitting just the springs....

[westsidee90]

the FSD shocks are quite good :-) be good to see how you rate them after they have been fitted :-) are you replacing any of the bushes ? im planning on doing to do most of them on the vert

[rich1068]

Sorry Paul but unless you can adjust the ride with an iPhone I'd be ashamed to continue this thread...

[zltm089]

bloody hell...wats takin so long?!...he must be done by now!!!...

[YvesD]

I've used them before but with a less than complimentary wheel and tyre set up... Other hindering factors too, more of which another time.

No need to change bushes, mine are all Powerflex items already!

Yves

Originally Posted by westsidee90

the FSD shocks are quite good :-) be good to see how you rate them after they have been fitted :-) are you replacing any of the bushes ? im planning on doing to do most of them on the vert