How long do coilovers take to install?

VegasSpeed said:
What is the average time it takes to install a set of KW V3's?
Click to expand...

My install took about 4 hours with alignment and corner balance. Although they had 2 tech's working on my car, one on each side.

I would probably guess around an hour per corner to remove shocks/springs and to install each coilover while using the OEM top hats.
 
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It all depends. Are you doing this yourself? Air tools? Lift?


Coilovers:
If a shops doing it, and they know what they are doing, 4 hours. If I was doing it, 5 hours(no air tools :frown: )

It's pretty easy, 3 bolts on top, one bolt on the bottom. Remove the sway bars or loosen them and move out of way. Loosen brake lines. Wiggle struts out using 2x4 for leverage.

Coilovers should slide in pretty easy. Just set them on low (so the strut assembly is shorter) for easy install and then once installed, turn the coilovers to desired height.
 
I was curious for getting some price quotes on how long it takes because the labor rate is per hour.
 
Do it yourself, its easier than you think. It will take you about 2.5h just to install them and then you can take your car to a proffessional shop for corner balancing.
 
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Brylek said:
Do it yourself, its easier than you think. It will take you about 2.5h just to install them and then you can take your car to a proffessional shop for corner balancing.
Click to expand...

I agree.....if you can change brake pads, you should be able to install coilovers. Plus you have the support from NSX Prime! :smile:

If not, take it to someone that has experience with the NSX or take it to a shop that you trust. Suspension install isn't rocket science. Any mechanic can easily do it, just make sure they don't hammer or bend any suspension parts. Like I said previously, a 2x4 helps in removal as it's likely needed for leverage to get the struts out.
 
syndicate said:
I did my kw v3s and Ravi4l's suspension. Both cars took 1.5 hours each. No lift, no 2X4 and no air tools. The steering stuff looks simple enough and it says 30 mins.
Click to expand...

You should work for a pit crew! :biggrin:
 
I have done this twice.
The first time without a lift took a long time because I had trouble getting the OEM shocks out. Had to use spring compressors and since I had never done it before, it took quite some time.
The (shorter) TEIN suspension was easy to get it.
Total time first time was a full day.

Second time, using a lift, it was about 4-5 hours total and taking it easy.

One important tip though.

Make sure you don't damage your drive boots when taking the OEM shocks out. It is very easy to do this
 
Zishan said:
It all depends. Are you doing this yourself? Air tools? Lift?


Coilovers:
If a shops doing it, and they know what they are doing, 4 hours. If I was doing it, 5 hours(no air tools :frown: )

It's pretty easy, 3 bolts on top, one bolt on the bottom. Remove the sway bars or loosen them and move out of way. Loosen brake lines. Wiggle struts out using 2x4 for leverage.

Coilovers should slide in pretty easy. Just set them on low (so the strut assembly is shorter) for easy install and then once installed, turn the coilovers to desired height.
Click to expand...


Agreed, with air & hoist its like 2hrs plus .5-1hr for alignment. The only 'hard' part is setting all four corners the same height before locking the tabs, and thats really not that hard. I installed my springs/struts (same principal) in like 1.5 and drove to work and did the alignment in like 20mins
 
How about the reverse? What is the trick to reinstalling the OEM suspension if you remove coilovers that were shorter? I can't seem to get enough space to wedge the entire OEM assembly back in. Am I missing a step or a trick to do this?
 
Took me about an hour to do my suspension. (removing Billsteins and installing lowering springs onto the Billsteins and then back together). I can't imagine installing coilovers to take much longer. NSX suspension comes out fairly easily provided you have the right tools for the job.
 
Tech7042 said:
Took me about an hour to do my suspension. (removing Billsteins and installing lowering springs onto the Billsteins and then back together). I can't imagine installing coilovers to take much longer. NSX suspension comes out fairly easily provided you have the right tools for the job.
Click to expand...

I know that - but I'm asking the reverse. What do I need to do in order to REINSTALL the OEM SUSPENSION? Do I need a spring compressor or something to fit them back in? I'm stuck.

HIJACKER said:
How about the reverse? What is the trick to reinstalling the OEM suspension if you remove coilovers that were shorter? I can't seem to get enough space to wedge the entire OEM assembly back in. Am I missing a step or a trick to do this?
Click to expand...
 
I did it by myself with the 2x4. Took about an hour per wheel. Probably another 30 min to get the height right.

I don't want to do it again.
 
If you are turbo2go ............................................................................................................................................................about 18 months.......:wink:
 
When Jim and I switched out my OEMs for KW Clubsports, we found that the OEM assembly was still under spring extension (or pressure) with the suspension fully relaxed (no wheels) up on Jim's lift. I'm not sure how the others are talking about using a 2x4, but I know the day we did mine, a spring compressor to relive some of that pressure would have enabled us to avoid dropping the suspension and subframes...and cut about 2-3 hours out of our project. Once the OEM's were out, we didn't have to disassemble them to reuse the tophats since the Clubsports come preassembled with tophats, are shorter and have adjustable spring lower collars, they went in super easy and not under any tension at all... BTW...Spring compressors are available at Harbor Freight for about $40, give or take. Some auto part stores may rent them too...it's worth a look... HUGE difference in handling, btw...
 
Just did similar a week ago. Difficult part is getting OEM shocks out. They're longer than aftermarket shocks.

Use 2x4 pry-bar method (with 2x4 fulcrum on disks to protect brake dust shield damage) for rear to force the lower arm down enough to get bottom of shock out. For the front unbolt the speed sensor wire bracket, etc from lower arm and back of hub so you can contort it out of the way enough to pull the bottom of shock toward you and out.

Also helps (may be necessary, I can't remember) front and rear to disconnect one of the sway bar end links on each side to allow the side you're working on to move independent of the other. Just stick an appropriate-sized alan wrench into the end of the bolt to keep it from spinning when you remove the nut.

I learned these things from this thread (may have more info/details):
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140474

Once you DIY the install, have car aligned.

Hijacker, the reverse should work (2x4 for rear, unbolt and contort speed sensor wire bracket out of the way for front) to get the shocks back in.
 
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