The NSX Manual Sucks

[Ponyboy]

So I'm taking out my Koni/Eibach suspension and thought it'd be a piece of cake. I mean, why wouldn't it, the manual simply says to remove a few bolts, remove the damper assembly and waala...you're done. That's it.

BAH!!! I spent two hours last night trying to get one of the fronts off and only then came to the conclusion that I had better things to do than to wrestle with a "damper assembly." The manual makes it look SOOOOOO easy.

Anway, I'm looking into the Prime DIY shock/spring tutorial and found that I'm not the only one to get a little frustrated. Somehow that's comforting. Misery loves company, I suppose.

A big thank you to those who contributed to the Prime DIY. Just had to get that off my chest.

 

[matteni]

For springs/shocks - I feel your pain.

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/NSX/springs_for_dummies.htm

 

[Ponyboy]

Nick, thanks! That was hilarious! I copied the link and am sending it to my wife. I hope my experience is much much much better.

My fave line: "I should have known the only tip is to claim you did it yourself and have someone else do it!" Why does everyone say this?

 

[MvM]

Hi Ponyboy,

Been there, done that
I can feel your misery. Simply question perhaps, but did you use a spring-compressor to compress the spring?
When I installed the TEIN-kit last year I also had a difficult time getting the first front shock out. Took me more than two hours or something like that. After that, however, the second front took me less than an hour. Experience is this kind of work certainly pays of. The rears however required a second person to help out.

Good lock with the rest of the shocks.

 

[Ponyboy]

I'll be using a spring compressor tonight. Plus, I'll have the help of another person to boot. I only need to uninstall the shocks and springs, clean them up, and then send them off to their lucky new owner. The new suspension, which better be good, won't be here until sometime next week.

I'm thinking a support group is in order. DanO definitely needs to do a write up on this demonic exercise of a car modification.

 

[matteni]

Nick, thanks! That was hilarious! I copied the link and am sending it to my wife. I hope my experience is much much much better.

My fave line: "I should have known the only tip is to claim you did it yourself and have someone else do it!" Why does everyone say this?

You think springs/shocks are bad you should try doing your own headers:

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/NSX/headers_for_dummies.htm

 

[NCC-1701D]

I know many people have posted getting someone to stand on the brake assembly while removing the strut..

I installed my lowering springs in about 5 hours by myself..I used a long pry bar (about 3 feet) and pryed down on the lower control arm which move everything down..

I never used a spring compressor to compress the spring on strut removal from the car..there is enough clearance to pull strut assembly out...but in hind sight, I think compressing the spring would make it easier to remove..

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

just get a big prybar. I can replace the suspension on the NSX about 2.5 hours.

email me if you need pointers.

 

[drew]

Nick gawd your story was awesome. I, too, copied the story and sent it off to the wife.

You need to finish off the "trip to wal-mart" and whatever torture you were inflicting on hub assembly.

Drew

Couple of typo's on your story: peeked = peaked (the dead bird) and took a "brake" somewhere along the line too.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

I am also an advocate of the big pry bar. However the fronts still can be a challange. I simply remove the lower camber adjustment bolt and let the a-arm drop. Shock comes out in 10 seconds. Putting the shock and a-arm back into position takes a little work, since things need to kind of "square up" to get it all back together.

Do you guys use a big pry bar ONLY for the fronts? Does this include removal of OEM height shocks? You are cheating if you say it is easy to remove lowered suspensions, the OEM stock setup is the most difficult IMO. Certainly the Comptech Pro suspension is easier then most.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Ponyboy]

just get a big prybar. I can replace the suspension on the NSX about 2.5 hours.

email me if you need pointers.

Ha! I'm afraid if I get a big prybar I'll end up either beating the car or myself up with it.

Andrie, you have mail.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Larry,

the stock one is pretty easy to take it off, if you have 2 pry bar. One is to hold the control arm down, the other one is to placed under the mounting point of the shock and pry it out. Took me 3 minutes

Actually the easiest to install is Tein. Because their shocks is about an inch shorter. The comptech pro is actually not.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

HI Andrie!

I have had a tough time with the stock setup. Easier with the Eibach and Comptech Pro. Very difficult with the Koni Yellows/Zanardi setup (front only).

I will try two bars next time I do it

Thanks,
LarryB

 

[nsxtasy]

I will try two bars next time I do it

I think you would be better off going out to two bars after you do it.

 

[The Man]

This thread is halarious! i just did this my self last night and what a pain! i do this stuff for a living but i have never come across a set up like on these cars before i figured was the only one i never used a spring compressor i just removed the bolts of the upper a-arm on the rears and it poped right out and on the front i removed the bolt for the camber adjustment since iwas going to align it anyway and it poped right out aswell.

 

[chriswtx]

The NSX manual is not written for the DIY, They dont explain everything because they expect the people using it to be mechanics and to have a certain amount of know-how. But that said, it sure is fun figuring things out like a big puzzle...

 

[Ponyboy]

Well my friends, a buddy and I got it done in about 2 hours time. The rears were the easiest! I took off all of the applicable nuts and bolts and used a breaker bar and jack on the collar below the spring, stood on the caliper, and waala! easy as eating cake. Well, not that "easy" but easy enough. I used pry bars on the fronts per Andrie's recommendation.

Thanks for the help guys and thank God it didn't turn out like Nick's experience. Now, I'm just waiting on Comptech to send the new stuff.

Thanks again!

 

[AaronR]

Mine took me about 2 minutes, I dropped it off and wrote a check

I don't mind some stuff, but after reading through people's opinions about it, it just sounded like too much of a pain for me to try at home. I guess this is where the NSX is not just another Honda, becuase I could do the crx while I sleep

Aaron

 

[NSXLuvr]

This thread is too funny. I just did Sway bars, brake pads, brake flush, and air delfectors last night. I was feeling really proud of myself But, after reading this thread, I think I will have to tackle the shocks/springs next. I just need to get over all my cuts and bruises.