Should I Attempt Lowering Spring Install Myself?

Tired of my wheel-gap, looking to get a set of SR lowering springs from AM. Would love to do the install myself if at all possible.

I've done plenty of work on my own cars in the past (carb rebuilds, clutch hydraulics, exhausts, etc.) and I have a garage full of tools, just need to buy a spring compressor. I love the satisfaction of finishing a job knowing I did the work myself and that I saved $ in the process.

How involved is a lowering spring install? I've never done any kind of suspension work, but I feel like it can't be too complicated based on my experience level.

Have any of you guys done this yourself?

It's not too bad, I'm sure with your experience you can handle it. I bet CJ Pony parts or the like has a good video.

Just get a quality spring compressor and get familiar with it. That's the only "thing" with this job.

Plenty of videos online to help. Don't forget a pry bar.

You can also drive 6 hours to Atlanta and I can do it. ;)

EDIT: 7 hours specifically to the location I work on my car at... haha.

I'm not sure about Florida, but in my neck of the woods you can remove your strut assemblies and take them to a local auto-parts store, and they will change out the struts for a very small charge, as they have a spring compressor machine and tools all set to go.

That way you don't have to screw around with a cheap, hard-to-use spring compressor kit in your drive-way.

FYI, a mechanic I know said he dropped the rear lower control arms to remove the rear springs. I don't if that's the correct way to do it, or if the bolts that need to be removed are one-time-use only. You may want to purchase a set of rear LCA bolts just in case.

Thanks guys, can't wait to get it done.

QRK said:

Tired of my wheel-gap, looking to get a set of SR lowering springs from AM. Would love to do the install myself if at all possible.

I've done plenty of work on my own cars in the past (carb rebuilds, clutch hydraulics, exhausts, etc.) and I have a garage full of tools, just need to buy a spring compressor. I love the satisfaction of finishing a job knowing I did the work myself and that I saved $ in the process.

How involved is a lowering spring install? I've never done any kind of suspension work, but I feel like it can't be too complicated based on my experience level.

Have any of you guys done this yourself?

Click to expand...

Yes, I have, and I'd highly recommend renting one from a parts store rather than buying one. If you do things right the first time (shocks/struts, springs, camber plates or new strut mounts) you can swap whole for whole with like a dozen bolts. Far easier than dicking with compressing the stock ones, decompressing them, compressing the new springs, and decompressing those with everything assembled.

Also, why SR? Why not invest in a company that actually innovates stuff rather than blatantly ripping off other company's products?

Whiskey11 said:

Yes, I have, and I'd highly recommend renting one from a parts store rather than buying one. If you do things right the first time (shocks/struts, springs, camber plates or new strut mounts) you can swap whole for whole with like a dozen bolts. Far easier than dicking with compressing the stock ones, decompressing them, compressing the new springs, and decompressing those with everything assembled.

Also, why SR? Why not invest in a company that actually innovates stuff rather than blatantly ripping off other company's products?

Click to expand...

Nice, I'll look into renting one then. I looked at amazon real quick and the cheaper ones definitely look sketchy.

And to answer your question: price.

Just don't use the two piece spring compressors like I did from the local auto store that they loan out...it was a real pain as they kept slipping and easily added an hour or two to the job and was unnerving at times. The clam shell one piece type like they use on the videos is the only way to go.

I also used the kit from CJ Pony Parts to replace the non-reusable fasteners.

However, the springs I bought were the Ford Performance parts ones and they had red locktite and the instructions said it was okay to use that to reuse the fasteners. However, I had to pound the heck out of the strut bolts to get them out of the lower arm as they have splines (and I have a low mileage car that has never seen salt and rarely been in the rain). Even though I left the nut at the end to keep from damaging the end of the bolt, I felt better about having new ones to replace those.

There is also a thread entitled "Questions about lowering my 17 Mustang GT" that you should be able to search and find. For some reason my browser has been blocking my copy paste function lately or I would give you the link directly!

SVT-DADDY said:

I bet CJ Pony parts or the like has a good video.

Click to expand...

Yep. This is the video I used to prepare for a spring install and I'm a professional tech. 'Twas super helpful.


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It's pretty easy to do yourself. Make sure that the isolators on the springs are on correctly or you will get an annoying rattle/chatter.

I'm a terrible wrench and I did both front and rear.

Don't borrow the cheapies from autozone or otherwise, they suck and be warned the rears can be a bear to get out, you might need help. I had to stand on the calipers and bounce to clear enough to remove the old spring.

Fyi harbor freight has a really decent spring compressor for a fair price. I'll dig up the code after work if someone else hasn't. *edit* it's 43753

Question about the rear. do you have to drop the rr subframe or can you loosen the RR spring bucket? Ive read there was alot of prying on the rear axle, but it seemed really easy in that video.

Semi said:

I'm a terrible wrench and I did both front and rear.

Don't borrow the cheapies from autozone or otherwise, they suck and be warned the rears can be a bear to get out, you might need help. I had to stand on the calipers and bounce to clear enough to remove the old spring.

Fyi harbor freight has a really decent spring compressor for a fair price. I'll dig up the code after work if someone else hasn't. *edit* it's 43753

Click to expand...

FYI to make the rear easier when you have the lockout kit or the Steeda support kit: completely remove the main bolts from one side, and break the other side free so there's about 1-2 mm of air gap, but do not remove the bolts. That will give you enough to get the springs out without having to push on the arm much.

Rent a compressor fro HF. Save your receipt and take it back when done:lol: fronts are easy. Have a jack under the front lower control arm. Put some tension on it with the jack. It will make driving the bolts out easier. Also put camber bolts in now or camber plates. My car was just barely out of specs with the BMR springs. I had installed there camber bolts so I was able to get my camber in better specs.
For the rear. Drop subframe one side at a time. Use a prybar or have a friend step on,push down on the suspension to get that little bit more for the spring to drop out easier.
I did it all myself on the floor in 5 1/2 hours with hand tools.

Also. Order wheel spacers now. Changes to even more aggressive look