Natesriv build thread

Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
I bought one of those universal shock/strut tools, to hold that top part...wonder if that'll work.

Those wrench's would be ideal! and NOT cheap
 
Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
Springtime in KC

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And to quell the noise in the rear, I bought the KYB rear shocks... hopefully that rear rattle is banished back to HELL!!!!

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Spacers arrive Thursday. I've got all I need to begin the mods.. except tires which I'll buy next week too...

I am taking donations too BTW... stuff ain't cheap! :)
 
S

sbelljr

New member
When I installed my Pedders, I found that the top 24mm didn't spin if loosened while the car was still on the ground / weight was on the wheels. Basically take the nut off while the coilover is still supporting the weight of the car, then thread it back on by hand and then it will just hang from the tophat once you raise the car.
 
R

River_Rat

Active member
I had no trouble removing the nut, it was putting it back on that gave me problems. I thought I had it, but a short test drive proved that I was mistaken, and I had to tear it all back apart again.
 
Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
so you had to take wheels off, take inner fender liner back off, take cowl covering off and recompress, or just get top portion off and tighten the upper bolt.

BTW, what's everyone doing up? I have to work at 7:00a.m...that's my excuse :)
 
R

River_Rat

Active member
Just the cowl and wipers, but that's not particularly fun. I used a combination of a 24 mm wrench, a regular socket gripped by vice grips, and a t50 to get it tightened down.

I don't know why I'm up early. Well pushing on 730 now so not that early anymore. I should do some schoolwork.
 
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Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
Suspension On!!!

Okay,today I tackled the springs, new rear shocks, and 5mm spacers (Thanks DDM!)

  • Firmer ride, more jounce... okay for me. Wife will hate it... keeping OEM springs for the possiblity of going back to stock in a year or so...
  • Handles MUCH better, doesn't lean at all
  • 5mm spacers make wheels really striking. The ASA GT06's are gonna kick butt!
  • Funny, it's a 1" lowering, but I feel like it's 4" from the drivers seat.... weird!

B&G Springs, thicker than stock (THE BLACK ONE IS THE REAR SPRING, THE RED ONE IS THE FRONT SPRING... A DUH!)
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Rear springs in place. More coil, but tighter wrap in the middle of coil.. super easy to install. New shocks from KYB (no rattle) and spacers in place
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Front strut off, realized later that I had the WRONG type spring compressor...didn't get beaned, but it popped off pretty hard....went and got the right type...
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here's the KYB's (on the right) compared to OEM...seemed firmer...
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here's the shock setup BTW... the part on the left is where it bolts into the body shell... very odd setup
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up on jack stands... our garage is narrow...huh?...house was build early 50's when cars were pretty big...no way a 60's Caddy will ever fit in there!
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Compression!!! It takes A LOT of turns to compress...to the point of forearm cramping!
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All done!
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Qapla!
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Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
having a vice in my shop..really helps! having a workroom (shop)..priceless.

Beer is so much better when you've earned it...

did bang my kneecap on a rear wheel stud...that felt SO GOOD.........(sarcasm)
 
rdss

rdss

Junior Member
Yeah, having a garage is certainly nice. I finally don't have a second car in the garage so it's time to start looking into a work bench so I can get a vice in the garage.

Wheel studs and knee caps don't mix.
 
Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
rdss said:
Yeah, having a garage is certainly nice. I finally don't have a second car in the garage so it's time to start looking into a work bench so I can get a vice in the garage.

Wheel studs and knee caps don't mix.
Click to expand...

Before the Sonic I had a 96 Riviera (which I traded for the Sonic, it needed a lot of work)... and a 2004 Si
The Si was quick, but no luxury, and very narrow seats
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I miss my Riviera though.... I modded her so much, she rocked...but 8 years was enough
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rdss

rdss

Junior Member
That's a good looking Riviera. I had a couple of Si's, 06 coupe and an 09 sedan. They can be quick and I found them decently equiped for being economy cars though and on par with my STi but I didn't get the STi for luxury.
 
Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
rdss said:
That's a good looking Riviera. I had a couple of Si's, 06 coupe and an 09 sedan. They can be quick and I found them decently equiped for being economy cars though and on par with my STi but I didn't get the STi for luxury.
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Thanks...she was a luxury bullet...240hp..supercharged...moved!
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Loved the Si...but just not enough. Sold it back to CarMax and moved on. The Sonic is almost as fast and has far more use to me...
 
littleturbo

littleturbo

New member
Natesriv said:
Well, I've only seen two types of springs.
Eibach and B&G
difference about $40-$30'ish between the two... I chose B&G since they drop about 1", Eibachs are 1.2" & 1.4" which isn't really that much more for more $$. Here in MO, we have potholes and speed bumps.. I wanted just that little bit, but not too much (low looks good, but you trade harshness and scrapes for the look)...

I'm thinking I can install myself, I'll need to buy a 24mm socket.. The 21mm's which holds the struts to the front suspension assembly seem to come off easy enough. I'm worried about the 24mm nut to take off the top of the strut, will that just spin? It looks really easy to DIY this, and I don't want to spend $$ I don't have for what appears to be easy installs....

I think the 1" drop will also keep the ride closer to OEM than really low.
Click to expand...

I have almost lost my whole car in a few huge pot holes here in Columbia no even on interstate 70 and 63

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
 
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