How to Put Lowering Springs on a Car

Installing lowering springs is a popular modification to many cars and trucks, because the lower height looks good and performs well. The process of installing the springs should take about an hour with the right tools. In this example, the vehicle is a 1995 Honda Civic.

Things You'll Need

• Allen-key set
• Open end wrench set
• 3/8-inch ratchet and socket set
• Spring compressor
• Jack
• Jack stands
• Lowering springs
• Steak knife
• Tire iron

Instructions

Front Suspension

1. Lift up the vehicle with the jack and support the car on jack stands. Make sure the vehicle is secure on the stands before proceeding.

2. Remove the tires using the tire iron and place the wheels to the side.

3. Pop the hood and unbolt the two bolts that secure the strut to the strut tower using the 3/8-inch ratchet and sockets.

4. Unbolt the pinch bolt that secures the strut to the lower fork using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket set.

5. Unbolt the bolt that connects the fork to the lower control arm using the 3/8-inch ratchet and an open-end wrench. Remove the strut at this time.

6. Place the strut compressors on the spring on the strut. Space the clamps of the compressors as far apart on the spring as possible to give you lots of compression room.

7. Tighten the spring compressor using the 3/8-inch ratchet and sockets. Tighten the compressor by alternating from side to side. Do this until the springs have compressed at least 2 inches.

8. Place the Allen key into the top of the strut and loosen the strut cap bolt using an open-end wrench. Toward the end of the threads, start to turn the wrench slowly, in case any pressure is still in the spring.

9. Remove the strut cap and spring. Uncompress the spring compressors using the 3/8-inch ratchet.

10. Pull off the plastic cap on the strut shaft. There's a rubber bumpstop on the strut shaft. Pull it off and cut it in half using the knife, then replace and reassemble.

11. Place the lowering spring onto the strut. Try to place the strut cap back on the assembly. It should fit without having to use the spring compressors, but, if it doesn't, compress the spring as you did in Step 7.

12. Reassemble the front end in the reverse order of disassembly.

Rear Suspension

1. Pop the trunk and peel back the carpet to reveal the two bolts that hold each strut to the strut tower. Unbolt these two bolts using the 3/8-inch ratchet.

2. Unbolt the strut from the control arm using a 3/8-inch ratchet. Remove the strut from the vehicle.

3. Compress the spring and disassemble the strut in the same manner as the front suspension, Steps 6-11.

4. Reassemble in the reverse order of disassembly.

5. Bolt the tires onto the vehicle using the tire iron, lift the vehicle using the jack and remove the jack stands.