First time doing struts. Picked up some KYB excels. I'm planning on re-using the stock springs. They have 140k on them. Should I worry about replacing the springs? Would love to hear any advice or tips before I dive into this. Plan on PB blasting all bolts the night and morning before. Going to rent spring compressors, hopefully won't die.
Id worry more about replacing tophats and bump stops then I would the springs. Also I have a spring compressor If you want to borrow it.
You’re no good to me dead. I’m with Jason, springs will be good. Inspect top hats. Replace if binding.
Ordered tophats along with the new struts! I believe autozone will borrow em out for basically nothing. I'll let you know if I cant get ahold of any! Can you recommend a good dentist?
another thing you will want to inspect and possibly replace are your bump stops. Wont know till you get them off the car though what kind of shape they are in.
Good idea on the tophats, even if the bearings are good that soft rubber seems to turn to junk. @GrawvyRobber I believe I have a set of fresh KYB dust boots w/ bump stops that should fit. Pretty sure they're still around sitting in a box, never got used when I decided to go w/ Bilstein dampers but I forgot/lazied to return them. Should be both fronts & rears - rear may be a different fitment GE vs. GD but the fronts are definitely listed as the same P/N. Can be yours for pretty cheap if you decide you need/want fresh ones when you get into it.
FYI if he stock dust boots are good reuse them I have heard from a few people the KYB boots fit like garbage.
tips: ziptie the calipers out of the way jack under the knuckle to help line-up the lower strut bolts when removing and installing index the camber bolt make sure you line up the top hats correctly (dot lines up with the strut clevis joint) on removal, you can remove the top hat nut with the struts still bolted to the car... ie use the car mounting points as your spring compressor to release the springs
it's just a time saver over using some awkward rental spring compressors. shouldn't need them on install either unless you weigh 100lbs. good to have on hand for a first timer tho
Should I add that he may have to cut open (dremel job) the bracket on the strut that the soft brake line is affixed to? I seem to have done this a lot.
