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DIY: Coilover Install


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#1 R-Y

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 01:42 PM

Hey guys,

I recently purchased a set of BC Racing Coilovers for my BG5 liberty.. Ordered through justjap.com and they were delivered within a week.. :yahoo:

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For this DIY you'll need,

* Jack
* Jack stands
* Socket set
* 19mm ring spanner
* Flat headed screw drivers
* Breaker bar
* Rags
* Some form of container
* Hammer
* Chocks (bricks work well)
* Dot 3 or 4 brake fluid
* Small hose
* 2 clean bottles

Firstly park the car on a flat surface. Loosen the front wheel nuts and chock the rear wheels

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Raise the front of the car, place it securely on jack stands and remove the wheels.

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Next remove the brake hose from the calliper using a socket and wrench. Use a bit of rag to block the end of the hose and the calliper opening . Next remove the brake hose from the strut. Its a bit tricky but I found if you use a flat headed screw driver and a hammer you can tap the clip that holds the hose to the strut out by hitting either side of the clip. Next remove the 2 strut to knuckle nuts and bolts and the disc, hub and calliper should fall away from the strut..
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Next remove the mounting nuts that attach the top of the strut to the strut tower. (3 in total) Make sure you are holding the strut when removing the bolts, or have someone else hold the strut for you as the strut will fall away when the bolts are undone.

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I left the coilovers at the height they were at straight out of the box. Just be sure to measure them and make sure everything is the same length. And make sure everythin has been tightened.
To fit them up it is just the reverse order of taking them out. The only thing is to not fully tighten the strut tower bolts up until the car is on the ground with the wheels on again.
The only difference from the front to the rear is the rear strut tower is found inside the car and looks like this on a wagon.
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Once everything is bolted back up, the brakes must be bleed. It’s easier to do this with another person handy.
1: Attach the small hose to the bleeding nipple and put the other end in a clean bottle. Remove the master cylinder reservoir cap and get your mate to pump the brake a few times then hold the brake in.
2: Loosen the bleeder screw just enough to allow a flow of fluid to leave the valve. Watch for air bubbles to exit through the hose.
3: When the flow slows up after a couple of seconds, tighten the bleeder screw back up and have your mate release the brake pedal.
4: Repeat steps 1 – 3 until no more air comes through the hose. And keep an eye on the master cylinder reservoir and top it up reguarly.
It is best to do this in the order of front left, rear right, front right and then rear left.

Thats all there is to it. All thats left is to enjoy.
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Before

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After

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Before

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After

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If Ive missed anything, please fill in the blanks for me.
Cheers, Ryan.

#2 Morgan

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:04 PM

Nice job mate! She's sitting really nicely now!

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#3 R-Y

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:09 PM

cheers morgan.. doesnt look like its ready to hit the trails anymore haha..

#4 hamish_023

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:33 PM

Nice right up. Just make sure a wheel alignment is booked in after as well.
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#5 Adam

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:44 PM

Thanks for taking the time to do a write up!

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#6 aekOne

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:49 PM

looks great mate, nice ride height. nice write up as well. good job!

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#7 bobbyjimmy

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:52 PM

Why'd you take the caliper off?

Lower.

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#8 R-Y

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:56 PM

Never took the caliper off..

#9 Scuba-Roo

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 03:02 PM

Nice write up! Short and simple! And that's all it is to replacing struts.

But why do you need brake fluid?

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#10 R-Y

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 03:17 PM

Nice write up! Short and simple! And that's all it is to replacing struts.

But why do you need brake fluid?


Its always handy to have some especially when bleeding the brakes because if u spill some youve still got some to top up the resevoir.. Oops, just noticed i didnt add that in the Write up.. will edit it in now..

#11 bobbyjimmy

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 06:42 PM

Never took the caliper off..


Next remove the brake hose from the calliper using a socket and wrench.


Meant the brake hose. Why'd you take it off?

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#12 GT_Tony

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 06:47 PM

nice right up man

just installed BC coilovers into my Gen IV today

*STI SF5 RWD Forester 84DGT

*MY10 XTP Forester 84DXT

*MY05 GT Legacy
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*1992 Subaru SVX
 

17 Subaru's and counting..


#13 R-Y

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 07:09 PM

Meant the brake hose. Why'd you take it off?


SO i could take the strut out.. The hose needs to be pushed all the way through otherwise you can take the strut out..

#14 Scuba-Roo

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 07:30 PM

oh yeah, i just put a cut in mine, then bend them out the way, and when re-installing bend them back into shape and use the clip again, much easier :)

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#15 2003rx

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 07:31 PM

hmmm, didnt need to disconnect the brake line on my gen 3 but they probably have a different setup.
On a side note, nice DIY and great Coil Overs :D
EJ25

#16 R-Y

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 07:35 PM

hmmm, didnt need to disconnect the brake line on my gen 3 but they probably have a different setup.
On a side note, nice DIY and great Coil Overs :D


Yeah it was the only way to get them off.. The bracket on the old strut had a hole that the brake line went through with no gap in the side, unlike the new coilovers which do which made it easier to reinstal..

#17 Shaz

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 08:11 PM

Good DIY thread is good.

I vote for this to be a sticky.

Cheers
Shazza
 


I put up with people from amnesty, red cross and now the cancer council almost daily hounding me!! Throw in the greens, green peace, unhcr, save the forking children and I've well and truly hit my limit for the number of fuckstains wanting me to sign something or give money. Seriously cubts,  :fork: right off.
 

 

#18 AussieTemplar

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 08:39 PM

For an absolutely newb like me, this is great. Cheers dude. Straightforward.

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Get out of my thread.

 


#19 Morgan

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 09:22 PM

This forum needs a DIY sub forum. Then all the scattered DIY's moved there.
I know I like to flick through other forums' DIY section for tips on how to do things..

Eg1
Eg2
Eg3

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#20 Shaz

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Posted 29 June 2011 - 09:27 PM

This forum needs a DIY sub forum. Then all the scattered DIY's moved there.
I know I like to flick through other forums' DIY section for tips on how to do things..

Eg1
Eg2
Eg3


Absolutley Morgan. Put up a feedback thingy in the right subforum

+ 1

Cheers,
Shazza
 


I put up with people from amnesty, red cross and now the cancer council almost daily hounding me!! Throw in the greens, green peace, unhcr, save the forking children and I've well and truly hit my limit for the number of fuckstains wanting me to sign something or give money. Seriously cubts,  :fork: right off.
 

 




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