Hey all,

Really want to lower the GT and see if I can eliminate a lot of the annoying squat and general floaty-ness I kinda don't like about the car.

The main challenge is, of course funds. Figure if I can save $300-400 installing it myself why not.

So I'm looking over any installation articles I can find and the more I look at it and plan an approach I find it is doable with just jackstands and a driveway. Had a lowered Mazdaspeed6 that drove like **** cuz I didn't change the shocks/struts so i figure I'll do it right this time and install both. Now my questions:

1. Is it easier to do this job when you're replacing both the dampers and the springs?

2. I tried installing the MS6 springs myself and failed miserably before. Don't want to deal with spring compressors and I want to see if I can minimize as much work as possible (famous last words). Would it be possible for me to have a shop like pep boys or something mount the springs unto the struts? As in, would I be able to just walk into a Pep boys with a Koni Str.t , Eibach spring, and GT500 mount and have them mount it and put it together?

3. Would I then be able to simply unbolt the 4 13mm bolts holding the original assembly and then simply bolt on the new one, WITHOUT having to open the 21mm top strut nut?

Thanks for looking @ the questions guys. This is assuming a. pep boys can supply another 21mm nut to mount the new assemblies, and b. I would most definitely still use a jack to support the weight of the lower control arm in order to neutral out the spring before attempting to undo the 13mm's.

Thanks!

 

This is a very good video. They dont go into things like the torque specs but those can be found in these forums or someone may be able to answer that here. I am currently in the process of installing my suspension right now.

 

Koni provides new nuts for the struts.

You would also have to order some new bumpstops, as they are on the strut shaft.


I did my Koni Yellows, FRPP P springs, and gt500 mounts in about 4 hours this past Sunday. But that included getting the spring compressors so I could re use the stock bumpstops.

It's really not all that bad. For my 1" drop springs, no spring compression was needed on the new struts. They were short enough that the thread stuck out through the strut hat and my dad just pushed down a bit while I tightened.

For your springs, I doubt you would even need to compress.

 

#1 yes its better to do both
#2 Yes thats a nice way to do it.
#3 YEppers

 

How much do you think a pep boys would charge to slap them together?!

 

Fairly easy job. If you don't want to do it yourself, there's plenty of craigslisters offering to do it for 80-100 in my area

 

80 to q 100 for the whole job or just to mount the springs on the struts? I would think someone would slap the springs on the struts for around 40 bucks. call around and let us know what you find

 

Thanks. WHen you say bumpstops do you the grey covering pieces on the end of the stock spring in this picture?



Is it possible to get these separately - at a tire place, etc. thanks!

 

No. The bumpstops are on the shaft of the strut under the dust cover.

They are specially sized chunks of rubber, and you'd prob have to order them from tousley ford or something. I think the gt500 ones were 20 bucks for all 4. You'd only need the front ones.

 

$22 here: http://www.race-mart.com/Ford_Racing-FMS-M-5570-A.html
Black based ones are teh rear....shorter ones in pic is the front that ride on the shaft of the struts.