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DIY Guide: 2014 GS350 F-Sport Lowering Spring Install Guide
#16
#20
#21
Driver School Candidate
I can't push it with my hand. I drive smooth before and after. I didnt over tighten. Very strange. One of the mechanic thinks it just a lubricate for the actuator contacting each other. Since its metal to metal.
#24
Rookie
iTrader: (2)
Here is the new spring installed with the shock fully assembled. Remember to note which side goes up or down. There is a skinny side and a thick side to the spring. Just follow the same direction as the stock spring. Also, remember that the spring needs to line up in the bottom perch. Then make sure that the top hat lines up the same way as the stock direction. Basically, just reinstall everything in the reverse order of dissasembly. Make sure to take note of how all the stock stuff was oriented.
Suspension reinstalled into the car. I didn't have a chance to list all of the torque specs. It's all available in the factory service manual. I will have to get another copy since I accidentally threw the sheet away after install.
Remember to reinstall the ABS cable that you tucked away safely earlier. The connector side just clicks straight into the sensor.
Now for the rear install. I didn't get a chance to take too many photos because you have to wrestle with the rears to get them off/on. The rears are also a bit more tricky to do since the whole arm is under extreme tension. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully so the spring won't come flying out of there!
Here's another shot of the rear suspension.
You will need to remove these 2 bolts. DO NOT remove them until you have properly supported the arm from underneath. If you pull the bolts without supporting underneath, the spring will fly out violently.
You will need to remove the ABS sensor in the rear as well. These 3 bolts will take the sensor out. DO NOT miss this step! Tuck the sensor away to the side so it's out of harms way.
Remove the 17mm nut for the sway bar.
ABS sensor removed.
Use a second jack to raise up the arm until you can feel the bolts get loose. You should be able to pull the bolts straight out after you have relieved the tension. After you have removed the 2 bolts, loosen the inner 19mm nut(don't remove just loosen). Now VERY slowly let the supporting jack down. The arm will swing down and the spring will be relieved of tension. After that, the spring can be pulled out by hand easily.
So remember: RAISE jack first, remove 2 bolts, loosen inner nut, and then lower jack VERY SLOWLY.
Sorry I didn't get many photos of these steps. You have to really man handle the suspension to get it all on. So to reinstall the rear, make sure the new spring goes in the same way as the stock one. Note which side of the spring is skinny and which is wide. The stock spring has the skinny on top and wide on bottom. Put the rubber alignment cone into the top of the spring. Put the spring back into place between the body and the arm. After that, place the jack back under the arm and raise it slowly until you are able to put the bolts back into the arm. You will have to do plenty of wrestling around with the rear spindle to get the holes to line up. Torque everything back and you're good to go!
Here's a shot of the car with the install of the Tanabe NF210 springs completed.
Hopefully this guide is helpful for those of you wanting to attempt a DIY shot at the suspension install. Sorry if some of the steps aren't 100% conclusive, but most of the stuff will be self explanatory once you're in there.
Suspension reinstalled into the car. I didn't have a chance to list all of the torque specs. It's all available in the factory service manual. I will have to get another copy since I accidentally threw the sheet away after install.
Remember to reinstall the ABS cable that you tucked away safely earlier. The connector side just clicks straight into the sensor.
Now for the rear install. I didn't get a chance to take too many photos because you have to wrestle with the rears to get them off/on. The rears are also a bit more tricky to do since the whole arm is under extreme tension. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully so the spring won't come flying out of there!
Here's another shot of the rear suspension.
You will need to remove these 2 bolts. DO NOT remove them until you have properly supported the arm from underneath. If you pull the bolts without supporting underneath, the spring will fly out violently.
You will need to remove the ABS sensor in the rear as well. These 3 bolts will take the sensor out. DO NOT miss this step! Tuck the sensor away to the side so it's out of harms way.
Remove the 17mm nut for the sway bar.
ABS sensor removed.
Use a second jack to raise up the arm until you can feel the bolts get loose. You should be able to pull the bolts straight out after you have relieved the tension. After you have removed the 2 bolts, loosen the inner 19mm nut(don't remove just loosen). Now VERY slowly let the supporting jack down. The arm will swing down and the spring will be relieved of tension. After that, the spring can be pulled out by hand easily.
So remember: RAISE jack first, remove 2 bolts, loosen inner nut, and then lower jack VERY SLOWLY.
Sorry I didn't get many photos of these steps. You have to really man handle the suspension to get it all on. So to reinstall the rear, make sure the new spring goes in the same way as the stock one. Note which side of the spring is skinny and which is wide. The stock spring has the skinny on top and wide on bottom. Put the rubber alignment cone into the top of the spring. Put the spring back into place between the body and the arm. After that, place the jack back under the arm and raise it slowly until you are able to put the bolts back into the arm. You will have to do plenty of wrestling around with the rear spindle to get the holes to line up. Torque everything back and you're good to go!
Here's a shot of the car with the install of the Tanabe NF210 springs completed.
Hopefully this guide is helpful for those of you wanting to attempt a DIY shot at the suspension install. Sorry if some of the steps aren't 100% conclusive, but most of the stuff will be self explanatory once you're in there.
are these the super down springs or just down ??..... also do you have AWD in that pic or is it RWD i was gonna drop mine so researching around thanks in advance
#25
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: WA
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P.S. I think the car looks lower in person..these pics don't do it justice...
#26
Rookie
iTrader: (2)
Those are not Down or Super Down springs, they are Tanabe's made for RWD's. But there are quite a few people on the forum with these on their AWD's. I went with Down springs and I think the drop came out pretty decent! It was about an inch drop all around..it's not AS low as this but is is pretty damn close...
P.S. I think the car looks lower in person..these pics don't do it justice...
P.S. I think the car looks lower in person..these pics don't do it justice...
#27
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: WA
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#29
going to attempt this in the next two days, I finally got my springs in.
I've never had to use an arm puller for an install. Is this needed or is there something else you can use instead? Do auto part stores rent arm pullers like they do spring compressors?
I've never had to use an arm puller for an install. Is this needed or is there something else you can use instead? Do auto part stores rent arm pullers like they do spring compressors?