Now its time to assemble the new units.
Insert the er….inserts into the donor housings.
Now that you’ve sorted the length issues of the 2nd gen sports(or not if you have the Specials), slide them into the appropriate strut body.
The kit will come with rubber dust boots. Slip these over the cut end of the struts. When the insert is fully in, slide the dust boot so it creates a seal between the insert and the strut body(mine came with two only and so I installed them on the fronts).
The inserts attach to the strut with a large M12 x 1.5 bolt through the large 1/2” hole that you made originally. You may have to use the bolt to pull the insert into the strut housing as there will be small bumps on the inset to make a compression fit with the strut. Once the inset is fully in the strut, remove the bolt and use the large washer and lockwasher that is included in the kit. Bolt the assembly down to 55ft/lbs.
Almost there.
Reassemble the strut assembly
Unless you are installing coilovers you are probably going to need this, A spring compressor.
I hear that some lowering springs do not need spring compressors. This may be true, but I cannot confirm this. I was able to compress the rear springs enough to bolt things together, but certainly not the front. For a $6 rental fee, the compressor was worth the money.
The assembly order for the struts will be:
Strut > bumpstop > accordion boot > spring > spring isolator > upper spring perch (and for the front struts) > strut bearing > upper strut mount > lockwasher > nut
Torque down to 65ft/lbs and youll have something that looks like this:
Reinstall in car
Installation will be the reverse of the disassembly process. Set the car down, drive to your favorite alignment shop to have the car looked over/readjusted and youll be on your way to a better handling car...at the twist of the wrist.
