I was told that I could use the lowered springs from the arnott's on the tokico's. Before I start the project I was wondering if the springs just 'fit' on the tokico's as-is or if there was something I am going to have to do to put them on?
Installing Tokico's on my car. Lowered Springs from Arnott's
- Thread starter Myco
- Start date
k9t8m
Rollin' Twankies
I dont know how much of a response your going to get because I dont know of anyone who has done this.
GMAN
Dedicated LVC Member
The springs will fit on any strut for a mid 90's model Thunderbird or Cougar. I would go for a 96 Thunderbird SC. The strut and suspension will bolt right up. Any mechanic shop will put on the springs for you. I just tipped the mechanic on duty $20 and I was done. Make sure, that you do the rest of the suspension work, ie the upper and lower control arms, sway bar link. It will make a world of difference. Feel free to ask any questions. I see you're in Houston. What part of town are you in?
kustomizingkid
Dedicated LVC Member
SVTLaser did this... they should bolt right up... I wouldn't change over springs if you don't know what you are doing, you can hurt yourself... badly...
GMAN
Dedicated LVC Member
If you have a mechanich shop mount the springs on the struts, it is then no different than if you had regular air struts.
So far I have one side on. What I did was use a spring tensioner borrowed from Autozone to compress the spring and put onto the strut. (it's 50$) The struts bolt right on but I absolutely had to drop the lower control arm to get the strut back on. Upon putting the lower control arm back on the alignment I see is going to be screwed up pretty badly. I"m still under a 6 month alignment warranty from a tire shop so that will be fine. Just one more side to get on. Then the backs.
The biggest problem I have had is the plastic cover that comes on the Tokico strut is too small for the spring once it's compressed. It's been a pain to get it on. IMO it's necessary though so I'm leaving it on thought I don't see much use for it as it's open on the bottom.
The biggest problem I have had is the plastic cover that comes on the Tokico strut is too small for the spring once it's compressed. It's been a pain to get it on. IMO it's necessary though so I'm leaving it on thought I don't see much use for it as it's open on the bottom.
The tensioner is pretty straight forward. I'm leery of it though.
Everything else is done on the front end. The back end needs strut mounts badly but I don't have the time or money.
I'm in the Southwest side. At Bellaire and Fondren.
GMAN
Dedicated LVC Member
We'll have to get together soon. Since you're doing the spring conversion, it is a good thing to change the rear shocks. Since you have Tokico's in the front, I'm sure you can get them for the rear. Check my thread on rear strut mounts.
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I have the tokico's for the rear. Yea, we should get togeather. How's 11:00am sound. lol Called a shop and they want 45$ to compress the spring onto the strut. Guess I'll compress this one too. Now that I've done one the next one should be a little easier.
edit: That was 45$ for a pair. Done one so I'm having the other done for 20$. Worth it to not have to take the risk of doing it myself. But def. need to drop the lower control arm for this. I remember putting them on. I must have been cussing up a storm putting them on without dropping the LCA. I also had someone helping me though. That could be the difference.
edit: That was 45$ for a pair. Done one so I'm having the other done for 20$. Worth it to not have to take the risk of doing it myself. But def. need to drop the lower control arm for this. I remember putting them on. I must have been cussing up a storm putting them on without dropping the LCA. I also had someone helping me though. That could be the difference.
When I put the LCA back on the other side, if you can visualize this: where the LCA bolts to the chasis there is a slop, not a hole. then on either side of the slot there is a circular disk. Before I put the LCA back on the car the disk's were turned (from the perspective of looking at it from the front of the car) to the right. Meaning the 'lines' on the disk were pointing to the right. Now, after putting the shock on, the disk is turned around and pointing to the left. I'm assuming this is going to be a huge issue as far as alignment but is there any other issue this would cause?
I'm also wet-sanding my car soon and taking the trip off for a macco paint job. You'll see why when you see my car.
Thats the camber adjustment bolt/disk. It will also do slight toe changes too so it will wear out the tires very fast and cause the car to be all over the road. Just slack the nut and then turn the bolt head (with the car in the air) untill the disk is aproximatly where it was then go get an alignment.
When I did mine I took a picture of each adjuster and when I put it all back together I put it as close to the picture as I could but was still of .8* toe in. Oddly enough I had the camber balls on perfect.
When I did mine I took a picture of each adjuster and when I put it all back together I put it as close to the picture as I could but was still of .8* toe in. Oddly enough I had the camber balls on perfect.
That's an odd way of doing things.
When I did mine, I indexed them with correction fluid prior to removal - must have been good enough, as the alignment people did squat afterwards, plus no uneven tire wear. (yet)
GMAN
Dedicated LVC Member
Myco, give me a call. I left you a PM.
Cheez_94
Well-Known LVC Member
Ratchet straps work fine for spring compressors, used them many times. Your guaranteed alignment just went out the window unless the guy who did it is blind and doesn't notice all nice new shinney parts
It's a pretty cool shop. I don't think they will say anything. I've been in several times, once after putting on new sway bar bushings. I think I'll be ok.
Just so everyone knows. After putting the tokico's on the front with the lowered springs the car handles awesome. It takes bumps much much better. I've only driven a couple miles and still haven't done the backs but it is a vast improvement over the arnott's. Also, the car sits in the front about an inch higher than with the arnotts. I can compress the strut down if I want but will do the complete install before tweaking.
If someone was going to do this again. Renting the spring compressioners at autozone is 50$ (you get your money back upon returning) But I would just take them to a shop. Getting the plastic cover of the strut in the spring and everything lined up is a pain in the but.
If someone was going to do this again. Renting the spring compressioners at autozone is 50$ (you get your money back upon returning) But I would just take them to a shop. Getting the plastic cover of the strut in the spring and everything lined up is a pain in the but.
Did the rears today. The bushing were cracked all the way around on both and the struts themselves, once compressed would not go back up. (it would but very very veeeeery slowly). Quess that's why it wouldn't align correctly when I had the car aligned.