Box This
10-25-2011, 10:08 PM
This is my first post, so I'll make it count.
This will be a somewhat in depth how-to on installing Subtle Solutions 1" lift kit. I used my car for the images, a 2011 2.5i. This how-to may not be 100% inclusive, in other words I may list the wrong socket size, or not mention torque specs but those tid-bits somebody else can ad, or you can dig them up elsewhere.
As always, safety first. I accept no responsibility for injury you cause to yourself or others if you decide to do this yourself. I am not affiliated with SS in any way, this is simply to help out board members who would feel more comfortable seeing how this is done before they go ordering the parts. Good luck, and here it is:
You will need:
(Your car, haha.)
1.) Subtle Solutions 1" lift kit, make sure all the bolts thread into the spacers before you even attempt this job. You never know. MY set was great.
2.) Tools: (You may not need the 15 or 17 I can't recall which I didn't need)
- Metric box wrench set (at least 12,14,15,17,19)
- Metric socket set with 3/8 driver or 1/2 if you prefer (12,14,15,17,19)
- 1/2 Breaker bar, or a 3/8 bar with some more leverage (pipe on the end)
- Hammer
- Car jack (try to find a better one than the junk in the trunk)
- Jack stand(s)
- Tire iron, or other lug removal socket
- A friend to help you at some point, you will need it
Just a general idea of what you might want with you (some I didn't need / use.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SItools.jpg
1.) Start with the rear, it's more "difficult" in ways because the suspension is a heck of a lot harder to force down to remove the struts.
Remove the trunk linings:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI1.jpg
2.) Find out what it's like to be kidnapped, just kidding.. remove the push pins holding the carpeting to the sides of the trunk and remove it all.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI2.jpg
3.) Loosen your lugs while the car is on the ground, tip - be sure to set the parking brake and put the car in gear if you have a 5 speed like I do. (put a block in front of the opposite front wheel now so the car can't roll forwards also.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI3.jpg
4.) Choose your jacking location (don't interfere with the suspension) and set up your jack-stand, safety first, safety is paramount if your jack fails you don't want to find out how heavy the car is on your head, hand, or leg. (take my word for it, from personal experience.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI4.jpg
5.) This is what you will see, get familiar with your suspension while it's in the air if you haven't seen it before this is our rear double wishbone setup.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI5.jpg
6.) Remove the lower strut retaining bolt, I believe this was 17 or 19mm
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI6.jpg
7.) Remove the strut mount nuts located in the trunk over the strut you are removing.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI7.jpg
8.) Get a friend to help you, somebody will literally need to stand on the brake rotor to get the suspension low enough for you to remove the strut assembly, be careful this is a big pinch hazard, mind where your hands go, or your buddy.. whom ever is pulling it out. I'm depicting doing it alone, which would be difficult if not impossible.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI9.jpg
9.) Remove the strut mounting studs from the strut mount, simply beating it with a hammer will not work the spring will absorb the impact. Put the bottom edge of the strut mount against something solid, and the studs will hammer out with a few good solid hits each. Yes, this is hard to do, yes you need to have good aim don't go hammering away and killing your bearings.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI10.jpg
10.) Install the new bolts supplied with the kit, and spacer.. be sure to tighten these down as well as you can, if you don't they will break, or you will get clunking noise down the road if any threads are left exposed between the spacer, and the strut mount itself.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI11.jpg
11.) Looks like this when tightened:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI12.jpg
12.) repeat step (8) place the bottom of the strut into the channel, and press down on the brake rotor (you may literally have to stand on it, and bounce a bit) to re-insert the top mount into the holes in the trunk, it's tricky but it works. Again, pinch hazard, mind your hands.
13.) Reinstall the top 2 strut mount nuts at this time
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI13.jpg
14.) Reinstall the lower strut retaining nut and bolt, if you have a rubber mallet or plastic hammer be sure to use this to tap it back into place as it will keep from wrecking the end of it.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI14.jpg
15.) It will look like this once it's installed:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI16.jpg
16.) Reinstall your wheel (I swapped out entire wheel/tire package, hence different wheels in the pics.. went with larger tires 215/60)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI15.jpg
Alright are you still alive? Good, you repeat this process on the other side of the car and you should be done with the rear of the vehicle in a decent amount of time. The project from start to finish took me from 5:30pm until 8:00pm. Assume 60% of that time was spent on the rear, 40% spent on the front. Now onto that!
1.) Open your hood
2.) Jack the vehicle up, not by the suspension. Place your jackstand(s) under to be safe.
3.) Locate the top of your strut tower, and remove the (3) 12mm nuts, put them in a safe place.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS1.jpg
4.) Remove ABS sensor 12mm bolt, and the brake line 12mm bolt (put them back into the strut so you don't lose them.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS3.jpg
5.) Remove the lower 2 19mm bolts / nuts. The top one is a camber adjustment - make note of where the notch on the strut is above the head of the bolt, and what mark it is set at if you want to set the camber how it was when you remove the struts.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS2.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SISCamber.jpg
6.) Remove the strut assembly.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS4.jpg
7.) As I mentioned earlier, you may need to get creative to remove the studs. I find it easiest to spin the strut mount until one stud was out away from the upper spring retainer and hammer them out on a hard edge.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS5.jpg
8.) Install the spacers and supplied bolts
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS6.jpg
9.) Reinstall the strut, hold it up in place from the bottom and thread on the 3 nuts.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS7.jpg
10.) reinstall the lower bolts, remember the camber position on the upper bolt as mentioned previously.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS8.jpg
11.) Reinstall the 12mm bolt attaching the abs sensor to the strut and the 12mm bolt attaching the brake line to the strut.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS9.jpg
12.) This is how it looks installed:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS10.jpg
13.) In the following photo you will notice the difference between the completed spaced strut (right) and the stock configuration (left.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS11.jpg
14.) Reinstall the wheel, and proceed to the other side, Repeat process and you will be complete with the front & rear.
;)
Perhaps this will make some of you more confident in doing the job, if so I'm glad. If you found this helpful, please do click the thank button so I know all this was for a reason lol.
Bed time, 1am.
This will be a somewhat in depth how-to on installing Subtle Solutions 1" lift kit. I used my car for the images, a 2011 2.5i. This how-to may not be 100% inclusive, in other words I may list the wrong socket size, or not mention torque specs but those tid-bits somebody else can ad, or you can dig them up elsewhere.
As always, safety first. I accept no responsibility for injury you cause to yourself or others if you decide to do this yourself. I am not affiliated with SS in any way, this is simply to help out board members who would feel more comfortable seeing how this is done before they go ordering the parts. Good luck, and here it is:
You will need:
(Your car, haha.)
1.) Subtle Solutions 1" lift kit, make sure all the bolts thread into the spacers before you even attempt this job. You never know. MY set was great.
2.) Tools: (You may not need the 15 or 17 I can't recall which I didn't need)
- Metric box wrench set (at least 12,14,15,17,19)
- Metric socket set with 3/8 driver or 1/2 if you prefer (12,14,15,17,19)
- 1/2 Breaker bar, or a 3/8 bar with some more leverage (pipe on the end)
- Hammer
- Car jack (try to find a better one than the junk in the trunk)
- Jack stand(s)
- Tire iron, or other lug removal socket
- A friend to help you at some point, you will need it
Just a general idea of what you might want with you (some I didn't need / use.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SItools.jpg
1.) Start with the rear, it's more "difficult" in ways because the suspension is a heck of a lot harder to force down to remove the struts.
Remove the trunk linings:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI1.jpg
2.) Find out what it's like to be kidnapped, just kidding.. remove the push pins holding the carpeting to the sides of the trunk and remove it all.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI2.jpg
3.) Loosen your lugs while the car is on the ground, tip - be sure to set the parking brake and put the car in gear if you have a 5 speed like I do. (put a block in front of the opposite front wheel now so the car can't roll forwards also.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI3.jpg
4.) Choose your jacking location (don't interfere with the suspension) and set up your jack-stand, safety first, safety is paramount if your jack fails you don't want to find out how heavy the car is on your head, hand, or leg. (take my word for it, from personal experience.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI4.jpg
5.) This is what you will see, get familiar with your suspension while it's in the air if you haven't seen it before this is our rear double wishbone setup.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI5.jpg
6.) Remove the lower strut retaining bolt, I believe this was 17 or 19mm
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI6.jpg
7.) Remove the strut mount nuts located in the trunk over the strut you are removing.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI7.jpg
8.) Get a friend to help you, somebody will literally need to stand on the brake rotor to get the suspension low enough for you to remove the strut assembly, be careful this is a big pinch hazard, mind where your hands go, or your buddy.. whom ever is pulling it out. I'm depicting doing it alone, which would be difficult if not impossible.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI9.jpg
9.) Remove the strut mounting studs from the strut mount, simply beating it with a hammer will not work the spring will absorb the impact. Put the bottom edge of the strut mount against something solid, and the studs will hammer out with a few good solid hits each. Yes, this is hard to do, yes you need to have good aim don't go hammering away and killing your bearings.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI10.jpg
10.) Install the new bolts supplied with the kit, and spacer.. be sure to tighten these down as well as you can, if you don't they will break, or you will get clunking noise down the road if any threads are left exposed between the spacer, and the strut mount itself.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI11.jpg
11.) Looks like this when tightened:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI12.jpg
12.) repeat step (8) place the bottom of the strut into the channel, and press down on the brake rotor (you may literally have to stand on it, and bounce a bit) to re-insert the top mount into the holes in the trunk, it's tricky but it works. Again, pinch hazard, mind your hands.
13.) Reinstall the top 2 strut mount nuts at this time
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI13.jpg
14.) Reinstall the lower strut retaining nut and bolt, if you have a rubber mallet or plastic hammer be sure to use this to tap it back into place as it will keep from wrecking the end of it.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI14.jpg
15.) It will look like this once it's installed:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI16.jpg
16.) Reinstall your wheel (I swapped out entire wheel/tire package, hence different wheels in the pics.. went with larger tires 215/60)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SI15.jpg
Alright are you still alive? Good, you repeat this process on the other side of the car and you should be done with the rear of the vehicle in a decent amount of time. The project from start to finish took me from 5:30pm until 8:00pm. Assume 60% of that time was spent on the rear, 40% spent on the front. Now onto that!
1.) Open your hood
2.) Jack the vehicle up, not by the suspension. Place your jackstand(s) under to be safe.
3.) Locate the top of your strut tower, and remove the (3) 12mm nuts, put them in a safe place.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS1.jpg
4.) Remove ABS sensor 12mm bolt, and the brake line 12mm bolt (put them back into the strut so you don't lose them.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS3.jpg
5.) Remove the lower 2 19mm bolts / nuts. The top one is a camber adjustment - make note of where the notch on the strut is above the head of the bolt, and what mark it is set at if you want to set the camber how it was when you remove the struts.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS2.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SISCamber.jpg
6.) Remove the strut assembly.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS4.jpg
7.) As I mentioned earlier, you may need to get creative to remove the studs. I find it easiest to spin the strut mount until one stud was out away from the upper spring retainer and hammer them out on a hard edge.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS5.jpg
8.) Install the spacers and supplied bolts
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS6.jpg
9.) Reinstall the strut, hold it up in place from the bottom and thread on the 3 nuts.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS7.jpg
10.) reinstall the lower bolts, remember the camber position on the upper bolt as mentioned previously.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS8.jpg
11.) Reinstall the 12mm bolt attaching the abs sensor to the strut and the 12mm bolt attaching the brake line to the strut.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS9.jpg
12.) This is how it looks installed:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS10.jpg
13.) In the following photo you will notice the difference between the completed spaced strut (right) and the stock configuration (left.)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/95_5speed/SIS11.jpg
14.) Reinstall the wheel, and proceed to the other side, Repeat process and you will be complete with the front & rear.
;)
Perhaps this will make some of you more confident in doing the job, if so I'm glad. If you found this helpful, please do click the thank button so I know all this was for a reason lol.
Bed time, 1am.