Oh wise Machine Head, your help is needed - Honda Prelude Forum

ElusiveSi · 07-01-2001, 02:17 PM

hey man, i just got ground control coils and a buddy of mine said my nuts/bolts are too rusted to make the switch myself, but i wanna try anyway. could you give me complete detailed instructions on installing them with stock shocks? or if you got a website that has it, it would be greatly appreciated.

btw, what materials will i need?

jpprelude · 07-01-2001, 05:22 PM

I did do this with the stock shocks. It is pretty sraight forward just replace the stock springs for the coil overs. Don't forget to cut the bump stops and dust cover (?) and remember what bolts and nuts you took off. I would also get new nuts and bolts.

Do you have air tools? It might be hard to get the necessary nuts and bolts loose without them.

SOrry I'm not more helpful. I did this swap over 2 years ago and my memory is a little fuzzy. If you have specific questions, let me know.

Machine Head · 07-02-2001, 07:18 AM

Find the North Texas Prelude Owners website. They have full instructions on replacing the springs on a 4th gen , with pics too. I followed these to a tee. THese are the tools you'll need to rent or borrow. AND YOU WILL NEED THESE< NO EXEPTIONS

Torque Wrench
Pitman arm puller
Spring compressor
Air gun if available

Rusted bolts are what I had all over my car.

Here is what I did...
Jacked up each side of the car. I chose to do one side at a time, you could do frot to back.

Used one whole can of WD40. Drank a beer, waited for the juice to work. Bam they all came right off, only needed a breaker bar for one bolt.

The install is pretty easy, just take your time and be organized or you'll have some extra parts laying around when you're done.

Follows those instructions to a tee. The Weapon R website also has instructions with a diagram of what the coilover should looklike one all the parts are together.

Give yourself at least one whole day to this by your self and havea freind help you out. If you have any detailed questions after you read those instructions I told you about just ask me

One thing though, the coilovers are going to kill your stock shocks in a matter of months...you should get new shocks

jpprelude · 07-02-2001, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Machine Head
One thing though, the coilovers are going to kill your stock shocks in a matter of months...you should get new shocks

I second that. Except mine only took a couple of days. If at all possible, I would recommend getting new shocks to go with your new coilovers. I made the mistake of not doing this.

Machine Head · 07-03-2001, 10:03 AM

Yeah you should definetly get new shocks, especially if you plan on slamming it to the ground, you'll blow a shock and then have to do it all over again...and that would suck..here's the basic directions for what your gonna do. Also you'll only need a 10,12,14,and17mm sockets

FRONTS:
remove rim
open hood and unbolt the 3 14mm bolts on your shock tower
DO NOT UNBOLT THE NUT ON THE SHOCK ITSELF< THAT COMES LATER
remove the bracket holding your brake line to the A arm
unbolt the shock from the A arm, 17mm I think
use some force to slide the shock out while pushing down on the suspension
Tadah the whole assembly should slide right out
now use the spring compessor to compress the spring
once fully compessed the top cap should be loose
NOW YOU CAN REMOVE THE NUT< BUT THE CAP MUST BE LOOSE
reverse instructions for instalation

REARS:
ARE the same exept you only have 2 14mm bolts on top
and you'll need the pitman arm puller to separate the ball joint