Problem: Rear suspension. - Honda Prelude Forum

nelz886 · 05-17-2005, 11:15 PM

Today my friends and I started the process of installing the "Tokico Illumina Advanced Handling Kit" on my 94 lude. The kit comes with shocks and lowering springs (1.5"). The fronts were done perfectly, no problems. Once we got the rear, however, we can't get the stock strut assembly off the damned car. I searched the forum and only found one thread pertaining to this issue. Can anyone here go into detail on how EXACTLY the strut is to be removed?

Also, does the the stock bump-stop need to be trimmed at all?

aneurysm · 05-17-2005, 11:36 PM

remove bolt holding lower strut mount from control arm
remove nut holding upper control arm ball joint
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the next part takes two people:
one person apply all their weight on the wheel hub
second person compresses strut assembly in an upward motion then wedges out the whole assembly from the bottom.

its a pain in the ass....but having two people is the key.

brad

munscher · 05-18-2005, 09:28 AM

Once the strut assembly is loose this is what i did...

have another person put all their weight on the hub to allow enough room to move the bottom side of the assembly to the FRONT side of the control arm. once you have the bottom of the assembly on the front side of the control arm, just tilt the top side of the assembly towards the back of the car and work it on out.

nelz886 · 05-18-2005, 10:19 PM

Thanks for the help, we completed the job today. Everything is fine so far...no rattles or squeaks. However, the rear looks lower than the front. Is that normal?

UWNTSUM · 05-19-2005, 12:08 AM

Be alot easier if u just popped the upper ball joint out that is on the knuckle. Loosen the 14mm bolt that connects to the sway bar. Then the entire knuckle is able to move about free. You then can pull out the strut easily w/out having someone heavy trying to bear their weight on the hub. This way ur friend can do the other side while ur working as well.