Scot

I got some KW3 that i need to get on this weekend, but they didnt come with tophats (pillow mounts, whatever)...... I cannot figure out how to remove the ones from my stock suspension?

I guess at the worst I could go to a Monroe or somewhere and pay them to swap just the tops to the kws???

help.

thanks

Ek9

Don't the stock shocks have an allen head on the top of the shaft? I thought you just stick an allen wrench in then unscrewed the top 19mm nuts.

You put a spring compressor on them first though.

I've done a trick which some people think's dangerous where I take the top nuts off with the car on the ground, then jack the car up while the springs unload. I'm not recommending it but, if you don't have a spring compressor you're kind of stuck.

FISH22

your first gonna have to compress the springs(otherwise it will be too tight, and you wont be able to undo the nut). like stated above, just put the right size allen wrench in there, hold it in place, and take off the nut(think its a 12 or 14mm). hope that helps.

pete

Slows2k

The spring needs to be safely compressed while holding the shock's center shaft (6mm allen IIRC) and removing the 14mm nut. The spring is loaded and will chase you around if you don't have it help in a spring compressor. If you don't have one, take the stock shocks to a shop that does, or buy one.

Scot

i decided to just have Monroe Muffler take them off and put them on the KW's.... hopefully they don't f' it up.

Ek9

You can get a decent spring compressor at sears for $50-70 or so. I have a set here. It's not a difficult job in any way and it's pretty satisfying when you finish.

If you don't have the tools though then of course you're at their mercy.

Scot

I hope to only swap suspension once.... normally the stuff that i get has the mounts, but apparently the prior owner need them so they took them off to put back on his stock suspension.

boyguan

YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST PAY THEM to remove it and put it on yourself. this way you cant blame them for messing up your kw's

Billman250

I've done stock suspension with just an impact gun. There is only a small amount of residual pressure built up. If you're adding lowering springs, you won't even need a compressor. You can install them by hand.

This is all for an S2000, of course.

If it was a minivan, you will get seriously hurt.

Ek9

Yeah, I'd never attempt my trick on a real strut type suspension. We're really just coilover shocks which seem to be under much less pressure.