Strut/spring change question

[TDot]

When you take off the main bolt at the top of the strut, I can imagine that bolt is extremely tight, so once you remove that strut and compress the spring, How do you remove that bolt without an impact gun or air tool? How do you leverage it? I was thinking before I even remove the strut I should barely loosen it...juuuust break it, then take it out put the compressor on the spring to remove the strut top. Or is that stupid and will end in a catastrophe?

[svard75]

When you take off the main bolt at the top of the strut, I can imagine that bolt is extremely tight, so once you remove that strut and compress the spring, How do you remove that bolt without an impact gun or air tool? How do you leverage it? I was thinking before I even remove the strut I should barely loosen it...juuuust break it, then take it out put the compressor on the spring to remove the strut top. Or is that stupid and will end in a catastrophe?

You can definitly do that. I have a friend mechanic who only used spring compressors during install. He's a bit nuts though. What he would do is put his foot on the top plate and step down hard as he unscrewed the bolt. The strut and spring would go flying back buthe never injured himself lol. Don't recommend that. Usually the piston would have a nut thread at the top and after loosening it use an open wrench on the main bolt with a smaller open wrench on the piston bolt to keep it from turning.

So you're going with the htechs? That guy hasn't posted any ride results. Just because its got the right ride height it doesn't mean the ride is okay. Our m35x have a bit more beef under the front axle and I'm concerned it may be too low or the rate too low where you'll bottom out.

[TDot]

Yeah, I'm putting in the H. I had them for months. I never realized that no X members have actually posted about ride results, I don't know if that's a good or bad thing . It's a good thing I don't drive as crazy as I used to...I even have my computer reminding me every time my car touches 70. So I guess I'll be the first to write up an experience with the H on an X. I just refuse to have the drop the other springs have, and I'm just not interested in dealing with the coils right now. There was one member that said he had these and eibachs and these actually are a bit stiffer which may be a good thing.

I'll drive around the city for a week and then take it on a 200-300 mile run and see what happens. If I don't like it, I'll know how to take it off with no issue.

If anyone with an X has these, please give some insight on the ride.

[svard75]

...There was one member that said he had these and eibachs and these actually are a bit stiffer which may be a good thing.

Really? I read the opposite tein-h-tech-lowering-springs-install-wr ... l#p6356949

[TDot]

tein Htechs
pro: haven't completed alignment yet, but the drop is so mild i can't imagine how it wouldn't be within spec. still looks better than stock but doesn't turn heads like the eibach's more slammed appearance.
con: i think it rides stiffer than stock (which is expected) but also stiffer than my eibachs, which i found odd. comparing published rates led me to expect this but didn't think it'd be so obvious on the butt dyno.

I just installed H techs and I love em. They lowered my m45 nicely, gave me a tad better feel on the road and responsiveness. Best part was it was really a comfortable ride and I dont have to worry too much on the road since I'm not that low. I am very happy that I went with H techs vs S version. Good luck

He has an M45 weighing in at 3995lbs, so I'm hopeful the 50lbs difference of mine won't make a difference.

At any rate it's only a 165lb difference between base and x (basically a front passenger) so I don't think I'll have any serious issue in bottoming out as long as I drive like a normal person (which I will because I'm protecting my rims at all costs this time around)...fingers crossed.