My DIY rear Coil-over conversion (84 model)... play by play (Warning many pics) (Page 3/11)
redraif SEP 14, 08:02 AM
I keep a towel nearby and use an old camera. Lol... my jobs would go faster though if I gave up the camera, but it has helped me many times over to go back and look later. Not to mention its habit now after writing tech articles for the Mustang forums
Tinkrr SEP 14, 09:41 AM
Great Presentation!

When I installed KYB struts on my 85GT more than ten years ago, the instructions that came with them indicated that the STRUT MOUNTS should be inverted, to provide an additional 1 inch of travel.

I did so, there was a mild interfernce between the decklid and the shafts, otherwise I've have never had a problem with them, except for some Fiero Experts saying "did you know your strut mounts are installed upside down?"

Here's a quick Pic

[This message has been edited by Tinkrr (edited 09-15-2011).]

redraif SEP 14, 10:01 AM

quote
Originally posted by Tinkrr:

When I installed KYB struts on my 85GT more than ten years ago, the instructions that came with them indicated that the STRUT MOUNTS should be inverted, to provide an additional 1 inch of travel.

I did so, there was a mild interfernce between the decklid and the shafts, otherwise I've have never had a problem with them, other than some Fiero Experts saying "did you know your strut mounts are installed upside down?"




hmmm... I wish I could remember if we even got instructions with mine. At the time the install was done it was my x- best friend and I doing various things at once. He tackled the strut install. The inverting would help with travel, but with it facing opposite I would have nothing to keep the spring centered. I have no welder to make my own retainer. But I had the kybs on there for this long with them facing like stock and have had no travel issues.... But then again I was at stock ride height... Time will tell I guess
Austrian Import SEP 14, 07:45 PM
Wow, thanks for the detail. Don't worry. There ain't a thing as "too many pics"

-Max
Greenmeansgo SEP 14, 08:12 PM
I just got me springs and kyb's today. good timing on the write up
redraif SEP 14, 11:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by Austrian Import:

Wow, thanks for the detail. Don't worry. There ain't a thing as "too many pics"

-Max



I know... I'm a mess when it comes to "over" pictures!

Last night went awesome! Side one is in... easy, easy....

Now I have all the parts together, like my last picture, as I'm ready to carry it over to the car...



Remember the straight sides line up with one another and line up with the outside of the car.



Stock pic to refresh you! Longer stud is on the engine side of the strut...



Put your weight dispersing plate over the engine side hole and get your nut ready by the hole.


With everything oriented (flat side of the plates to the outside and longer stud to the engine side of the strut). I now have to hold it together by hand and move it to the car. No easy feat alone... best picture I could get. Yes this is a one person show.


I let it rest here (axle boot) to eyeball where I needed to go & check my orientation.


I lift it up and slip it up into the underside of the strut tower. One more time...Flat side to the outside. Make sure to hold the upper perch studs through the holes in the plates as you lift it up. Get a helper if you can to eyeball from above and catch the stud with the nut when it emerges. However, it can be done solo while taking pics!
Guide the engine side (longer) stud to its hole.



You just have to get a few threads through and catch them with the nut to help you hold the assembly.



It can carefully hang by the one stud while you regroup and get your other weight dispersal plates and nuts ready



Now you have make sure everything is oriented and lift the remaining studs through the other 2 holes and weight dispersing plates just enough to grab some threads with the nuts



This would be much easier without taking pics... LOL!

Run on the bolts



Now you can relax and switch to tools. To avoid any binds, I always make it a habit to wrench a little at a time on each bolt when doing on something like this. I work my way around to each bolt and tighten them little then move to the next and so forth. This brings the whole assembly up level and even. Otherwise by tightening one bolt all the way, you risk pulling the unit in crooked. This can cant the whole assembly in such a way that you can damage the thread or bend the other studs and risk not fully seat the plates. That will make for a bad trip down the road!



Some slack taken up on the engine side stud



Now on to the fronts a bit and work all the way around back & forth till all are tight. Give the assembly a shake to be sure its seated and bolted good up top. Check your nuts again! LOL!



Add your bracket back on the engine side stud...



install the bracket's retaining nut



Now step back and enjoy!



Much more room in there





Now to line up the strut base and spindle


It moves into place with ease... not hard at all


I slipped in the top bolt... a few gentle bumps with my palm and in it goes



I'm leaving it there for now... I want to paint the spindle pewter to match the strut... But I need the tie rod separator first! I wanted to take the stress off the system till then.

Other side all tore apart to follow the same fate as the previous side!

[This message has been edited by redraif (edited 09-15-2014).]

Greenmeansgo SEP 14, 11:58 PM
All of your parts are black so I can tell what order you put it all back together and which side is up on them
pmbrunelle SEP 15, 12:40 AM

quote
Originally posted by Tinkrr:

When I installed KYB struts on my 85GT more than ten years ago, the instructions that came with them indicated that the STRUT MOUNTS should be inverted, to provide an additional 1 inch of travel.

I did so, there was a mild interfernce between the decklid and the shafts, otherwise I've have never had a problem with them, other than some Fiero Experts saying "did you know your strut mounts are installed upside down?"




That trick works on fastbacks.

The fastback decklid is higher than the notchback decklid.
redraif SEP 15, 12:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by Greenmeansgo:

All of your parts are black so I can tell what order you put it all back together and which side is up on them



I will take clearer pics tonight as I assemble # 2... Sorry about that. I will update the earlier pics with clearer how-to-details as well and insert clearer pics where needed. I will post when updates made.

FYI: The parts go back in the same orientation that they came off! So watch close as you take things apart and mark things if you need to to keep up with it!

for now

basic order I assembled the parts in
strut
sleeve
snap ring
perch
spring
top of strut boot dome side up(dust cover bottom portion removed retain metal inner snubbed if it has separated)
larger washer dome side up
big factory coil perch with studs facing up drapped around strut base
now ad the coil retaining plate with the flat side up. The center helps keep the coil spring centered
now and the smaller washer cupped side up
now your strut bolt
tighten.....
once secure slide the upper factory coil perch up and slide studs through coil retainer plate
then add flat plate over studs.

somehow lift balance and carry assembly to car and slide into tower and get the studs to surface thru their corresponding hole.... Lol. Not easy alone ;-)

[This message has been edited by redraif (edited 09-15-2014).]

redraif SEP 15, 05:19 PM
Did some edits and added last night's install pics a few posts up! Hope things are explained clearer with my edits. Clearer more illustrative pics coming as well!

[This message has been edited by redraif (edited 09-15-2011).]