hey there... like the title says i am looking for a good DIY on swapping out my springs with some different ones! I have a jack, 4 jack stands, a spring compressor and a tool box with about every tool imaginable. i think i have everything necessary except the knowledge on how to do this... ha

so if anyone has a good diy on how to do this bookmarked or knows where to find one in the search let me know!

sorry i know this deserves a flame cause i hate when people ask this type of question... just couldnt find it sorry everyone.

thanks in advance for any response.

 

Skip steps 2-4!!
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel28.shtml

 

****. working on this right now... cant get the lower strut mount bolt out... i got the nut off fine but when i started punching it through its now kinda cockeyed cause of the pressure... any ideas?

(got the rears both done fine!! the front is what im talking about)

 

it doesnt look like you disconnected the sway bar links. that should take a bunch of strain off that arm.

 

ah.. ill do that! thanks.

i posted on AZ and they recommended doing it this way

"The rears are stupid easy. There are 4 bolts holding the upper housing to the body, 1 holding the top of the spindle to the upper A arm, and 1 for the lower shock mount. Pull the assembly, pull the 1 bolt holding the upper shock mount, and the spring will slide about a foot across the floor.

The front has a couple ways. The first is quick, easy, and my preferred method.
Method 1:
Located the two plugs under the hood that cover the strut mount bolts. Pry these out and throw them away. Remove the two upper strut mount bolts (13mm?). Remove the lower strut mount bolt. Pry the lower mount over the control arm and remove strut assembly. It may be easier to pry the lower mount over the control arm before removing the upper bolts.
Method 2:
Remove pinch bolt that connects upper control arms to the spindles. Remove lower strut mount bolt. Remove the upper strut plate which has 3 bolts under the hood. Remove strut assembly."

so i followed that way for the rears and had 0 problems... i figured id try this moderators suggestion for the front too... (method 1)


but ill try to get the sway bar off. thanks!

anyone else?


here is a pic after i got the rears done! (my inspiration to finish this!)

 

That bolt gave me the most trouble. I had to drop the control arm that was kinda in the way to get it out. Would jacking the rotor up some decrease pressure? Just play with it for a while and it should come out fine ...
Are you installing coilovers? Or just springs

 

sorry... just springs... sad i know... but i was 4x4 as F#@& and found these H&R race from a guy on a MN audi forum that i belong to for $60. used one summer only and he got coilovers (i will do the same next summer, just was pressed for money cause of me being in college...)

but aledelic where did you get your centercaps from? i need to get some for mine!!!

 

heres what im dealing with... its hitting on that part of the sontrol arm or whatever

do you see the nut that my wrench is on right now? if i loosen that will that arm come loose so i can get that bolt free or will i fk myself if i try taking that off to move it.

 

ok well i just took off that bolt im referring to on the control arm, and it looks like it has a space for a hex hed / allen wrench... do i need to use one of these now to take that off or should i be able to hammer on it to get it down? (dont want to strip the threads by beating on it if its not the way to do it)

thanks everyone again

i tried taking a pic of what im talking about... idk if you can really see it but its in the center right of the picture in the light.

 

I assume that's a shot looking down at the ground behind the hub, of the control arm bolt that connects to the knuckle. You do not need to take that out. The easiest way to get the stuck bolt out is to twist the control arm that the shock is connected to with a wrench and then drive the lower shock bolt out with a drift pin or long socket extension.