EliteCM.net

DISCLAIMER: This how-to tutorial is being written as a reference guide ONLY. As with any modification, there runs a risk for self-injury and/or damage to the vehicle - under no circumstances do I withhold liability for anything that may occur. Proceed at your own risk.

How-To: Installation of a Coilover Suspension

In this tutorial, I will be showing you the steps I took in order to install Tein Basics for the 1st Gen ('04-08) Acura TSX. The only difference between the TSX and Accord is the rear knuckle assembly; the TSX has a smaller knuckle thus requiring a couple fender washers to properly fit the Accord's knuckle assembly.
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/3F3E9921-29D0-4419-8E24-B9724FE33F01-5236-000004E94069DB2B_zps7569ff69.jpg)


TOOLS REQUIRED:
19MM Socket with Breaker Bar, or Impact Gun, or Tire Iron
Jack Stands
Heavy-duty Floor Jack
Complete set of Coilover Strut Assemblies including adjusting wrenches (x2)
Tape measure
Rubber Hammer/Mallet
17MM Socket with Ratchet
14MM Socket with Ratchet
14MM Wrench
12MM Socket with Ratchet
5MM HEX Key and/or Socket
Liquire Wrench / PB Blaster
Anti-seize
(For 1st Gen TSX 04+ Coils ONLY) 12MM Fender Washers
(Optional) Haynes Manual or similar

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/10FC9FDF-D5D4-47D9-877E-F126F5049AC4-49862-00000926C7CFABE3_zps6342b0a9.jpg)

FRONT INSTALLATION:

1) Apply parking brake
2) Loosen the five 19MM lug nuts but do not remove
3) Raise the vehicle with the floor jack and secure on jack stands
4) Continue removing the five lug nuts; remove the wheel
5) Remove the 17MM nut where the fork meets the lower control arm
6) Turn the 17MM bolt head to break it loose, if it is stuck you can try to tighten it first and then loosen it; once loose, pound the 17MM bolt out of the lower control arm and fork
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/FrontFork.jpg)

7) Remove the 14MM bolt that secures the strut assembly to the fork
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/RearFork.jpg)

8) Remove the two 12MM nuts and three 14MM nuts from the inside of the engine compartment, securing the strut assembly to the strut tower
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/StrutTower.jpg)

9) Remove the strut assembly from the vehicle
10) Installation is in the reverse order
11) Repeat steps 2-10 for the other side of the vehicle

===============================================

REAR INSTALLATION:

1) Apply parking brake
2) Loosen the five 19MM lug nuts but do not remove completely
3) Remove the cover in the rear window to access the strut mount bolts
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/RearCover.jpg)

4) Raise the vehicle with the floor jack and secure on jack stands
5) Continue removing the five lug nuts and remove the wheel
6) Remove the 17MM nut and bolt connecting the strut assembly to the knuckle
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/FrontKnuckle.jpg)
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/RearKnuckle.jpg)

7) Remove the Stabilizer Bar by using the 5MM Hex key/socket to keep the bolt steady and use the 14MM open-ended wrench to loosen/remove the 14MM nut
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/StabilizerBar.jpg)
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/FrontStabilizerBar.jpg)

8) Climb into the back seat and remove the two 14MM nuts holding the strut assembly to the strut tower
9) Remove the strut assembly from the vehicle
10) Installation is in the reverse order

** NOTE:


** NOTE: If using TSX coilovers, remember to install the fender washers
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/FenderWashers.jpg)

11) Repeat for the other side

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/Anti-seize.jpg)

===============================================

BEFORE PICS:

The OEM Stock ride height was at approximately 27" from the ground
(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/EAB20B8B-456F-4F0C-8D7A-7801845C6C27-49862-00000926F3BD687E_zpseaa350ab.jpg)

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/951C20C7-D6CF-4701-9B2B-4747DB08D8CB-49862-000009271516C72A_zps40472239.jpg)

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/031DE477-88C5-4F7F-B0C4-571B483240F0-49862-0000092721900506_zpsc359c389.jpg)

AFTER PICS/VIDEO:

I currently have all 4 corners set at 26" for winter. In the Spring, she'll be dropped at least another inch

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/0FED58DF-6525-4576-B361-822501846E99-49862-000009284ABCD92B_zpsd7647b69.jpg)

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/F3C8D8F6-9081-4357-B15F-934CDDAFA14B-49862-0000092850DC0218_zpse8dde103.jpg)

Video: 2007 Honda Accord EX-L V6 Coupe / Tein Coilovers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2PVvlWa5zE)


===============================================

It is HIGHLY recommended that you purchase a camber kit! As a vehicle's height lowers, the more negative (inward) the camber will become. I purchased the Ingalls Camber & Toe kit for each side. For installation tips please review Thien's How-To: Ingalls Rear Camber Kit (http://elitecm.net/forums/index.php?topic=6.0) Tutorial.

Thank you and enjoy your new coilovers!! :thumbsup:

Awesome write up! I'll hopefully need to use this soon!

I should add, if for some reason you are not able to take off the end link for the sway bar as it tends to strip on older Accords in the salt snow belt, you can remove the bracket by taking off the bolt on the far right in this picture.  That is how I do all of my shock installs. 

(http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/DreaminAccord/FrontKnuckle.jpg)

Thanks for the addendum, Milan :thumbsup:

Very nice write up!  Spot on.

Stickied

 ;D

I have you to thank, Thien, for answering all of my questions & being there for me. Thanks bro!

Good write up Ben.

Great info. Maybe someday ill use it.

Agreed. Great writeup Ben. I know a lot of the guys appreciate your writeups and the time you took to create them.
:cough:bullshit:cough:

Thanks y'all! I do take pride in writing great how-to's b/c I know when I'm looking for them, I personally like a LOT of pics and information so I know exactly what I'm doing before I even start. I try to incorporate the same in the tutorials I write. Always glad to be of service :thumbsup:

Btw Tim lmk when you think the summer meet at your place is going to be! I think me and Keith may head out :) Preferably a weekend b/c my new job is M-F 8-4p - but the car's finally finished for now so I wouldn't mind showing her off and getting group pics haha

What Z stated.  So when's this meet at Tim's house??  ;D

This summer... you better get to installing a propeller on the back of that accord to make it to the main land ;) Then it's quite a drive to OH from CA lol

Not a problem at all Ben. If you want to put a note about the rear suspension removal, I highly suggest having a giant pry bar or having someone step down with all their weight on the rear suspension to wiggle out the struts makes it a lot easier to remove.

Updated :thumbsup:

I usually use a pry bar because I'm working alone.  PM me about the summer meet.  I'll be creating a new thread for it in a little bit.

I don't have an issue pulling the rear struts out anymore after I had the fenders rolled.  Before they would always catch on the lip. 

Did you roll them yourself or have someone do it? I looked into Eastwood's fender roller but it'll set me back close to $200 for basically a one-time use. I'm about to drive out to Long Island, NY on Thursday & pick up some 09 EX-L V6 wheels :thumbsup: Right now I'm running 20/25mm spacers to flush out the 17x6.5 +55 07 EX-L V6 wheels; I know the 18x8 +55 will give me a 19mm increase on both sides (basically like running 20mm spacers all around to what I have now) but I don't think it'll completely flush them. I'll have to see. If I do use spacers in the rear, I'm gonna have to roll my fenders

I had a friend roll them with a PVC pipe while I did the driving.  We invested in an Eastwood when we rolled his 2011 WRX fenders.  I could look into shipping it to you if you want to borrow it.

Yea if it wouldn't be too much that'd be very helpful! Thanks :)

Did you just have to roll or rears or the fronts too?