[ck98vteC]

My friend tells me that the bolts will break on the rear when im trying to loosen the bolts for the rear shocks, since they are real difficult to remove when they are rusted out. He has done tons of spring installs, but I was wondering what everyone else has encountered on a Civic when doing the rear springs. He also said you can't use air tools back there either.

 

[kommon_sense]

I used air tools and mine came off with no problems whatsoever. I didn't have a single stuck bolt on my whole suspension. Also didn't encounter a single stuck bolt when I did the rear disc conversion a few months back.

Of course if you live someplace where they salt the roads regularly, things may be different.

 

[skidtron89]

I don't even know how many springs I have swapped and I have never broken a bolt with or without air tools but it isn't that uncommon to not be able to get the 14mm nut off the struts with out the hex head hole being destroyed by either the last guy who did work or the shit is rusty and it strips out. That's only happened to me like 4 times though 2 of which were on the same car. that wasn't easy money that day.

 

[filipinium]

those bolts were a beehive for me to take off. I ended breaking both of them off. they were rusted together. but my car is a 94 and has probably had plenty of time to sieze.

 

[iLLeFFeKt CiViC]

i've changed springs on my 93 coupe twice, on a 2001 gsr twice
and once on a 93 coupe.
so far i've never had any problems with stuck bolts but i've heard quite a few horror stories.
anyways if you want to reduce the risk go get a can of wd40 or whatever you want and spray the bolts everyday for like 2 or 3 days in a row before you decide to take it appart. that should help a lil.

 

[Peteex]

I just did this two weeks ago on my 99' and didn't have any problems. I live in AZ but the car did go through two connecticut winters when lived there, I just shot the bolts with a little WD-40 and let it sit for about a half an hour, they took a a little bit of grunt to break loose but that was because the spring compressors I have sucked. they should come off easily, and saftley as long as you use spring compressors, they're like $40 to rent at autozone for and unlimited amount of time. They take the pressure off the nut and make it easier to remove.

 

[b00stn]

The WD-40 on the bolts as mentioned is what I did. Didnt have any problems.

 

[bLaCkB16a]

i recently just installed my h&r race springs on my 00 si...the bolts were fairly easy to take off...i dont have any air tools so i used a pipe and put it on the end of the ratchet to get levrage...really helps...also used wd40...that really helps

 

[Fuster_Cluck]

I used air tools on my 98 twice and once on civickid77 civic. That goes for the rear as well. The person who told you not to use air tools on the rear is full of it! As for the rust try WD-40 all over the bolt and that should help......

 

[siboi18]

I used air tools on my si and all the bolts came off perfectly. Juss had to press the gun into the bolt so it wouldn't strip. Civics are easy when it comes to suspension installations.

But lemme tell you wrx's are no fun. Me and my friend installed his tein springs and I broke 3 torque wrenches on some of the bolts. Even the air gun had to take awhile to loosen them up. The installation took nearly 7 hrs. The location of the rear springs on the back seat are really hard to get to too.

 

[ck98vteC]

That's cool, thanks for the responses everyone.

 

[Bren]

I had no broken bolts/ bad rust on mine. And I had no air tools

But what i did do was , the nite b4 doing the job, i powerwashed under the arches and everything i cud get at in there. Then when i got home I soaked all the bolts in WD 40, and left it to soak overnite. worth a try anyway i suppose?

Bren

 

[thaseint]

I didn't have a single stuck bolt on my suspension and I have a '97. The ONLY problem I ran into was I ended up stripping the allen head bolt setup on the drivers side front shock. I just took it to my mechanic and he unbolted the shock assembly. It was a VERY easy procedure to do...