Springs

Springs

Are there any springs that do not require you to use spring compressors?

Yes, but they're not called springs anymore. They're called full coilovers.

we didnt realy use a compressor....set your strut on the floor....un screw....watch it fly.

The reason I ask is because my wife owns a 87 Nova and those are practically 87 corollas and I had all 4 suspension changed but the whole thing came mounted with springs and shocks all together. Do I still need compressors? I really don't know anything about suspension which is why I ask and I really need to change mine.

At my work we offer just struts alone which you have to compress springs from your old strut and put on the new ones. Or we offer a quick-strut which is the whole assemby that just bolts right in with no compressing of the springs. The quick-struts are alot more expensive, but you also save on labor rates too. Hope that might have helped a little. And I have an 86 nova btw

Question: What suspension setup did you get? I am on the market for my car also...

Really you have an 86 Nova does the shell change at all in the 87 or is it the same. So the springs that I put on the Nova are they quick struts? I really need to change them and low on $$ so I need to find out if its cheaper to get them done or do them myself

Well I put on regular stock suspension, but by the looks of them the whole thing came with springs and struts together I'd have to check for when i buy the ones for my car, if you get any info yourself let me know

I have a hatchback so idk if its different from the sedan version i dont think so though. You can put regular struts and use your oem springs, or you can buy the quick-strut (if anyone where your from offers it) and you wont have to compress springs its just direct bolt in.

I believe the cheapest way would be to just buy struts and have your oem springs put into those by a shop.

I have monroe sensa-trac struts in my nova.

I'm going to see if its cheaper to just buy the struts and have someone put them on, but I just figure if I could find some lowering springs for the same price then I would just lower the car, I'm not good with suspension so I don't know. Hey, if you have any pics of the Nova I would love to see them, my wife would love to see them actually.

So you dont need them to get the new ones in or put the springs on the struts?

Thats the same predicament I am on. For my car, 1" lowering springs + 4x strut assembly was almost $600 from autopartswarehouse.com

I was quoted $50 to get struts installed and i dont think the labor SHOULD change if I were to get the lowering springs installed at the same time. Insted of him taking the old springs out of the old struts AND THEN putting it in the new struts, he would JUST have to put together the new struts and new springs...

I have the repair manual for my car and am very tempted to just do this myself and save $200

Lol she is very rusty. Living in the rust belt (wisconsin) she never really got taken care of until My parents bought her in 98. But its been in the family since the day she drove off the lot.

They quoted $50 to put all 4 on your car? If that's so then that's pretty good but you are right the labor should no change just because they are lowering springs. Do you currently have stock on or do you have the $600 ones. My shocks are so bad that when I hit a dip they slam right into the inner quaterpanel, its real bad

That is the same shell except ofcourse yours its a hatchback, but they are really good cars, my mechanic was amazed by the condition of the car. She will be in your family for a very long time

no no i didnt pay $50.00 to get all 4 installed. I only had one replaced at the time on my car bc i was really low on money. I also get parts at cost though bc i work at a car shop. Since they are older cars, im going to guess that struts for them at list price will be about $60.00 a strut? Just a guess though so i might be wrong. Labor and everything was free for me bc I did it at my work.

And yes I agree they are very reliable cars. It was driven on a blown head gasket for 2 years and she still fires right up. even in the -15 degree winter after sitting 3 months untouched


Got any pics of yours?