1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

DIY: Spring Install

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by andino, Jul 12, 2010.

  1. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    720
    135
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'm not experienced with springs but I do have experience with brake tear downs and reinstalls. Besides the DIY guide doesn't look too bad and I'd like to do this as a learning process.

    And do u mean impact wrench instead of impact driver? I have an impact driver but not sure what that would be used for per the guide.
     
  2. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Impact wrench/driver is the same, used to break bolts loose. I used it to upload spring without compressor. Not recommended if you're not experienced. I also used it to take off sway bar link and rear shock bolt. Out of these 3 areas noted, only mandatory to unload front spring if you don't have a compressor.

    Have fun!
     
  3. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    720
    135
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks. I'll just rent a compressor just in case. I have an impact driver, but it only fits drill bits thus cannot use it for the application. Do u think a breaker bar or cheater bar can substitute an impact wrench? That's the only tool I'm not sure I can get access to.
     
  4. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    I think your not understanding the method but for safety sake, I won't ask you to try. Get a spring compressor and wrench. lol..

    The impact driver holds hex bits and isn't a chuck. Pretty sure you have that mixed up.

    The cheater bar wasn't to sub for impact. You still need that to break lower strut bolts.
     
  5. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    720
    135
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Lol yea reading and seeing is two very different things.
     
  6. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    don't forgot to put back the bumpstops on the front assemblies.
     
    p00kienrayray likes this.
  7. Chris S

    Chris S Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2012
    323
    109
    8
    Location:
    Gilbert, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Anybody have issues compressing the OE springs enough? I'm obviously doing something wrong, I got the strut out with no issues ( thanks to these awesome threads! ) but could only get my $14 harbor freight compressor across 3 coils. I lubed it and got the clamps to within 1" of each other (3 middle coils) but still no play in the springs and I'm scared to kill myself. Thinking of taking the struts and front Eibachs to a mechanic to swap but don't understand, am I stopped by just a cheap p.o.s. compressor.

    Update.. Found my compressor just wouldn't get it where it needed to be. Mechanic down the street will swap the springs in both struts for $50. Awesome but now I'm out of time.. Considering this a training experience until I get more time to play with. Waah!
     
  8. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2010
    917
    189
    0
    Location:
    Clarksburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The OEM springs do take a bit to compress. These are my trusty spring compressors who've helped me with over a dozen spring swaps :)

    When you are compressing the OEM springs, you want to slide first clamp to the top as far up as it will go around the coil. The second clamp should go directly to the opposite side of the spring from the first one.

    You can also pick these up from an AutoZone as a free rental if you don't want to purchase them.
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Chris S

    Chris S Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2012
    323
    109
    8
    Location:
    Gilbert, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Those look better to get across as much of the spring as possible, almost went with a similar if not same one, saw on Amazon for $59. Instead I cheaped and got these from Harbor Freight for $13.99.. ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21370623912.520553.jpg
    I think the clamps are too fat for our springs with so few coils. Get what we pay for surely. I may try another set since I want to succeed and KNOW it can be done. Next time for real will be a snap! Hope soon so I don't have to get 2 alignments! Thanks for the help
     
  10. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Unloading them using a impact gun was the fastest. Bypassed the whole compressor step. You do have to know what your doing though. These springs are pretty low rate so not too bad to do it without compressor.
     
  11. Chris S

    Chris S Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2012
    323
    109
    8
    Location:
    Gilbert, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Others have said that but this is a first for me and I just couldn't get comfortable doing it. I think I'll lift the whole car, pull the fronts and drop them at the mechanic down the street with the Eibachs and $50. While I wait I'll get the rears done and maybe I can have the whole job over in 3 hours so my wife doesn't say "how long are you gonna screw with your new car that was fine before!?" She just doesn't understand:)
     
    peterjmc and SageBrush like this.
  12. xjustinx

    xjustinx Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2010
    35
    6
    0
    Location:
    san clemente, ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    So I recently lowered my 2013 Prius with Eibach pro kit. Everything went great, the install was flawless. Now I noticed that on my driver side it seems like their is some knocking or it sounds like something is lose under the hood or some body parts rubbing. Anyone heard of this before? I have installed the springs correctly and they were seated in the strut correctly. It makes the noise all the time when I'm driving. Thanks for your help.
     
  13. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2010
    917
    189
    0
    Location:
    Clarksburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced

    You should probably go back and make sure all the bolts are torqued to spec and that some didn't work their way loose.

    What size wheels tires are you running on your lowered setup?
     
  14. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2010
    917
    189
    0
    Location:
    Clarksburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Has anyone tried more than one different brand springs on their Third Gen?

    I'm mostly looking for responses from those who can provide a comparison in comfort between the different brands. I had Eibachs on my 2010 and was thinking about switching to H&R springs for the 2013 or possibly some other brand.

    I had no problems with the Eibachs. I had H&Rs on previous vehicles and would have actually originally purchased those if I knew they were available when I bought my Eibachs.
     
  15. xjustinx

    xjustinx Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2010
    35
    6
    0
    Location:
    san clemente, ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I'm running 18x8 TSW wheels 225x40x18
     
  16. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for the install guide! I installed Megan Racing Coilovers this weekend and it was really helpful.

    For those who are installing coilovers a couple of tips (PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I DID ANYTHING WRONG):
    1) Fronts install the same. I set the height to 1.5" (bottom of spring perch ring to top of height adjustment ring). This gave me ~1.6" drop. You can adjust up/down from there depending on the drop you want.​

    2) The rears you have to replace the shock. There's a panel in the rear hatch that you pop out to unbolt the shock. You will need to reuse the rubber mounts from the stock shock. There are two rubber pieces that you reuse, one is inside the trunk under the nut. The other is on the the other side on top of the dust cover.​

    3) The instructions, aren't very clear for the spring mount/adjuster. From what I could tell, you will reuse the rubber pieces. One for the top and the other goes underneath the mount/adjuster. There's a big washer that bolts and holds the mount/adjuster to the bottom. I set the distance between the bottom perch ring and the base to 1 1/4" and this gave me ~1.5" drop in the rear. Here's some pictures that will hopefully explain it better:​

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The finished product:

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Eugene Hong

    Eugene Hong Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2012
    114
    30
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hows the ride? What did you set the dampening to? I am sort of interested in these Megans as well.
     
  18. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So far I like the ride. I'm still playing with the dampening. Right now I'm set on 25 and it's giving a pretty nice street ride. I dialed it down to 5 for some up/down hill twisties & that was fun!

    I looked at springs as well as Tein and Tanabe coilovers. I like the coilover idea as it would (hopefully) have a better matched damper than stock or other replacements. I also liked the adjustability range as well as the price of the Megan's compared to the Tein and Tanabe's.
     
  19. U2NVME64

    U2NVME64 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2013
    77
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Are you running stock rims and tires?? Your ride looks really good. I'm thinking of doing the Megan's but don't want it to look bad because I can't afford to do rims and tires for a while.
     
  20. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes, I'm running stock rims and tires for now. I upgrade the wheels with the $4 or so electrical center caps. It looks pretty good with the stock rims. If I wasn't saving and trying to decide on new rims, some spacers would finish off the look.