I just bought a set of Eibach Lowering Springs for my 2004 Mini Cooper. How hard are they to put on? Is it something I can do myself?
Thanks.
John

 

you'll need basic tools, jack and jack stands...but not hard to do.

you'll also want to use a spring compressor you can rent at autoparts stores
or buy them for like $20.

 

Not bad... a few suggestions or pointers:

1. Some strong ratchet straps are better than the crappy claw-type spring compressors (assuming you don't have a wall mounted service unit!). They work great to compress the spring and hold it while you complete disassembly. I've seen quite a few spring compressors fail - luckily nobody got hurt. The straps work great, IMHO.

2. The fronts CAN be a bear... chalk it up to the way MINI makes the front arms. We've done a lot of cars - some are easy and some are hard. We always wondered why and finally figured it out. Sometimes, when the arms are welded up, they leave a blob on the back that'll make contact with the subframe. It'll come out, but it just takes more persuasion. They'll go back in easier, since they'll be shorter, though!

3. I dunno how much the Eibachs drop the car, but check your bumpstops... You don't wanna be riding around on the bumpstops. In some cases, the coils will bind before you get there, other times not. All depends on the springs...

4. Just take your time and be careful... It'll go fine...

 

I lowerd my car the second week I had the car. It took about 1.5 hours but I used air tool. The air tools make to 100x easier to remove the nut on top of the pistion. I didn't use a spring compressor at all. If you do you only need it for the front.
One note is on the rear to bore out the rear Ureathame bushings that sit at the bottom of the pistion (bump stop). I had to redo mine because the rear bushings were so tight, they created a loud squeaking affect.
Mario

 

thanks for all the help. ill let you know how it goes. Im alittle affarid, but im sure ill manage.

 

Being a little nervous is a good thing...it'll make you think. The experience is also a good thing.

Pay attention to detail and the exact orientation/relationship of the existing components and be very carefull with spring compressers; compress the springs equally side to side in small increments.

Align when done, drive it, then have beer

 

^^ i use a whiteout and dab the front tower bolts to remember orientation.
that's a good point as a lot of newbs tend to pull off the struts with
excitement and forget which way the tower was suppose to face when
torquing back the nut on the piston shaft... oh? oh?
oh? :impatient arrrr!!!

 

I'm waiting til next sunday to install them im a bit affraid still haha