DIY: Trunk Shocks
10-05-2003
#32
DIY King
Thread Starter
iTrader: (61)
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Age: 47
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 394 
You have to make different trunk springs. As far as I know you can't "get" them anywhere. Well, the OEM spoilers come with different trunk springs. Besides that there are none.
10-05-2003
#33
A descendant of 2k1civic.com
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Nebraska
Age: 41
Posts: 5,619
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
1 Post
Rep Power: 335 
Well. . my fatory tension bars that assisted the lid are gone. . So is it still ok to do these shocks without them? I have the Kappas series 6x9s too, so those stock bars just don't fit.
10-05-2003
#34
DIY King
Thread Starter
iTrader: (61)
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Age: 47
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 394 Factory tension bars? You mean the trunk springs, right? Yeah, it's OK to install the trunk shocks without those trunks springs. It's just that you'll need to use a stronger shock. In turn that might cause the trunk frame to bend a lot in the place where the shocks attach. just make sure that you have them attached firmly and you should be all set. 
10-05-2003
#36
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 they hold the trunk up because they are twisted... A LOT. That's why they're called torsion bars, and they serve the same purpose as springs/shocks would...to put tension on the trunk lid and keep it open. Im have a stock lid, and am going to get 50lbs shocks in a few days, no trunk "springs". I'll let you know how it goes.
10-09-2003
#44
Registered!!
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Springfield, Ohio, US
Age: 41
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 or it would make a nice pumpkin catapault... 
i'm using 50s right now...and it goes up automagically with no spoiler...or at least i think they are 50s
i'm using 50s right now...and it goes up automagically with no spoiler...or at least i think they are 50s
10-25-2003
#46
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 ok; i got a problem. Im installing them right now, and I placed the holes so that the trunk opens all the way. Only problem is that the shocks arent fully extended when the trunk is open. I can't get them onto the brackets. One is fine, but I need to depress them about 1/2 an inch to get them on the other one, and they're 50lbs, so its pretty impossible to compress them, then get them in place, then push them on the ball studs. I tried a big clamp thing, but the hardware on the ends is too big. Any suggestions? This is pissing me off; half hour of measuring, hour of doing, sitting at an hour and a half of trying to get these damn things on.
10-25-2003
#47
will you make out with me
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by jwalker87
ok; i got a problem. Im installing them right now, and I placed the holes so that the trunk opens all the way. Only problem is that the shocks arent fully extended when the trunk is open. I can't get them onto the brackets. One is fine, but I need to depress them about 1/2 an inch to get them on the other one, and they're 50lbs, so its pretty impossible to compress them, then get them in place, then push them on the ball studs. I tried a big clamp thing, but the hardware on the ends is too big. Any suggestions? This is pissing me off; half hour of measuring, hour of doing, sitting at an hour and a half of trying to get these damn things on.
ok; i got a problem. Im installing them right now, and I placed the holes so that the trunk opens all the way. Only problem is that the shocks arent fully extended when the trunk is open. I can't get them onto the brackets. One is fine, but I need to depress them about 1/2 an inch to get them on the other one, and they're 50lbs, so its pretty impossible to compress them, then get them in place, then push them on the ball studs. I tried a big clamp thing, but the hardware on the ends is too big. Any suggestions? This is pissing me off; half hour of measuring, hour of doing, sitting at an hour and a half of trying to get these damn things on.
10-25-2003
#49
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 got it! I used some vice grips to get some better grip on the shocks to compress them with. Then...snap! A note to anyone thinking about this; I have a completely stock coupe trunk lid, no spoiler. 50# will keep the lid completely stationary at any point bringing it up...until about 10" from the top, where it gently pulls it up and keeps it there. If I were you, I would get 60# with a no-spoiler coupe. Other than that, they work flawlessly! Thanks grey!
10-25-2003
#50
DIY King
Thread Starter
iTrader: (61)
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Age: 47
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 394 I have 50 pound ones on a stock trunk. No trunk springs. No wing. No anything else. Mine opens all the way and then it jerks up when it gets towards the end. Mine are a little too powerful. I will get a spoiler though, so it's all good. I also didn't have to compress them to get them in. I just open up my trunk all the way and I snap the trunk shocks in. Perfect measurement I guess. Then again, mine doesn't do the gentle thing like yours does. I'de like it to do that though. Hmm... Maybe after I get a spoiler? ???
Then again, mine doesn't do the gentle thing like yours does. I'de like it to do that though. Hmm... Maybe after I get a spoiler? ???
10-25-2003
#51
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 i dunno...it is kinda nice that all the way up it stays where I put it...but I do like the concept of just pushing it up at the bottom and it does the rest. Oh well, this is better than a yardstick that I had before
12-17-2003
#52
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 UPDATE! It's now been two months after I installed them. They're still holding up fine, but have weakened a little bit. THey stay up fine once they're up there, but I now have to apply more pressure than I did (almost none previously) for them to go up. These are 50# on a bone stock coupe trunk lid. I would have gone with 60#s or even 70's if I were to do it again. Only hard part was compressing the shocks that 1/2 inch to get them to go on...
12-18-2003
#55
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 yup thats it. Without trunk springs the trunk doesnt stay up, like mine use to. Theyre also a lot better than the trunk springs even if you dont have bigger speakers; you can get like 80# ones and the trunk will open on its own.
12-18-2003
#57
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (20)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dallas, PA
Age: 43
Posts: 30,677
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 583 if u were to put subwoofers in the back of the trunk towards the rear seat.......would these shocks get in the way of the box.......in other words, would u have to use a smaller box?
12-18-2003
#58
Bodacious Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA
Age: 37
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 no. Theres other stuff in that space which hangs lower than the shocks; i have a picture of mine in the "my ride" section. It might be a little too close in for what you want to see, but you get the idea.
12-18-2003
#60
Registered!!
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 562/909, California, US
Age: 47
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 i'm gonna do this DIY this weekend if i have time ... i bought 50# ... stock trunk with m3 style trunk lip ... should i take out the trunk springs or just leave it ??
i want to do this because i have remote trunk release ... so it'll be cool combination with the trunk shock
i want to do this because i have remote trunk release ... so it'll be cool combination with the trunk shock
