Rep Power: 247

My shocks just came in today woohoo!
I finally ordered them lol..
I got 01-02 dspecs.. I'm kind of scared of the drilling part.
I have a few questions:
-Is there anything else I should look out for besides the drilling of the holes to 16mm?
-Also is drilling my best bet? I did some searching and found out that some use "spacer washers"
-This might be a stupid question but do I need a spring compressor when installing gc sleeves onto tokico dspec shocks?
-Also can that silver collar/ring on top of the front shocks come off?

Get back at me. Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 0

Im assuming you drive the 03-05 or above em2 so yes, drilling will be the only way to get these on your car.

With GC sleeves u will not need a spring compressor and yes that silver collar does come off...just use a flat tipped screw driver and a hammer to knock it off and then put everything back together.

Let me know how the ride is, DSpecs are adjustable right?

I had tokico blues and gc sleeves for a year and then changed to tein ss because the ride was to rough for me, hopefully this set up will work for you. The thing I loved most about my first set up was cost and ease of installation and adjustment, very nice look!

 
Rep Power: 285

You'll need a spring compressor to disassemble your current struts, unless your planning on purchasing all new mounts, bearings and dust boots.

If your nervous about drilling the holes, why not let a shop do that part for you?

 
Rep Power: 247

Thanks!
Yeah, the dspecs are adjustables. I was gonna go with the blues but changed my mind last minute lol. I got the dspecs for 539 shipped @THMotorosports. Fast shipping but I'm missing one nut and 3 protection caps. What is that silver collar for? Is it just some cap?

 
Rep Power: 291

You don't need a spring compressor to disassemble the stock struts. Take the strut out into the driveway and unscrew the nut. I've done this on my car twice and the farthest any piece has flown is about a foot. The compressors are only helpful in installing the spring back onto another strut.

 
Rep Power: 285

I've done it a few times as well, and your probably safe taking it apart our struts without a spring compressor. It's safer to use a compressor and a good habit to be in though, so since they rent them for free at most auto parts stores, you should use a compressor.

I should take my own advice.

 
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Just did mine without a spring compressor also put new lowering springs on my D-Specs without a spring compressor with no problems.

 
Rep Power: 291

I've gotten either the stock front or back springs(don't remember which) on new struts without a compressor. I had to rent the spring compressor half way through the job. I was angry.

 
Rep Power: 285

I managed to replace the front and rear struts without a spring compressor, it would have taken half the time had I rented the free spring compressor though. I ended up using the OEM jack to compress the strut enough to get it in place..

 
Rep Power: 367

roadkill in the making
I used compressors, so not sure.

 
Rep Power: 247

can anyone else confirm that it is safe to take off the silver collar/cap on top of the front shocks?

 
Rep Power: 291

Why would you want to take it off? I recall my blues having the collar. I left it on.

 
Rep Power: 247

so that my gc sleeves can slide in? or would it go on no problem?

 
Rep Power: 291

Wait, do you have the GC sleeves? Try sliding it on. If it slides on then it slides on. If not, it looks like you are forced to take the caps off.

 
Rep Power: 247

okay i'll try it when it comes to installing. the gc are on my stock shocks right now. i'm waiting for the missing nuts the distributor forgot to send me.