Album Index for Album 0023: KYB AGX Install

Click on a link to view the Photo. This is how Photopoint returned my website. I'll convert it to a better looking format in the future.

Return to Home Page

Size Caption

106956
Yikes! Hakuna looks like it's on stilts...look at those OEM wheel gaps! Yuck.

96493
Seems a lot of people think the cover is at the lower point. It comes off a lot easier than you would expect when you find the right spot to lift! ;-P

125682
Loosen, DO NOT REMOVE THE MAIN NUT!!!! This is very, very important.

127538
Remove the two 14mm nuts on each side.

139563
Basic view from below of the passenger front shock and spring. Note the typical destructed OEM shock boot.

82987
Unbolt the link to the sways.

87070
Unbolt the lower shock mount. Pay attention to how they are oriented.

230376
Note by pressing down you can pull the top of the shock assembly out. IF you have the right kind of spring compressor, you can compress the spring in place. NOT me! It's easier to take it out and work on the bench with airtools anyhow.

89754
Remove the cotter pin and loosen up the castellated nut.

123788
The THEORY is you smack the spot with the red arrow with a small sledge and the joint just pops open. Yeah right. It ain't that easy. BUT, if you pry CAREFULLY (watch out for the rubber boot but DON'T worry about the disk brake shield) you can pop this joint with a simple claw hammer. Takes two people though....

84552
You'll bend the shield by prying, but 5 seconds with the prybar and it's back to it's original position

131172
There's the ball joint separated. Just push down on the upper arm and lift out the shock assembly! Piece of cake! Well, a piece of cake if you've done one before...otherwise it's more like a piece of agony.

121963
El Cheapo spring compressors...but an air impact wrench makes it FAST. If you have to use a ratchet you will be one very unhappy camper because it seems to take forever.

118383
Once the spring is compressed, you can remove the top of the assembly. Note the bumpstop just fell off my rotted boots.

111217
I didn't want my car as low as most aftermarket springs, but I wanted it lower. I used the old fashioned method. I cut the springs. The results were great, but not everyone will get the same. I had three sets of OEM springs to play with, so I was at an advantage. My recommendation, don't do this unless you have a spare set in case the results don't work for you.

58906
I just ground off a bit of bevel on the cut end, trying not to heat up the coils too much.

112966
You *could* buy replacement OEM boots, but the aftermarket ones are sooo cheap and they work just as well. You just need to use the OEM bumpstop.

113982
Here you can see I've cut away the original boot portion on the bumpstop itself. That way the aftermarket one can go OVER the bumpstop.

89847
Using a razor I slit the collar of the aftermarket boot.

90414
Slip it over the bumpstop and cinch it with a cable tie.

118125
Be careful how much spring you grab when you recompress. If you grab too much spring, when you loosen it over the shock your compressor will bind on the shock! You have to grab just the middle. I did it 3 times before I got it right AND I was using an air wrench. With a ratchet, I'd have been seriously ticked off!

119030
Note the cut springs seat just fine. No need to do anything.

173789
There ya go! I just need to cinch down the bottom of the boot with a cable tie.

116829
Putting it back is just the reverse of taking it off. Yeah, yeah, I know. I need a cable tie on the boot still!

100352
Here's a hint to put the ball joint back together. Jack up the lower arm till it meets. Easy!

149501
The rears are easier, but be careful removing the nuts in the trunk. If you drop them in the recess it can be very difficult to fish them out.

105632
Remove the rear sway bolts.

93238
Remove the upper arm bolt and the assembly rotates out and away. Use a jack to support the lower arm when you remove the bolt. Simple.

191632
Reinstall is much easier than the fronts.

103997
Here's the bolt when you put it back.

103599
The car is lowered and the AGX's work really well. I love the ease of adjustment.

84789
Sorry I didn't get "after" pix until I had already changed wheels/tires. The rear is still a tad high...it has the OEM rake. I might lower the rear another 1/4-1/2 inch later.

Size	Caption
106956	Yikes! Hakuna looks like it's on stilts...look at those OEM wheel gaps! Yuck.
96493	Seems a lot of people think the cover is at the lower point. It comes off a lot easier than you would expect when you find the right spot to lift! ;-P
125682	Loosen, DO NOT REMOVE THE MAIN NUT!!!! This is very, very important.
127538	Remove the two 14mm nuts on each side.
139563	Basic view from below of the passenger front shock and spring. Note the typical destructed OEM shock boot.
82987	Unbolt the link to the sways.
87070	Unbolt the lower shock mount. Pay attention to how they are oriented.
230376	Note by pressing down you can pull the top of the shock assembly out. IF you have the right kind of spring compressor, you can compress the spring in place. NOT me! It's easier to take it out and work on the bench with airtools anyhow.
89754	Remove the cotter pin and loosen up the castellated nut.
123788	The THEORY is you smack the spot with the red arrow with a small sledge and the joint just pops open. Yeah right. It ain't that easy. BUT, if you pry CAREFULLY (watch out for the rubber boot but DON'T worry about the disk brake shield) you can pop this joint with a simple claw hammer. Takes two people though....
84552	You'll bend the shield by prying, but 5 seconds with the prybar and it's back to it's original position
131172	There's the ball joint separated. Just push down on the upper arm and lift out the shock assembly! Piece of cake! Well, a piece of cake if you've done one before...otherwise it's more like a piece of agony.
121963	El Cheapo spring compressors...but an air impact wrench makes it FAST. If you have to use a ratchet you will be one very unhappy camper because it seems to take forever.
118383	Once the spring is compressed, you can remove the top of the assembly. Note the bumpstop just fell off my rotted boots.
111217	I didn't want my car as low as most aftermarket springs, but I wanted it lower. I used the old fashioned method. I cut the springs. The results were great, but not everyone will get the same. I had three sets of OEM springs to play with, so I was at an advantage. My recommendation, don't do this unless you have a spare set in case the results don't work for you.
58906	I just ground off a bit of bevel on the cut end, trying not to heat up the coils too much.
112966	You could buy replacement OEM boots, but the aftermarket ones are sooo cheap and they work just as well. You just need to use the OEM bumpstop.
113982	Here you can see I've cut away the original boot portion on the bumpstop itself. That way the aftermarket one can go OVER the bumpstop.
89847	Using a razor I slit the collar of the aftermarket boot.
90414	Slip it over the bumpstop and cinch it with a cable tie.
118125	Be careful how much spring you grab when you recompress. If you grab too much spring, when you loosen it over the shock your compressor will bind on the shock! You have to grab just the middle. I did it 3 times before I got it right AND I was using an air wrench. With a ratchet, I'd have been seriously ticked off!
119030	Note the cut springs seat just fine. No need to do anything.
173789	There ya go! I just need to cinch down the bottom of the boot with a cable tie.
116829	Putting it back is just the reverse of taking it off. Yeah, yeah, I know. I need a cable tie on the boot still!
100352	Here's a hint to put the ball joint back together. Jack up the lower arm till it meets. Easy!
149501	The rears are easier, but be careful removing the nuts in the trunk. If you drop them in the recess it can be very difficult to fish them out.
105632	Remove the rear sway bolts.
93238	Remove the upper arm bolt and the assembly rotates out and away. Use a jack to support the lower arm when you remove the bolt. Simple.
191632	Reinstall is much easier than the fronts.
103997	Here's the bolt when you put it back.
103599	The car is lowered and the AGX's work really well. I love the ease of adjustment.
84789	Sorry I didn't get "after" pix until I had already changed wheels/tires. The rear is still a tad high...it has the OEM rake. I might lower the rear another 1/4-1/2 inch later.