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Lowering Kit Install Houston?

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Old 02-24-2012 | 08:23 PM
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TX Lowering Kit Install Houston?

Sup guys, figured id reach out to get some help with the installation of my lowering kit. Drove around to a few performance shops and they want about 500-600 bucks just to install my kit followed by a wheel alignment. Im no expert but that sounds outrageous especially if im just using my original shocks and only swapping springs (1.7 front, 1.5 rear). Im not even going to visit mazda as the closest one near me has a $150 per hour rate and quoted me 6.5 hours (lol yeah right). Im usually in between downtown-midtown area but i live past the woodlands parkway. Could anyone recommend someone or shop that could install my springs around the Houston area that isnt going to make me pay 3 times what i paid for the kit alone? Are these prices even close to what someone would typically charge for this job? Thanks
Old 02-24-2012 | 08:35 PM
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if your not in a rush to do it, the rx8 club or sometimes even PROJECT M holds installs meets just for this and you wouldn't have to spend a penny to do it. (well maybe a six pack) If they were coil overs and not springs i could've helped you out no problem though. (or you can hit up deviate autosports on 59 between the beltway and 610, talk to gabe just tell him hector sent you and they should be able to help you out.)
Old 02-24-2012 | 09:00 PM
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There is a place in Atascocita called H-tech (Honda ) they did some work on my scuby. I think they are $80 hr. I would guess maybe 2-3 hours.

I could help in my garage, if you want to try and tackle it together. Might be hard without a lift though.
Old 02-24-2012 | 09:04 PM
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honestly even with a lift and 2 people working on it, its still gonna be a few hours. the jobs DEFINITELY a lot easier if you wouldve purchased coilovers. its a pain in the *** to get those new springs on the stock shock. If you were in Socal im pretty sure we couldve helped you install on my birthday weekend here at my house using jackstands
Old 02-25-2012 | 03:49 AM
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Wow thanks for the fast responses guys, project M sounds extremely cool id love to be apart of something like that. I've owned my rx8 since 2007 and haven't attended any real meets since I barely found this club last summer. I had no idea the springs alone were such a hassle it seems like. Maybe I should have gone with the coil overs but I didn't think I needed them I guess. Met a guy with the same set up (1.7 fr 1.5 rear) and I thought it looked amazing so I wanted to get the same set up. I will check out those shops you guys recommended to see what they say. Thanks again!
Old 02-25-2012 | 03:51 AM
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Maybe I should just sell them and purchase some coil overs since they didn't cost me much anyways...
Old 02-25-2012 | 04:50 AM
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Springs are not hard to install. I done springs/coilovers setup up many times and its all pretty much the same thing.

The thing about the shops are that they probably won't know how to preload and usually your car won't drop as low as it should. When that happens you would need to loosen up some bolts and then the car drops a bit more. Then you would have to mess around with alignment.
Old 02-25-2012 | 05:06 AM
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Sifu if a person went around asking for quotes it most likely means they have no idea on where to begin at or barely have any idea what they are doing. But on a n00b scale its pretty high up there IMO, even when preloading even "expert" mechanics wont know what they are talking about.

the thing about aftermarket springs is you need to take the stock shock apart then re-assemble using a spring compressor, when pulling these thing out you also have to check if they are in good condition. Installing coilovers eliminates problem and it is practically a direct swap.
Old 02-25-2012 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by dozer
Sifu if a person went around asking for quotes it most likely means they have no idea on where to begin at or barely have any idea what they are doing. But on a n00b scale its pretty high up there IMO, even when preloading even "expert" mechanics wont know what they are talking about.

the thing about aftermarket springs is you need to take the stock shock apart then re-assemble using a spring compressor, when pulling these thing out you also have to check if they are in good condition. Installing coilovers eliminates problem and it is practically a direct swap.
I searched around and it seems like coil overs are the way to go, the main reason i purchased these springs were to get rid of that annoying stance my car had, the rear being lower than the front god i hate it so much. With that said im probably going to start a thread and sale these springs
Old 02-25-2012 | 01:21 PM
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honestly if you wanna save money, try getting some of the texas guys to help, food and beer go a long way. I have aftermarket springs on my stock shock too, first time i just invited a few forum members over to lend a hand and some knowledge, i bought em beer and food and we had a good time. cost me 35 bucks at most to get em installed, but it took us almost the whole day to finish
Old 02-25-2012 | 01:24 PM
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I hate how stupid it looks man.....smh

And i will do that, thanks again for your input..
Attached Thumbnails Lowering Kit Install Houston?-photo-1-.jpg   Lowering Kit Install Houston?-photo.jpg  
Old 02-26-2012 | 12:15 AM
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i know what you mean, 4x4 rx8s are not sexy
Old 02-26-2012 | 06:20 PM
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get those coil overs and i can help you install them, I installed mine by myself. it wasn't too hard, but it sure is better when you have 2 people doing it.
Old 02-27-2012 | 11:03 PM
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just get spring compressors and bam! u can install asap
Old 02-29-2012 | 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by unknown__Disciple
get those coil overs and i can help you install them, I installed mine by myself. it wasn't too hard, but it sure is better when you have 2 people doing it.
I'm definitely looking in to them as we speak
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