Lowering The IS200/300 Front and Rear

Workshop Disclaimer Applies

Ensure all tools are servicable, also ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Make sure the vehicle is properly supported on axle stands or other means which is approved for the type of work being undertaken.

FOR THIS WORKSHOP ARTICLE, A 2 POST ELECTRIC LIFT WAS USED.

REAR SUSPENSION.

Loosen the rear wheel nuts, Lift the wheels clear of the ground, and remove the wheels.

Open your Boot/Trunk and remove all the trim in the Boot/trunk,

on each suspension Turret you will see the top of each shock/strut assembly protruding, you will notice x3 nuts, undo these 3 nuts

Back in the wheel arch area of the first strut you will be removing, you will notice at the top of where the spring is, which sits on the flange of a black cup like object there are x2 screws securing this cup to the cars chassis, these 2 screws need removing. (see pic below)

Once these 2 screws are removed, you can place the spring clamps onto the springs and start compressing the spring (as per the spring clamp manufacturers instructions).

Once some slack/the spring becomes loose within its location stop compressing the spring.

Now you need to go under the car and remove the lower arm/bottom strut securing bolt (see pic below)

Once this bottom bolt is out of the way, you should be able to remove the strut complete from the wheel well.

THIS MAY TAKE SOME EFFORT, AND 2 PEOPLE COULD BE BENIFICIAL HERE, AS THE STRUT MAY STILL REQUIRE SOME COMPRESSION BY HAND.

Dismantle the strut/shock assembly

This is best done in a Clamp or vice, to secure the shock body from spinning.

To dismantle the strut you will require an ALLEN type bit and socket adaptor for a ratchet, or even a simple ALLEN TYPE ANGLE

You will also require a ring spanner to fit the Nut on the strut assembly.

USE the spanner and Ratchet to loosen the nut by using the spanner to hold the nut while you turn the ratchet which in used to turn the ALLEN bit and the coresponding ALLEN recess in the shock rod arm top.

Once the strut is dismantled Rebuilding is the opposite of stripping

Rember when re installing the strut assembly to ensure that all nuts and bolts are tightened up, and that the spring is correctly seated on the shock base seat and upper seat.

FRONT SUSPENSION

You will be pleased to know that the Front suspension is easier to change compared to the rear.

AGAIN ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT TOOLS ARE REQUIRED AND THAT THEY ARE FULLY SERVICABLE, ALSO ENSURE THAT YOUR MEANS OF SUPPORTING THE CAR OF THE GROUND, ARE CORRECT FOR THE JOB IN MIND.

Firstly remove the ABS sensor, this is a 10mm nut, there is also another 10mm nut that secures the ABS wiring loom to the shock strut, this also requires removing. Once the ABS sensor and wire are out of the way, you can fit the Spring Clamps, and start to compress the front springs.

You will now have to split the top knuckle joint of the upper wishbone, firstly though, you will have to remove a small securing clip from the Castlated nut, then remove the nut.

Now you will require a BALLJOINT SPLITTER.

Use the balljoint splitter to split the joing for the upper Wishbone (see pic below)

Once the Joint is seperated, use a piece of stout wire, to hold back the arm (there is a small hole in the bottom of the arch which you can use to hook onto to)

Now you need to loosen the Centre nut on the TOP of the strut under the bonnet (yours may be covered by a black rubber dome...remove this rubber dome)

REMEMBER TO ONLY LOOSEN THIS NUT.....NOT REMOVE IT

Once you have LOOSENED the centre nut, remove the three mounting nuts

You will now need to go down to the wheel well again and remove the bottom mounting Bolt.

Once this bolt is removed, you will be able to remove the whole strut/spring assembly from the car.

to dismantle the assembly again you will need a vice to secure the assembly into.

IMPORTANT, MAKE NOT OF DIRECTION, i.e the ABS wire atatchment point always faces forward...if you make a point of direction while the assembly is in a vice it will help with assembly.

On the top of the strut there will be a steel plate which can just be lifted of, this is a strenthening plate, note its orientation, you will notice on the mounting plate below it, there are some arrows marked, ensure on reassembly these arrows are in the same orientation in accordance with the ABS wire attatchment (as noted above)

now you can finish of removing the centre nut.

Once the centre nut is removed you will be able to remove the upper mounting plate, under this you will note a rubber cover (this also has orientation arrows, take note)

remove the rubber cover and remove the spring.

Re assmbly is reverse of removal, however make strong note of the orientation arrows that were noted above.ensure that the arrows stay in orientation to each other, and the ABS wire atatchment.

once the springs have been fitted all round, ensure the wheels are correctly fitted and tightened to the correct measurement, You need to allow the springs to settle, this is best done over a few days and several hundred miles, after this period it is strongly advised to get a full alignment check done.

Thanks to Mat Clawley for this Guide!