About to give up (Help with Intrax lowering spring install)

I'm attempting to install my Intrax lowering springs, which I originally bought for my first Aveo back in 2005. I've got both of the spring compressors on the right rear spring; however, I've never done this before and I have no idea what i'm doing. I don't want to pay a local shop $80, if I can do this myself.
Here's where i'm at now:
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/u...g/DSC02383.jpg

It seems like i've got both sides of the spring as compressed as it is going to get; however, I still have no wiggle room to get the spring out of there. Am I completely messing something up? I did a search online and on the aveo forum and did not come up with a how to on installing lowering springs. Can someone help me out please!!

to start, your jackstands are in the wrong place. your jack stands should be positioned on the pinchwelds under the doors, in the jack positions. then you place the jack itself under the middle of the bar raised (up so the bar is resting on the top of the jack) where your stands are currently located. then you remove the lower shock mount bolts. once shock mount bolts are removed, use the jack to lower the whole dead axle assembly, at which point the stock springs will almost fall out without use of spring compressors

what paul said, but i usually just let it drop... there is a point on the frame that i use over the pinch weld though.. but you have the spring compressed where you have the jack stands as they are still holding up the car..

I'm going back out to try that now. Is the front the same procedure or something entirely different?

Well thank you very much for the advice. That method worked like a charm. Still was unable to complete the job though because apparently I was wrong in assuming that '05 lowering springs would work on a '10. The stock springs standing up fit inside the '05 lowering springs. In other words the '10 stock spring is much smaller in circumference then the '05 lowering spring. And yes I triple checked and it was clearly labeled REAR on the lowering spring. I even tried the FRONT lowering spring, but it was also larger in circumference then the stock spring. So I guess I will be selling some '05 Intrax lowering springs pretty soon. I hate to admit it, but I actually contemplated cutting the stock springs, while they were sitting on the floor next to the lowering springs. But I have heard about the crappy ride quality of cut springs, so I didn't do it.

thats not possible, the suspension is "exactly" the same post pictures of what you have and also part numbers off the box.

look in my coilover thread for the basic idea of how the fronts come apart.

I already put everything back on the car, but i'm telling you the stock spring can easily sit inside the lowering spring when they are standing on the floor. The stock spring is larger at the top and gets smaller towards the bottom, but the lowering spring is all the same circumference. When I tried to put it onto the car, the top of the spring will not fit inside the top circular thing that had the rubber piece in it. Some of the spring overlaps this part of the car no matter how I move it around and try to make it work. I double checked the box and it says Chevrolet Aveo 04+. The part # from the box is 25.1.011

i know what the stocks look like, show me what you bought. sounds like you got sleeves?

They're huge purple springs from Intrax. Smaller in length than the originals, but larger in circumference, hence why they won't fit.

that sucks. as for the front its a whole nother ball game ALOT more complicated, but still fairly easy with a little know how, their are even some excellent write ups if you browse through the how to section on here

Yeah, I finally found someone's great write up and I should have bookmarked it, but I forgot. I've also pm'ed whiterat I believe it was. He was running with Intrax springs to ask him a few questions. I'm still undecided on which size tires/wheels to get for it. I was thinking something huge in 18s, but I don't know if I want a wheel that heavy. So I'm thinking more like a 16 but with wider than normal tires for better traction, cornering, and overall driving. I'm hoping a 215 will fit in there with a 16.

i have the eibach prokit with KYB shocks and struts, also have a 3/4inch mdf sealed box for 2 10s along with 2 amps all weighing down the rear. My aveo is on 17x7 enkei RS6 rims with 205/40 rubber with no fitment or clearance issues at all

I really liked those RS6 rims. I had a set of them in 18s on my old RSX type S back in '02. Could you provide a link or post a pic of your aveo?

on the bottom of my posts, their is a link to my car domain page

I was hoping you could post something else. I checked that page, but the pictures are really small when I click on them.

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Originally Posted by RoRo

I was hoping you could post something else. I checked that page, but the pictures are really small when I click on them.

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Heres a bigger pic where you can see half of a rim LOL, if I get a chance, ill try and get some better pics this afternoon

Well i'm going to go ahead and order the H&R springs from Tirerack. Since I can't think of anything else to do with these non-fitting Intrax springs.

return them?

Hey Paul, What offset are your rims?

lowering springs are supposed to be wider and shorter thats how they lower your car...try calling the manufacture?

The only problem with returning them is that I bought them over 5 years ago. They've been sitting in a box for the last 5 years in my attic. I did try to go to the website for Intrax, but it is a foreign company and they didn't have any american customer service telephone #'s or anything. I would sell them, but i'm really not sure if they would even fit on a 2005 Aveo, which I originally bought them for. The Intrax box they came in does have a sticker on the side that says Chevrolet Aveo 2004+. I think i'll post in the midwest section of this website and see if anyone local to me wants to swing by and get a good deal on a set of lowering springs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoRo

The only problem with returning them is that I bought them over 5 years ago. They've been sitting in a box for the last 5 years in my attic. I did try to go to the website for Intrax, but it is a foreign company and they didn't have any american customer service telephone #'s or anything. I would sell them, but i'm really not sure if they would even fit on a 2005 Aveo, which I originally bought them for. The Intrax box they came in does have a sticker on the side that says Chevrolet Aveo 2004+. I think i'll post in the midwest section of this website and see if anyone local to me wants to swing by and get a good deal on a set of lowering springs.

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If you decide to ship lmk

thing is, if they dont fit your car, they wont fit anyone elses.

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Originally Posted by Ratchet104

Hey Paul, What offset are your rims?

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not sure off hand, if I get a chance I check it today

Quote:

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

thing is, if they dont fit your car, they wont fit anyone elses.

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That's why i'm wanting someone local to me. I don't want to sell these to someone and ship them only to find out they won't fit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoRo

I was hoping you could post something else. I checked that page, but the pictures are really small when I click on them.

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Heres a sideshot

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Originally Posted by Ratchet104

Hey Paul, What offset are your rims?

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+38 is the offset for the enkei RS6

I got the H&R springs today from tirerack. Very fast shipping!! Anyways, i'm done with the rear, that was a piece of cake. The front however, is causing a bit of a problem. I have everything undone, i've just never used a spring compressor before, so i'm having a bit of trial and error with them.

not safe way :)

if you have the strut out, and an air compressor, set the bottom of the strut in the grass, put the impact on it, and holding only the impact, let it rip, they don't blow apart that hard. you dont even need the spring compressor to reassemble.

I got it all on and figured out. The car looks really nice even with the stupid stock steelies on it. I took it for a quick spin, WOW. The handling is much better. I can't wait until I get some proper wheels/tires on it.

Take some pics, even with the steelies on

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/u...g/DSC02396.jpg
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/u...g/DSC02394.jpg
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/u...g/DSC02392.jpg

Lower it !

I like it the way it is. I know it'll look even better once I get larger rims, side skirts, front lip of some sort and maybe a rear bumper from a body kit. I'm still shopping around for some of those items.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ratchet104

Hey Paul, What offset are your rims?

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I just realized my last post on here isnt up. offset is 38. the enkei RS6 rims are coming off next week though to be replaced by some 17x7 buddyclubs

lookin good!!

Hey guys I was wondering if you guys could assist me with lowering my Chev Aveo hatchback 2007. Please if you guys could give me options. Thanks. Cars look amazing

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Originally Posted by Syd993

Hey guys I was wondering if you guys could assist me with lowering my Chev Aveo hatchback 2007. Please if you guys could give me options. Thanks. Cars look amazing

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Start your own thread instead of taking onto a old one. Here is my thread on my own adventure. My advice go with a spring set instead of coilovers
http://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f85/c...-shocks-19473/