can a novice/beginner install a set of springs on his own?

 

with the right tools.. yes

but as always try to give a mechanic some food

 

You'll want to have a spring compressor and an impact wrench. If you have a spare car, you could pull the strut/spring assembly off, take it to your local tire shop and have them remove the stock spring (dangerous part) then take it all back home and install the new springs yourself.

 

Do you like flying objects?

 

i read somewhere that you shouldn't use an impact wrench because you might break something.. but also i tried removing the strut bar and those bolts WOULD NOT budge.. so i'm confused and yes flying objects are fun.. ha.. but i heard spring compressers are cheap.. anyone know the estimated time for a beginner?

 

i love flying objects thats why i dont use a spring compressor... i just step in the base and crank the impact wrench and slowly release my weight over it......
so far 8 ralli's and no problems on ufo's

 

How many holes in the wall?

Mitsumivec - An impact wrench is really the only way you're going to get that nut off the top of the strut. As for removing the strut bar, should be really easy, since the nuts holding it on are only torqued to 32 in/lbs from the factory. I just had mine off to do my IM and came off super super easy.

 

I have done many spring and even tranny jobs without power tools. A bit harder but nothing I can't handle!

 

 

I usually try to do things without power tools, because they seem to have a tendency to strip threads or break bolts when I use them. They're also loud (usually), and I seem to do a lot of wrenching on my junk while my neighbors are asleep.

I tried to do my springs without power tools, I couldn't get the top nut off the strut. No matter how I tried to clamp the strut rod, it kept spinning when I tried to loosen that nut. I had to put the car back together and go buy some power tools.

Three seconds with an impact wrench zipped it right off.

 

i did mine at home, and did not use a spring compressor... Impact gun is nice to dissasemble the front struts... They won't go flying off, promise... you won't need a compressor to reinstall, just a minor bit of strength to push down the strut bearing and get the nut started and you will be fine...

Rear is even simpler... I did mine at home, in an overcrowded garage, with mostly hand tools and a battery powered Snap-On impact gun...

 

I did a buddies civic, just the front, with shocks and springs. Had to cut the stock struts with a dremel because the whole damn thing is part of the wheel assembly with the shock built in. It took us the better part of the day and we had never done it before. I am sure it won't be anywhere near as difficult to do this to the RA.