Tanabe's are kicking my butt, help!
 

I got the Tanabe GF210's from Gruppe-S for christmas for my Evo IX GSR. I was getting them installed today at my friends shop, and he said that the springs won't go on the struts right.

He said that the spring will lock into the bottom plate on the strut, but that it won't lock into the top plate of the strut, so it could possibly come out and chew up the rubber bottom/top of the strut. I was just wondering if he doesn't know what he is doing, or if he is really right about the springs?

Right now my Dad wants to return the springs, unless I can prove that they are the right ones and are supposed to do that. He said that the springs are supposed to match up to the stock ones (where they sit into the bottom and top plate) and that the Tanabes do not.

Thanks for your help guys, and maybe you can save me having the return these Tanabes.

well, i dont know what the problem is, i installed mine myself in about 2 hours completed.If i were you just do it on your own it is VERY simple.Go to lancershop.com and click on install tips.then click on lowering springs install it is VERY detailed step by step directions and like i said is super easy to do. you can pm me and ill give you my number in case you get stuck and need help.

Well the problem is that its at the shop, ready to go in. All the struts are out and he was just trying to put on the springs when he said , "They don't fit the same as stock, IE they don't lock in place like the stock ones".

Bump, I really want to keep these springs!!

I can't picture how they are now lining up. Maybe some pics would help?

I am confused - more information needed. That top rubber "locking" piece can be turned to match the spring coil at the top.

The top strut mount is D shaped. You have to make sure the strut and the top mount align.

The mechanic said that the top part won't turn at all. He said that it is locked there and won't turn.

The rubber "lock" ring should just pop off no issues - it might be salt/age stuck on there.

Here is a picture that will help me try to explain the problem.


Picture 1:

Take the Light Blue spring, and picture it as my stock EVO9 spring. Then take the Red Spring, and picture it as the aftermarket Tanabe spring. The bottom of both springs line up perfectly, but then the top of the red one ends shorter than the light blue one. Doesn't this mean that the locking plate won't fit the top part of the spring?

Forgot to attach the picture..

u can turn the top to match where the top of the spring ends. The shop is probably doing something wrong.

Yep (nice photo by the way ;) )

That rubber "locking" part on top can be moved and adjusted. Tell the shop that. They might have to pull it off of the top hat.

I just got back from the shop again, this time with pictures.

Here are some of how my Tanabes look compared to the stock springs. The mecanic says that because the Tanabes end each on the same side, that they won't fit/lock in the strut. If you look at the stock spring, it looks completely different.

I also took a picture of what I thought was the "top hat", and he said that it cannot be turned because it would thus turn the whole strut and make the car wheel stick out and really mess up the camber/toe.

What the f*ck should I do?

Does anyone even have a picture of Evo 9 Tanabe springs so I can see if mine even look the same? The box says its for an Evo, but these springs just arn't looking like it. I have the part number off the spring if that helps, 0710 CT9AMCGF.

I installed a set awhile back and had no issues at all. Alot of times the aftermarket springs do not have the same coil end placement. Which is not a problem. As SmikeEvo said, you can move the rubber inside the hat to correct the placement. Has your friend installed aftermarket springs before?

So all that he has to do is move that rubber thing in the top hat? These are the correct springs for an EVO9 though?