![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/originalheight.jpg)
according to any repair manual, make sure you disconnect the negative battery cable first:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/battery.jpg)
now, open the back, move the computer and center console out of the way:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/clutterinhatch.jpg)
remove the plastic piece over the strut:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/removeplasticpanelrearstrut.jpg)
remove the rubber cover:
http://www.nbtechnol...errearstrut.jpg
remove that nut (14mm wrench) you see in last picture but use an hex head to not let the strut turn underneath. picture for this got lost, dumb cheap camera.
do above steps for both sides.
now block the front tires, release the e brake (trust me, I found out later this was necessary) and jack up the rear very slowly. I started out w/ jack in middle but couldn't get it high enough but it looked neat:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/jackedup.jpg)
I ended up w/ jack on each side of car just in front of rear wheel and I placed a jack stand on wood under the tow hook in center of rear for a safety catch, and had to constantly adjust the jack stand. now the nuts you removed earlier will allow the springs to uncompress slowly as you jack the car up and the axle swivels down/forward giving you access to the now released spring and strut. now here's where fun #1 begins. If you can't jack car up high enough or you didn't use spring compressors, then right here you kick, cuss, scream, cuss, cuss and cuss because someone said you can wiggle the spring out this way. then at that point, remove the tow hook located here:
oh, by the way, I was able to compress my struts, by hand to assist in removing the springs.
Remove that tow hook (14mm) and then pull the spring out/off. Do this for both sides. Now, I tried using a hacksaw to cut the 1 coil off the spring, bad idea, you'll die before you get both springs cut. I then went to a buddies shop and used an air tool to cut it. here's the final product but pitiful picture:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/cutspring.jpg)
At this point, when returning the springs, I decided to use the spring compressor just to make it easier, might not have been quicker but it saved a headache:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/usecompressor.jpg)
and here notice the difference in springs w/ vs w/o compressor:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/compressedvsnon.jpg)
putting the springs back on was fairly simple, and just slowly lower the car, one side at a time, SLOWLY, and guide the springs in place as you slowly lower the jacks. once the spring is in place, slowly lower it and check to make sure struts are lining back up to go in properly and slowly lower it some more and check it....etc. until you get it back on the ground. then use the same hex head and wrench to tighten the strut nuts w/o turning the strut, put rubber back on, put plastic back on, and drive it. final product:
![](http://www.nbtechnologies.net/pics/cars/86_vic_hb/8.12.04lowered/lowerbeforesettle1.jpg)
yeah, I know, no difference cause I haven't touched the front yet. From all I've read on here, it'll take a few days for the freshly cut springs to settle, then I'll see a difference, and then I'll lower the front accordingly. ok, 1 suggestion, I did realize by having a jack on each side of car, it made it easier to lower a side and guide parts back in place by myself. also, this was easy enough that the whole time I put the car back together I was talkin on my cell phone and I've never worked w/ suspension before. thanx to everybody on here for advice on how to do it, and I hope this helps others that are weary. last but not least, if I had a lawyer he'd tell me to do this:
this post is merely a suggestion and a log of how I lowered my car. anybody who hurts themselves, their car, their pocketbook, or the neighbors elephant is completely up to them to take care of on their own. I'm not liable for anything you do. and wish I weren't liable for anything I did. any questions?