Eibach Pro-Kit not fitting -- other installers hel Options

[Galcobar]

Looking for voices of experience with installing the Eibach Pro-Kit 8207.140 on fifth- and sixth-gen Celicas, particularly liftbacks.

According to Eibach, I got the right springs, 8207.101 for the fronts (which seem to fit) and 8212.102 for the rear, which seem to be not even close.

Got a feeling the pics I uploaded to Photobucket are huge, so I'll post the URLs instead (looking for quick responses on this, be talking to Eibach Technical Support tomorrow when the tech is actually in). I'll see what I can do to modify the pic sizes when I can.

Short story: Stock springs are wide at the bottom, narrow at the top, with a flat upper coil to mate to the strut mount (there being no upper spring seat on the rear struts). Eibachs are much smaller at the bottom, to the point they can slide around in the seat. The tops are so large the strut mount can't cover them all, and the uppermost coil lacks the flat mating surface. Top/bottom is determined by the writing on the side of the springs.

I ended up installing the new struts and mounts using the stock springs because I could see no way to properly fit the Eibachs.

Do these look like the Pro-kit you installed on your car, and if so how did you seat them correctly?
Eibachs on old struts and mounts (not secured)
whole thing: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gal...1060322-Web.jpg
top: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gal...1060325-Web.jpg
bottom: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gal...1060323-Web.jpg


For comparison, these are the stock springs on new struts and mounts, now in the car:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gal...1060327-Web.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gal...1060328-Web.jpg

So far, all I've heard is that you have to install them upside down, which according to Eibach is a big no-no. The few pics I've been able to find weren't of the springs, but of the car pre- and post-lowering.

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Edit to fix links

This post has been edited by Galcobar: Jul 19, 2005 - 12:09 PM

[Galcobar]

According to Eibach's instructions I was installing it right-side up -- according to the Eibach technician, it's a goof in their printing department that's been going on for who knows how long (other installers have said they also had to install upside down).

I'm a little leery of believing these guys when they say installing upside down will not affect performance at all.

One of the first things out of the mouth of the tech I talked to this morning was a comment on the 90-99 Celica's solid rear axle

Blinky's comment means the "stamping error" they've made covers both Pro-kit and Sportline springs.

And the Eibach spring doesn't have the flattened uppermost coil to give a flat mating surface for the strut mount, while the stock spring does.

All of it makes me wonder about how accurate Eibach's product info really is.


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Cliff notes: Eibach says to ignore its express installation instructions and fit their springs in any way you can.