Today we'll be installing the RTR Tactical Performance Lowering Springs, which fits all
2017 GT Fastbacks and EcoBoosts.
The required tools for this install are: a 6 millimeter Allen key, a 10 millimeter socket,
a 13 millimeter socket, a 15 millimeter socket, a 17 millimeter socket, an 18 millimeter socket,
a 21 millimeter socket, a 24 millimeter socket, an 18 millimeter wrench, a 21 millimeter wrench,
pole jacks or jack stands, a spring compressor, a sledgehammer, a pry bar.
Place the car on either a lift or jack stands.
Remove the lug nuts with a 21 millimeter socket.
Remove the brake caliper by removing the upper and lower 15 millimeter bolts located at the
rear of the brake caliper.
Use either a bungee cord to hang up the brake caliper or place it on top of the K-member.
Remove the brake rotor.
Remove the sway bar and link bolt using an open end wrench and 18 millimeter deep socket.
Remove the two plastic clips holding in the ABS line to the ABS sensor.
Using a 24 millimeter socket, loosen but do not remove the 2 nuts at the bottom of the
strut.
The strut bolts are splined and will need to be removed with a sledgehammer.
Tap on the nut portion of the two strut bolts.
Once you have the bolts tapped out, remove both strut bolts and nuts.
Remove the 3 nuts on top of the strut using a 15 millimeter socket.
Be sure to keep a hand on the strut assembly as the removal of these 15 millimeter nuts
will detach the strut assembly from the vehicle.
Once the three nuts have been taken off, remove the strut assembly from the vehicle.
Place the strut assembly on to the spring compressor, taking care to ensure proper positioning
of the spring in the claws of the compressor.
Compress the spring.
Once compressed enough, remove the strut mount nut on the top of the strut using a 21 millimeter
socket.
A vice grip may be needed in order to hold the strut in place while trying to remove
the strut mount nut.
Slide the strut down and out from the spring.
Be sure to remove the strut top hat and isolator after decompressing the spring.
Remove the factory bump stop and dust boot.
Place the dust boots over the top of the bump stops.
Take the new bump stop and install it inside the end of the new dust boot with the flare
of the bump stop facing up towards the top of the strut.
Take the the new spring and place it into the spring compressor.
Be sure to install the strut top hat and isolator prior to the compression of the spring.
Install the strut into the compressed spring, strut top hat, and isolator.
Reinstall the previously removed 21 millimeter nut onto the top of the strut to secure it.
Decompress the spring onto the strut.
Ensure that the spring is properly aligned prior to decompression.
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Support the rear subframe with jacks.
The subframe will need to be gradually dropped down in order to get enough clearance to replace
the rear springs.
Remove the 2 bolts that are holding the rear shock mounts to the chassis using an 18 millimeter
socket.
Remove the brake line brackets attached to the end of the sway bar with a 10 millimeter
socket.
Remove the rear sway bar from the upper rear sway bar links using a 6 millimeter Allen
key and an 18 millimeter wrench.
Working first on either the driver or passenger side of the vehicle, loosen the 21 millimeter
rearmost subframe bolt followed by the 2 13 millimeter subframe bracket bolts, and finally
the 21 millimeter subframe bracket bolt.
Do not fully remove these bolts.
Loosen these bolts as much as possible while still keeping them threaded into their respective
holes.
Moving on to the opposite side of the vehicle, begin to loosen the rearmost 21 millimeter
subframe bolt, followed by the 2 13 millimeter subframe bracket bolts, and finally the 21
millimeter subframe bracket bolt.
Remove these bolts from the vehicle.
Using the jack stands being used to support the rear subframe, lower down the side of
the subframe with the bolts and brackets fully removed.
This will give enough room for the spring to be removed from its perch.
Install the first new rear spring at this time, making sure that both the top and bottom
pigtails of the spring are properly aligned with the isolators.
Loosely reinstall the bolts and bracket previously removed.
Fully remove the bolts and bracket left loosely installed on the opposite side of the vehicle.
Utilize the jacks to maneuver the subframe in order to remove the opposite side rear
spring.
Install the other rear spring at this time, making sure that both the top and bottom pigtails
of the spring are aligned with the isolators.
Raise the subframe and align it up to the bottom of the chassis.
There will be marks previously left by where the subframe was secured.
Take care to realign the subframe as closely to these marks as possible.
Continue to jack up the subframe and reinstall the shock mounts to the chassis.
Then install the thread covers and shock nuts.
Loosely install all required bolts and brackets.
Tighten down the four chassis bolts to the subframe and the front subframe bracket bolts.
Reinstall the rear sway bar to the rear sway bar links.
Reattach the brake line brackets.
Reinstall the wheels and lower down the vehicle.