ES to SRT4 full suspension swap - DIY advice needed

Darkness · Post by **Darkness** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:13 pm

Hey guys, I'm new to the Neon and looking for help with a swap. My girlfriend has a 2001 ES. She was ready for tires and brakes, so I figured it would be cheaper to use my connections to just get a full suspension, wheels, and tires off an SRT4 wreck. I was right.

I picked up the whole thing for cheap. I found a late wreck with 13,500 on the clock. I bought a complete front and rear suspension. Nothing is damaged, and its all completely assembled. No need to compress springs or anything. The whole front is already built onto the front member.

I figure that the rear is the easy part. Three bolts at the top of the spring hat, two bolts at the sway bushing, two bolts at the links, and then the brake lines. Do that on both sides, drop out the old stuff, bolt up the new. Done.

The front is where I need the advice. I've searched all night for a DIY on this and no luck. The Haynes manual shows how to replace every little part, but nothing about a full cradle swap. It could be simple, it could be hell.

Has anyone here done this? I need advice. Will the ES axles work in the SRT4 hubs? Am I going to have problems with the brake fittings? (They look like the same size)
Most of all - what is the most efficient way to do this swap? I'll go buy a air compressor if I have to, tools, whatever.
Thanks in advance.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:51 pm

Someone help this guy out. I have no clue, but I don't think the brake setup or axles are the same...

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:44 am

the axles will work with the SRT hubs. the brakes are different so you will need SRT brakes, rotors and brake lines.

You don't need an air compressor, I dropped the K-frame with simple wrenches, but it was a PITA.

You have the SRT struts so you won't have to worry about the tires rubbing on the perches, but I think your speedo will read incorrectly.

I personally ran into a weird problem with alignment with the front end and have a solution with slotting the strut ear.

I discuss it here
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=22442
I just don't have the $$$ to get another alignment right now to do put the SRT brakes on.

the only real difference between the SRT K-frame is a little more support on the control arms. The power steering rack is a must (in most cases... there have been a few people that haven't needed it) if you are using the SRT brakes & hubs (obviously).

Hope that helps. Search around, or ask more questions. Oh! and Welcome to 2gn.

Darkness · Post by **Darkness** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:30 am

hansken_yo wrote: the brakes are different so you will need SRT brakes, rotors and brake lines.

Yeah, I've got the complete disc brake assembly at each corner. This thing is really complete. I need to post up some pics if I get a chance.

Let me give you a better idea of what I have here...

I purchased the K, with the steering rack, tie rods and ends, LCAs, spindles, hubs, rotors, brake discs, calipers, caliper lines, struts with springs installed, swaybar with bushings. Everything completely assembled.

On the rear, I have the springs and shocks, brake discs, calipers, lines, spindles, lateral links, swaybar and bushings, and e-brake cables. Again, everything is complete and assembled.

I also bought a set of the 17 inch SRT4 wheels, and I found some Bridgestone SO-3 Pole Position tires in 205/50/17. I have everything ready to go.

hansken_yo wrote:the axles will work with the SRT hubs.

The ES axles will work with the SRT hubs?? I was told that the ES and SRT4 axle had different splines. I was told to press the bearings and hubs out of the stock spindles and switch them into the SRT spindles. Was my source wrong?
If the axles in my girlfriend's ES are compatible with the SRT hubs and spindles, I'm going to get this thing on the road tomorrow.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:46 am

What if you want to swap JUST the SRT struts and springs on all four corners? Will they work with the non-SRT hubs?

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:20 am

^^^ Yes.

Darkness · Post by **Darkness** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:31 am

I managed to finish the install tonight. It took 7 hours to do the front install and 5 hours for the rear. Now that I know what I'm doing I bet I could get the whole thing done in 5-6 hours. The axles went in the hubs a lot easier than they came out. I have to say that this job was the single easiest task I've ever done on any vehicle. It just went smooth, with no surprises.

A lift would have helped, but wasn't necessary. Doing the install with everything already assembled made things a lot easier, but it made a second person almost mandatory.

I'm really happy with the results. The car rides so much better on the SO-3 tires. The SRT4 spare donut is bigger than the stock ES wheels, so the handling is going to be tremendous now. All that remains to be done is an alignment, and maybe another round of brake bleeding.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:59 am

Here's a question: What do I need to RE-assemble these SRT struts I got? They don;t have the springs on or the top pieces (so it's the top pieces/cups/whatever that I'm asking about). And where do I get that?

If I can reassemble them with lowering springs and put them in the car that would be awesome.

2gNeon4life · Post by **2gNeon4life** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:57 am

so you can use srt-4 struts and and shocks on an non srt-4. you just need to change the brake set up in the front. I was going to do the same thing, because im getting 17 inch rims and i what bigger tires and the suspension of the srt-4 this is very helpful.

04R/T · Post by **04R/T** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:03 am

2gNeon4life wrote:so you can use srt-4 struts and and shocks on an non srt-4. you just need to change the brake set up in the front

No, to use SRT struts you don't have to change brakes. SRT struts will bolt to the Neon knuckles.

2gNeon4life · Post by **2gNeon4life** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:08 pm

Cool so i can do the struts and shocks swap with no problem. When i say no problem that means no modifications.
Thanks because i am about to get 17 inch myself in may and i wanted to up grade to a better ride shocks and struts.

sxmania · Post by **sxmania** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:36 pm

should have just swapped parts from the nen over to the srt4 and enjoyed the turbo as well

but good job on the swapping