Advice Installing Shocks/Struts and Lowering Springs

[vaironl]

Hello All,

I feel bad for adding to the hundreds of threads regarding lowering springs and shocks/struts, but I do have a minor specific question.

I finally got all of the parts needed which are the Tein S-Tech and the Tokico Blues. I’ve been reading quite a lot of PDFs on how to do lowering spring installations and I’ve found so many examples of removing the springs, but I have yet to find a good pointer on how to actually replace the rear shock absorbers. I’m pretty sure it has to be fairly easy for the hatchbacks, but I can’t figure out what panels I’ll have to remove for the shock absorbers. I was reading the official Toyota repair manual and it only specifies the removal process for the Sedan.

I also wanted to confirm the following tools are what I need, disregarding the wheel removal process…
1) Hacksaw to cut bump stops
2) 9/16 sockets,
3) 9/16 box wrench
4) 19mm socket
5) 17mm box wrench
6) 6mm allen key

I’ve heard about using an offset wrench to avoid the cowl wiper removal process. Apparently a 17mm offset box wrench? I have an allen key but it has no 90 degree bend, seeing the “Tanabe DF210 Spring Install” thread it seems I will need one specifically with some kind of bend, am I correct?

Thanks a lot for the help!