"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
02/11/2018 at 09:15 • Filed to: None
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"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
02/11/2018 at 09:15 • Filed to: None | 0
| 8 |
How vital is it to replace both the springs AND the shocks for a 2"-ish drop? I’m hoping to celebrate my new job and apartment by spoiling myself with something new for the car. My only issue is I don’t have the resources to do it myself, so I’d have to add labor costs. I’d rather keep the price as low as possible, but obviously I don’t want it to be half-assed.
Here’s a picture of about how low I want to go:
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 09:35 |
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I’ve been contemplating getting a lowering kit for my Accent....but then I remember the roads are crap here in winter/spring, and several of the roads I drive on aren’t always plowed after snowstorms, so a lowering kit would mean I would bottom out in deeper snow more easily. :(
Khalbali
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 09:46 |
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I’ve heard just doing springs will shorten the life of the shocks which seems to make sense. My NC is on the stock bilsteins with the mazdaspeed lowering springs and no issues yet in 40k+ miles. I think it mostly depends how much of a drop you want, if you’re not going crazy low compared to stock you would probably be fine but I don’t have much experience with mods, 2" seems like a lot to me. My next car will probably be an HRV and I’m planning on just getting springs for it initially and then coilovers when the factory shocks go which I’ve heard is 30-40k at least with those springs.
Sovande
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 10:05 |
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If you get shocks and struts made for lowering springs you will be fine. If you run stock shocks with a 2" drop you might run into problems with the lifespan. How many miles on the suspension currently? Will a 2" drop add a bunch of rear camber that then needs to be dialed out with adjustable rear arms? I would do some research before your $200 springs turn into $1000 of actual suspension components.
I would bet replacing the suspension can be done with a standard socket set, a jack and a set of spring compressors. Probably take a day of you don’t know what you’re doing. I hate paying for work so I would vote to do it yourself.
daender
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 10:41 |
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You typically want to have the shocks match the springs, so it’s better to buy them together (preferably with the springs already on the shocks to save time and effort).
Alternative, buy a rear sway bar for that, buy replacement shocks, and take it to autocross in H-Street.
sony1492
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 10:59 |
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The shock won’t be working at its designed height so it may fail sooner, but putting in a new oem shock with the lowering spring just buys more time. Id use the stock shocks until they go out to get more life out of what you already have.
diplodicus forgot his password
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 11:18 |
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That’s the best kit I’ve found. You would have to do a lot of research on struts/shocks if you don’t buy a kit. Looking at rock auto the standard shocks have like 4.5" of stroke so if you lowered it two inches you’ll shocks will basically be halfway and end up bottoming out.
You should be able to install that kit too, looks like it comes preassembled.
Ash78, voting early and often
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 13:02 |
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Ditto what everyone else said. And when the stock shocks wear out, you’re paying ALL the labor again (for most cars) — which is the biggest single part of the job. Better to buy sporty dampers at the same time, even if they’re cheapos like Monroe Sport or whatever.
Then you can always put the suspension back to stock later, which helps with resale value and you can sell the aftermarket stuff separately. Win-win for an extra $200 or so.
JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
> Rainbow
02/11/2018 at 15:10 |
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Honestly the labor rates won’t be much more to replace both at the same time.