Shock Bottoming Out with Lowering Springs

[Kickerbeast]

I recently purchased a 1g that had already been lowered. It feels like the car is bottoming out over larger bumps. The shocks are stock and I'm not sure what brand the springs are. Are there any aftermarket shock that I could use that would correct this? I can't afford to do coilovers right now. If I can't find anything then I'll probably just go back to stock. I love the stance of the car right now, but a decent bump will jar your teeth out. I'll check on the spring brand later. I have the car jacked up right now putting exhaust on it, but it's raining so I'm stuck inside for now.

 

[TalonTime]

With any lowering spring you never run stock shocks. It's just not how things work.With the drop the lowering springs put a much larger load on the socks. That's why you would want to upgrade to stiffer stocks look as some of the tokico, they have a few options. If you keep driving the car you are going to blow the shocks, if they aren't already and then do even more damage.

 

[SBR Joe]

^^^ x 2. A good set of KYB Gr2 struts should do you just fine. They work very well and are pretty inexpensive.

 

[4Gmoney63]

I had a 1g lowered by the previous owner that did the same thing. Aside from having stock struts the guy didn't install any bumpstops back in it. That made it feel horrible over a lot of bumps. You might want to check to see if your car has them left out.

 

[evasive_one]

I'm having the same problem up front with my 1990 tsi awd. The guy before me cut the front springs.. Now everytime I hit the slightest bump.. It fills like i just drove over a dead body.


I'm either going to the junk yard to get stock springs and install them.. or save up and get some coilovers or strut and spring combo. I hear the kyb are really good for strut and spring option.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

^^^ x 2. A good set of KYB Gr2 struts should do you just fine. They work very well and are pretty inexpensive.

I've never had that great of luck with GR-2's and any type of lowering spring I've used. They blew out very quickly with Sportlines on my last talon. They might work well if the springs are Eibach's Pro Kit.

 

[Kickerbeast]

Well I checked into the springs that are on the car and they are Netami springs. I've never heard of them. I'm going to look into some better shocks for now.

 

[TalonTime]

Well I checked into the springs that are on the car and they are Netami springs. I've never heard of them. I'm going to look into some better shocks for now.

Get the Tokico Illumina shocks, I have them on my car and they are very nice. You can adjust them from soft to stiff, and they are good on the street and the track.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

I did not know that tokico made shocks for a 1g? Do you have a link to where you purchased these?

 

[Kickerbeast]

I would love to get adjustable shocks/struts, I'm just not sure if I can spend the money on them right now. I'm not really looking to track the car much but I may from time to time.

 

[SBR Joe]

I've never had that great of luck with GR-2's and any type of lowering spring I've used. They blew out very quickly with Sportlines on my last talon. They might work well if the springs are Eibach's Pro Kit.

I never had problems with them, had them used with Sportlines, Pro's and H&R's. As long as the bump stops were re installed.

 

[TastyTalon]

KYB Gr2 struts are awesome and worth saving up for!!!

 

[Kickerbeast]

KYB Gr2 struts are awesome and worth saving up for!!!

I'm pretty sure that is what I'm going to get. I found a full set of Ebay for $180

 

[Kickerbeast]

Stupid question....where are the bump stops located? I want to check them since I've read a lot about people having problems with them and lowered cars.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

On the shock shaft towards the top mounting plate.

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[Kickerbeast]

Ya, I've seen them before. I was expecting something mounted to the control are that would contact the body. I'm not sure if my car still has them. By design, it would explain why the right side of my car feels like it can take more of an impact than the left side. I'm going to check when I get home. Hopefully I'll be able to order the KYBs this weekend too.

 

[Kickerbeast]

No, I do not have any bump stops on my car. That would explain where the really hard hit is coming from over large bumps

 

[Kickerbeast]

New struts equiped with bump stops and the car feels great now. Ride is a little rougher, but that just means that the shock is actually doing it's job now. Funny thing is I gained 1/2" of height.

 

[hhuricane]

I've had the GR2's on my 1g for years and have had no problems with them with H&R springs and now Eibachs. Good shocks.

 

[troppo loungo]

Eibach sportlines are too low for a 1g. 1g cars don't have much suspension travel up front. GR2 are ok with Eibach pro kit and not too low. The KYB adjustables (GVR4 ?) are better but pretty stiff. The other option is the Koni yellows adjustable but the fronts are cartridge that needs to be installed into the stock housing, once you cut out the old strut. Again, stay away from the sportlines, too low and screw up you handling and alignment.

 

[Kickerbeast]

Ya, mine is as low as I would ever want to go. With the bad shocks and 215s the front tires were rubbing the fenders. Now I have new tires and struts and they don't hit at all anymore. I would imagine they are close, but they don't hit anymore, of course the bump stops could help that a little.

 

[Gooberlog]

New struts equiped with bump stops and the car feels great now. Ride is a little rougher, but that just means that the shock is actually doing it's job now. Funny thing is I gained 1/2" of height.

I'm having the same problem, which struts did you install that fixed the bottoming out on bumps? Thanks

 

[Kickerbeast]

I used KYB GR2s. I looked on ebay and found a whole set for around $200 shipped. Bump stops are a must though. I just got mine from Advanced Auto. Be prepared, they are like $20 a piece. Without these, the shock would just compress enough to bottom out. I still need to do some playing around with my bump stops. I want to trim them a little bit. I think they are actually hitting sooner than I would like, which is causing some of my rough ride.

 

[motozachl]

This might help....

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/302995-1g-kyb-agx-struts-megan-lowering-springs.html#post152059350

 

[Kickerbeast]

That is good info to have. I'm going to have to just play with mine as my tires are wider and I will need to check my clearances before cutting off 2 cm. I don't think they are that close, but I want to be sure first. If I am going to have clearance issue then I'll just leave it that way it is now. There were groves in the tires that came with the car from the fender rubbing on the tire.

After looking at the Bump Stop Trimming Diagram, I'm not sure I want to follow it anyway. They tell you how much to trim off, which is fine, but there is no guarntee that every bump stop for that car is the same length. I would rather see something that said the length of the remaining stop.

Overall good info though