Hey guys,

I posted a similar question in another thread about this, but didn't want to clog up that thread. Basically,I saw this posted and began to wonder...

"ACM said: ↑
You two Koni users - have your bumpstops been cut, and if so, by how much. The more they are shortened the worse the ride becomes. Eibachs always ride on the bumpstops, so the more progressive the bumpstop, the less ugly the ride. Which brings a cheap fix into view - try installing a bumpstop that is long and very progressive - that should reduce the harshness. Such a bumpstop will always be "in use" so there is no longer the initial impact of contacting it (specially cut ones)."

I cut my bumpstops per the Eibach ProKit instructions paired with my Koni yellows. Then after reading this post, and other similar posts, it began to make me wonder if indeed using a progressive, non-cut bumpstop would offer a greater ride if it is true that Eibachs always ride on the bumpstops?

Any opinions/help is greatly appreciated as I am all about comfort in my old age.

Sounds like if the car is riding on bump stops it's either way too low, or something is out of adjustment. Normally suspension only relies on bump stops in extreme cases and they are there to prevent metal-on-metal bumping. That being said, if the car is indeed lowered to the point where it hits the stops often then yes cut stops will make it feel harsher since there is less material to absorb the shock from when it bottoms out. That shock is also getting absorbed more by ruber bushings and might cause them to go out faster.

If your riding on the bumpstops the suspension is too low and the coil springs are doing nothing. The bumpstop becomes the spring.

Yeah, its only the Eibach Pro Kit, so definitely not too low. I was just going back and forth whether or not I should even cut the bumpstops or not...

The 1G kit included instruction to cut, IIRC, an inch off the bump stops. You need that inch of suspension travel with the 1G Eibach Pro Kit springs. I can't say for a 2G.

Thanks for the help Steve. Ive been trying to find bumpstops for the 2G the last 20 minutes, but I cant seem to find rears, and the ones for the fronts that I do find seem to just be universal.

Here's the simplest way to find out. Wrap a small zip tie around the damper shaft, leave it down close to the damper body, cut the tail off flush. Now drive around on typical roads with typical aggression, when you get back to your shop jack the car up, let the front suspension fully extend, and then find the zip tie. The position of the zip tie tells you how much suspension travel you just used. If you can't see the zip tie, chances are it's buried up inside the bumpstop.

If you have Konis and Eibach Pro Kit springs, the zip tie will be buried up inside the bumpstop (regardless of whether you cut them), unless you never hit a bump, never hit the brakes and never went over 30mph. To run Pro Kit ride height, the spring rate needs to be (well) over 600 lb/in - Pro Kits aren't even half that, 275 if memory serves me. It's in one of the suspension threads from years ago, either posted by me or by Jtoby. I measured Pro Kit springs, ST springs, and a couple others years ago on a spring tester - it would be a good number of years back, since the shop that used to let me use their equipment went out of business around 2005/6.

But, the best way to tell if any combo will work is to use the zip tie test - if you can still see the zip tie, then your setup is OK for the type of driving you employed during the test. If the zip tie is inside the bump stop then raise either the ride height or the spring rate until the zip tie stays in view. Well, it's the best way for us mortals that don't have a seven post shaker rig in the shop

Ride is one thing. Loads into the shock tower is another issue.

"Dissipating energy" from hitting a pot-hole is helped by wheel travel & progressive jounce-bumpers. Lowering the car & cutting bumpers, both reduce the ability to dissipate. End result... higher loads into the structure. If you have good roads... not a big deal.

Just wanted to give an update guys. I installed new bumpstops, the most progressive I could find and did not cut them at all, and honestly the ride difference is night and day. Now while driving, and especially going over big bumps, I do not have a jarring feeling and the ride is actually very nice and smooth now.