KYB AGX shocks + Stock Springs

[mkvos]

So I've been checking out getting some KYB AGXs for my 92 Laser AWD and they're a decent price compared to what the local parts shop wants for them. $500 gets them to my door from the US. The parts store wants $250 a pop for the fronts, so I didnt even bother to ask about the rears.

Anyway...

I don't want to drop my ride height at all. I'm pretty darn happy with the way it is right now. I have the GR2s in the front and really shitty stock ones that are due in the back.

Question is: Should I use the stock springs with the AGXs? I've read someone didn't mind it being a bit stiff, but I wanted to hear some more about this? If you think I shouldn't, what would you recommend, and why? Like I said, I don't want to drop the height, so nothing super super fancy, but something decent.

 

[Calan]

I kinda wish I'd stuck with the stock springs. I have the AGX's on Eibach Pro's...and even at a setting of "1" all the way around it is a pretty rough ride on our crappy roads.

It looks good (dropped a bit) and handles great though

 

[cougarelimin8or]

When I had bought my car, it had 4 blown agx's with lowered springs on it that made the car only sit like 3 inches from the ground (and i live in the mountains). I put 4 new agx's and i couldn't find new springs with the stock ride hight so i bought eibach pro's which only lowered the car an inch in the front and rear, and it was the best thing i could've done. i can boost as hard as i want in corners and the car just grips and goes, plus it gives the car a good stance and good ground clearance. I also have 17's on the car that like's to give a little harder of a ride but with 16's it's very tolerable. Hope that helps

 

[mkvos]

Thanks guys. I got the shocks today and they're going in tomorrow first thing after work

I'll post back about my experience/opinion about them

I forgot to mention. Duties or UPS' brokerage fee was only $20.00, so all in all it cost me about $415 for the KYBs landed at my door step

 

[mkvos]

So I've been driving around for a couple of weeks now with the new setup. Here are a few of my thoughts.

# The shocks are extremely comfortable at high speeds on the softest setting. Driving over bridge lips and small cracks etc. on the road is smooth.
# I found driving at low speeds - <30km/h - the rears are very uncomfortable over speed bumps or whatever road imperfections. Feels like my back is going out. Could be the the combination I used, still...
# At regular daily speeds - 60km/h through town / 80-100km/h on highways - the shocks are a good ride as well.
# On gravel roads [Yes.. I took my car on a logging road] at lower speeds - 30-50km/h - The car is comfortable. The back is still a bit stiff, but tolerable. It's a gravel road, so of course it won't be smooth. At higher speed 60-80km/h I quite like how well they did on the gravel.
# I can't exactly rate the body roll in tight corners on narrow, winding roads. I figure the springs are going to play a majour roll there and I don't have any of the sway bars installed. Sway bars are next. To me, it's just about the same when turning quickly, but the car goes back to place much faster without the boat-like wobble from side to side.

I haven't changed the stiffness setting yet at all, but so far I'm really pleased with my investment. Some aftermarket springs are definitely becoming a must and once I have some money to spare, would be invested in that.

I got some new wheels too that I'm really happy with.

Here's a pic of the old wheels

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And here's a pic of the new wheels

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(Yeah it needs a lil love. Two small pickup trucks at two different times caused the damages)

Thanks to all for your input. Hope this also helps the next guy/girl looking for some decent shocks

 

[chico904]

What are your rears set at?

 

[mkvos]

What are your rears set at?

Both rears and fronts are set to 1 - softest.

 

[chico904]

When I had my Tokico Illuminas, I had the rears set to the softest setting, and my back didnt like it either. I turned it to 3, and for me it helped.

 

[mkvos]

So wait.. You stiffened your ride, to make it more comfortable

 

[chico904]

Yeah, for me it bounced around too much on a soft setting.

 

[jerseydiver84]

i love the kybs got em on all four corners i reccomend u get em.

also i put on the eibach springs with em handled a lot better.

got mine for about 400.

im set for 2 in the front and 4 in the back as well.

 

[mkvos]

i love the kybs got em on all four corners i reccomend u get em.

Already have them installed. I want to keep height because of.. uh.. some of the things many here would not approve with a DSM. Anyway, I'm next going through the process of setting front camber. Anybody think -1.5 - -.175 a bit extreme?

 

[cougarelimin8or]

I have my agx's set at 2 in the front and 4 in the rear and it's a good setup for all around driving. I drive back roads and a highway to get to work everyday and the roads by me aren't exactly in the best shape.

 

[mkvos]

Changed my setup to 2F and 4R and found it TOO stiff, but for some reason I changed it to 1F and 4R. Not liking how soft the front felt and how stiff the rear felt, I went with 2F and 3R.

I'm pretty happy with that setting. Now I'm just waiting to do my camber adjustment, which reminds me. Does anybody have any input on camber? neg. 1.5 too much? Anybody? Anything?

And I'll be ordering my front and rear sway bars pretty soon as well.

 

[Burtismaximus]

I have agxs all the way around with stock springs in the back and eibach lowering in the front. it rides awesome i like it alot. looks good too. rear is set to 6 and fronts are at 3. front is lowered 1''

 

[stealthtt24]

I'm bumping this cause I'd like to see how long these agxs have lasted! I'm going to be putting on mine with stock springs, although I do have eibachs available for the front.