Shocks effect ride height?

[DCsGST]

I just purchased some illuminas cause my stockers are blown. I have Arospeed springs and I'm wondering (hoping) the new shocks raise my car 1/2" or so. Will the new shocks effect ride height?

 

[Talonman]

nope

 

[DCsGST]

balls....

 

[jtmcinder]

Buzzz! But thanks for playing, Talonman.

Sure shocks can affect ride height. If you replace totally blown shocks with new high-pressure shocks, you can easily gain a half inch. Heck, I gained almost this much replacing blown OE shocks with Koni Yellows, which are low-pressure shocks.

Too bad Illuminas are also a low-pressure twin-tube, like Koni Sports. But if your current shocks really are blown, the you will pick up some height.

- Jtoby

 

[DCsGST]

OK... no yes no yes . Ya, my stock shocks have been blown for at least a year. My suspension pops all the time and there is oil all over them. If I pick up some ride height I'll be stoked. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Talonman]

maybe on blown shocks, ever had one, but take a strut piston end down on teh ground and you can compress it with all the way down with one hand, how does this hold up and support anything near 3000lbs? Shocks control spring movement, springs hold car up.

 

[jtmcinder]

Shocks control spring movement, springs hold car up.

Nice sound byte. Problem is, it's not as simple as that.

When the shock's shaft goes into the body during bump, the oil that is displaced must go somewhere. The way that OTS shocks work is by having the displacement compress a gas, which is under low or high pressure to start with. This pressure adds some lift to the car.

If you prefer a simpler demonstration, ask yourself this: when you take a new shock out the box, is the shaft always all the out, always all the way in, or in some random position? Answer: always all the way out. Why? Because of the gas pressure.

Yeah, I'll admit that shocks don't add much, even when you're on stock springs, but they do make a difference. As I already said, replacing blown shocks can gain you a half inch.

- Jtoby

 

[92awddsm]

The only way a strut wil raise ride heighth is if the body is longer between the lower mount and the spring seat. Rebound/compression rates do not affect ride height. Anyone who disagrees needs to do some research. Next time you can answer a question like this without looking like you dont know what you are talking about.