Bumpstops y0! What to do when lowering?

[SiReal]

Theres been ALOT of talk about lowering. And common answers are Coilovers blah blah blah..

But for those less fortunate who can only get Shocks, and when lowering, what do we do with the bumpstops? It hasn't been covered to my knowledge.

On US forums, some say

to cut it when lowering
to keep them
cutting them shortens the life of your shock (probably true imo)
cut them a certain length depending on lowering height
So what is it? what did you all do when you changed your shocks? Maybe ppl who have installed them could help with this thread please...

Cheers

SiReal

[newmski]

using shorter springs to lower a car result in the suspension travel being reduced. Using a shorter spring brings the upper strut bearing closer to the top of the strut housing. The bump stop is pushed down and since travel is defined as the distance between the bump stop and the top of the strut housing, travel is reduced. The only way around this is to either use a shortened strut housing or to cut the bump stop. Im not aware of and manufactures that make these for hondas...(there could be just not that i know of). So ur only option left is to cut the mofo of a bumpstop. people will say cutting them is bad because they are meant to act like a crumple zone for the shock cushioning the impact of (bottomimg out). but wat u must realise is that pretty much all lowering springs are harder (higher kg/m) so the cars suspension deflection will be shorter hence is less likely to reach the cut bumpstop anyway.
not cutting the bumpstop will mean your shocks will reach them often giving a shitty ride and a more dangerous one.
as for the reduced shock life... if ur using aftermarket shock absorbers design for lowered applications you shouldnt have to many probs.
ur last comment was the most correct > the amount you cut ur bumpstop depends on how much ur lowering ur car or rather how much travel u need

[DomenEK]

There are bump stops out there to suit lowered vehicles.

Trav (egsi) sells super low polyeurethane bump stops. I'm yet to order some and fit them, but I need to do this soon, I'm pretty sure I don't have any on mine...

[SiReal]

Great info guys thanks for the heads up! :) Keep em coming. Info useful for all ppl.

[newmski]

feel free to rep+ me
im a rep-virgin:o

[barefootbonzai]

Just cut it. Leave about 1 inch, that should be enough to protect the shock. They don't really serve any purpose apart from protection. So it's all good to chop down to that length.

[nugget666]

So if you dont cut them down?

your car sits a bit higher? or?

[dsp26]

cut it progressively so you work your way to finding a good setup. just so you dont do too much at once.

doing this makes sure you find the perfect setup hopefully before your struts bottom out.

on another note, a cheap alternative for lowering is getting coilover sleeves from the states. their cheap as ~AU$200 delivered.

beats paying a tyre shop $200-$300 to re-heat your springs which probably wont last 2yrs anyway...

[dsp26]

So if you dont cut them down?

your car sits a bit higher? or?

neither. it gives your struts more play, which is what you need when you lower a car.

when a car is lowered, obviously the strut is'nt getting its full movement coz it is partially in alerady from the lowering.

[dsp26]

Just cut it. Leave about 1 inch, that should be enough to protect the shock. They don't really serve any purpose apart from protection. So it's all good to chop down to that length.

thats not true, i used to think that till the area where the strut mounts in the engine bay (where strut braces mount) on my old starlet started developing cracks in the actual chassis from the struts always bottoming out.

[barefootbonzai]

Getting coilover sleeves is the worst advice ever. They are useless and no good for your car.

If your car was always bottoming out, with 1 inch of bumpstop left, there was something seriously wrong with your setup.

Please explain what part of my statement was not true. What purpose does a bumpstop provide?

[dsp26]

lol... i re-read what i quoted. turns out i was agreeing with you.

but yes a bumpstop is literally that.

my car was bottoming out all the time coz the previous owner cut the springs which is a massive no no.

wether you bottom out your struts or hit bumpstops all the time, you still damage the strut mounting areas due to the excessive shock from no shock dampening at all hence optimally, when you cut bumpstops, try make sure that the shock still has play to not hit it after reduction.

as for coilover sleeves, i wasn't talking about the cheapo ebay ones ;) if i had the money, i personally would get 1inch lowered progressive springs to compliment my KYB GR2s.... specifically Intrax or Ground Control springs from the states.

for a cheap adjustable susp setup, KYB AGXs (8 damp points) coupled with decent coilover sleeves would make a good combo under ~$1k, however i've seen D2 coilovers second hand for as low as $1k.

[egSi]

i recommend these, have used them etc. OEM stops never last even on stock cars.

i have pulled apart stock eg suspension to find NO stop or jack dick left of one :thumbdwn:

http://undergroundimports.com.au/ecommerce/os/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=368

http://undergroundimports.com.au/ecommerce/os/catalog/images/stops.JPG

[dsp26]

solid polyurethane by the looks of it... nice :thumbsup: thanks for the headsup