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View Full Version : Shock Absorbers: Better ride?



Ferrarista
03-10-2006, 09:27 PM
Ok, so i got my camber kit put in today and i was talking to the guy about shocks. My car has been lowered on normal springs and obviously the standard shocks are on their way out, i wanted to replace them with a better shock, i dont want coil overs.

The guy told me that no shock will make the ride better, problem is you ask 6 people and you get 6 different answers. So have any of you lowered your car, had a rough ride and put shocks in that have improved it?

destrukshn
03-10-2006, 09:28 PM
you mean handling or comfort wise?

Ferrarista
03-10-2006, 09:31 PM
you mean handling or comfort wise?
Comfort

destrukshn
03-10-2006, 09:32 PM
in my books yes, choosing the right shock, will give you comfort.
some maybe tooo stiff, and will not me a comfy ride.
lol.

simbadda54
03-10-2006, 09:48 PM
Ill be getting some koni yellows soon with height and damper adjustable. My ride is so rough at the moment. Hope they help

SiReal
03-10-2006, 09:57 PM
In terms of stock vs aftermarket shocks, stock will most likely always provide a more comforatble ride at STOCK specification.

However when lowered, and ur those shocks die, good bye comfort. Thats when an adjustable shock will do the car new justice. My ride is a little bit harder, but its great. I can't fly over speedhumps anymore, but i dont mind.

Ferrarista
03-10-2006, 11:01 PM
In terms of stock vs aftermarket shocks, stock will most likely always provide a more comforatble ride at STOCK specification.

However when lowered, and ur those shocks die, good bye comfort. Thats when an adjustable shock will do the car new justice. My ride is a little bit harder, but its great. I can't fly over speedhumps anymore, but i dont mind.
What shocks u using?

EK4R
03-10-2006, 11:07 PM
In terms of stock vs aftermarket shocks, stock will most likely always provide a more comforatble ride at STOCK specification.

However when lowered, and ur those shocks die, good bye comfort. Thats when an adjustable shock will do the car new justice. My ride is a little bit harder, but its great. I can't fly over speedhumps anymore, but i dont mind.

u got auto nothin to worry about going over humps..just cruise it over...:mad: damn u


Ferrarista what car do you have???
why dont you want to invest in coilovers? the price you pay for it is almost as much as good shocks and good springs.
they last and improves handling as well as dont sacrifice alot of comfort (tein SS) and in the end you save your stock shock n springs which. when you sale your car sell the coilovers seperate and you wont lose as much

Ferrarista
03-10-2006, 11:54 PM
u got auto nothin to worry about going over humps..just cruise it over...:mad: damn u


Ferrarista what car do you have???
why dont you want to invest in coilovers? the price you pay for it is almost as much as good shocks and good springs.
they last and improves handling as well as dont sacrifice alot of comfort (tein SS) and in the end you save your stock shock n springs which. when you sale your car sell the coilovers seperate and you wont lose as much
Accord Euro

I've already invested in the suspension and camber kit, im never going to track the car and it would be a massive waste of money

jdm_kid
04-10-2006, 09:56 AM
Accord Euro

I've already invested in the suspension and camber kit, im never going to track the car and it would be a massive waste of money

I go for cheap coilovers like d2's or tien SS ... replacing ur shocks with new ones + switching the springs over + labour will add to the same amount as coilovers. Plus with coilovers u have a wide range of settings from soft to hard etc etc.

Anyways, up to u .. go for Koni Yellows, height adjustable n damper adjustable .. but any shocks will do, but aslong as they have damper adjustable is ok, since u want it Soft and Comfortable

JasonGilholme
04-10-2006, 10:01 AM
The cool thing about most coilovers is that you can adjust the height without reducing the travel of the shock or the spring rate. (Which means you can keep your softer ride whilst still going lower)

Coilovers are a much better option and for the extra money you save your OEM springs and shocks to throw on later. :thumbsup:

nugget666
04-10-2006, 04:35 PM
i think you can keep the camber kit you have now as it should be compatable with your new coilovers. if thats the way you go

SiReal
04-10-2006, 04:39 PM
What shocks u using?

Hey mate,

I'm runnig Koni Sports (aka yellows) from egSi (aka Trav). They are damper adjustable and spring perch adjustable. Great shock.

edit: Not ANY old shock will do, shocks which are designed to run at lower heights are pretty much what you want. OEM replacement shocks will just blow once again. so look at getting sports shocks.

yfin
04-10-2006, 05:02 PM
Sure Koni Yellow shocks would be a great choice but shop around and you will quickly see they cost about $1000 for front and rear.

As stated above - a good set out adjustable coilovers are the way to go. If you have a friend in the USA who can ship to you by sea - the Tein coilovers are VERY well priced (from memory I was quoted around $850US for SS and the basics are around $675US). Doesn't sound so expensive afterall hey? If you send it by surface (it will take 3 to 4 months) it will cost around $100AUD.

I know people say the Tein SS in Australia is designed to suit Australian conditions. Well maybe that is so but it is sure a big price difference (around $2000) compared to the version sold in the USA.

JasonGilholme
04-10-2006, 05:08 PM
You should be able to keep your camber kit as it is to do with the upper control arm, not the upper mount for the shock/coilover.

panda[cRx]
04-10-2006, 05:30 PM
when the euro's came out our dealership did some sort of pimping package where we dumped the euro on it's ass. from memory we used koni's on those... as much as they shit us to tears coz of scrapage and trying to get em on the hoist they do have a great ride quality condisering the dumpage

JasonGilholme
04-10-2006, 06:10 PM
How was the camber afterwards??

T-onedc2
04-10-2006, 06:55 PM
Quite simply a lower spring will be thicker and have a higher rate ie; more weight required to compress per millimeter (unless it's chopped of course but that's another story). As a result the spring will want to rebound faster and will also require a stronger damping force to stop the movement. This is where a good quality shock/damper comes in, it can absorb the spring movement which is now much more powerful than stock spring and keep the car from bouncing along uncontrollably on the standard shocks (which will wear very quickly in these conditions).
A lower ride height sacrifices comfort no matter what, it's just a matter of finding in the right combination through trial and error or even better, finding the right advice. Good luck :thumbsup:

panda[cRx]
04-10-2006, 07:06 PM
How was the camber afterwards??

not too bad, but the euro's are farked as is... their tyres always wear unevenly

aaronng
04-10-2006, 08:23 PM
Ask Tony1234. He has springs + shocks on his Euro. He can help you with explaining how good is the ride quality with quality shocks.

JasonGilholme
04-10-2006, 08:39 PM
Quite simply a lower spring will be thicker and have a higher rate ie; more weight required to compress per millimeter (unless it's chopped of course but that's another story). As a result the spring will want to rebound faster and will also require a stronger damping force to stop the movement. This is where a good quality shock/damper comes in, it can absorb the spring movement which is now much more powerful than stock spring and keep the car from bouncing along uncontrollably on the standard shocks (which will wear very quickly in these conditions).
A lower ride height sacrifices comfort no matter what, it's just a matter of finding in the right combination through trial and error or even better, finding the right advice. Good luck :thumbsup:

Unless you go with a descent set of coilovers that let you alter the height without affecting the spring rate, as well as being able to alter the dampening.

Ferrarista
05-10-2006, 07:13 PM
']when the euro's came out our dealership did some sort of pimping package where we dumped the euro on it's ass. from memory we used koni's on those... as much as they shit us to tears coz of scrapage and trying to get em on the hoist they do have a great ride quality condisering the dumpage
Thanks dude, i'll have to look into them.

To the others, the car will be sold at the end of next year...im not going to pump another $2k into the car

I just want a smoother ride and general conses says go sports shocks.

ANyone else have any stories where they have replaced shocks?

Ferrarista
05-10-2006, 07:14 PM
How was the camber afterwards??
BEst thing i've done so far.

It was -3.5 and -4.5

Now both are -1.5 :D

Ferrarista
15-10-2006, 01:37 PM
Ill be getting some koni yellows soon with height and damper adjustable. My ride is so rough at the moment. Hope they help
How did you go?

Im still considering getting these but i want to be sure that my ride will better, right now its hopeless where i can feel every bump so i just want to make sure that i can get an acceptable ride once again.

Any adive will be appreciated, once again Coilovers arent an option

Thanks guys