new shocks struts...raise height?
03-21-2006, 12:36 PM
#1
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new shocks struts...raise height?
I have read a couple time that people who have put on new gas struts/shocks have said the car now sits higher. Is there any truth to this? I am looking at getting some KYB or tockico (stock spring, don't have lowering springs) but am now concerned it could turn into a 4x4! I certainly don't want it any higher, could that happen??
thanks.
thanks.
03-21-2006, 01:13 PM
#2
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Car: 1999 Saturn SL2
Engine: 4 cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Depends on how bad your current shocks and struts are worn out.
When I changed out my shocks and struts, the old ones were so worn that they didn't even "uncompress" when I took them out. I could easily move them in either direction, which is not good at all. I replaced them with some cheapie AZ parts. The front end definately sat a little bit higher than it did before... if I had to guess I'd probably estimate 1/4" to 1/2". Nothing dramatic, but after driving it almost every day for about a year it was pretty easy to tell for me. The rear end stayed at the same height as far as I could tell.
In any case, I don't think it's going to dramatically affect your car's ride height. If anything, it'll probably just put it right back to where it should be stock.
When I changed out my shocks and struts, the old ones were so worn that they didn't even "uncompress" when I took them out. I could easily move them in either direction, which is not good at all. I replaced them with some cheapie AZ parts. The front end definately sat a little bit higher than it did before... if I had to guess I'd probably estimate 1/4" to 1/2". Nothing dramatic, but after driving it almost every day for about a year it was pretty easy to tell for me. The rear end stayed at the same height as far as I could tell.
In any case, I don't think it's going to dramatically affect your car's ride height. If anything, it'll probably just put it right back to where it should be stock.
03-21-2006, 03:56 PM
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Car: 1997 Corvette
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.73 IRS
You can get some oil shocks (I think they are considered oil shocks) like the Koni Red stuff and they don't push up at all. Not as cheap as KYBs though.
03-22-2006, 06:20 AM
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Car: too many ...
Well, the springs control the ride height, not the struts/shocks. A correct install of struts/shocks should not change the ride height as far as I know. If the ride height did change then something might have happened with the springs, most commonly they are not indexed properly. Since the springs need to come out to do the struts its easy for this to happen (I've done it myself).
03-22-2006, 09:33 PM
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Car: city bus
Engine: turbo diesel
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: be damned if I know, it's not mine
shocks and stuff....
I'd definitly get new springs, even if the are the stock ride height. As for the car sitting higher, the suspension just needs to wear in a little. Even if you are using lowering springs, you will not get the full lowering effect until all those springs have been "massaged in". I think it's 500 miles, give or take, (don't quote me on this though) to break a new suspension in (stock or lowered).
Last edited by Abaddon_fallen1; 03-22-2006 at 09:38 PM. Reason: spelling
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