Im looking to buy struts/shocks within the next week or two. I already have Hotchkis lowering springs and every thread i searched for, tells me i need specific struts/shocks for lowering springs but none have told me what type of struts/shocks. Can anyone help me out here? I dont want to buy the wrong ones, given how much they cost? Im looking at either getting KYB, Bilstein or Tokico's.

thanks

 

Which Hotchkis kit do you have (i.e. rates and how low - or part numbers).

Most of the dilemma comes from the change in spring rate causing the stock damper to be ineffective. Plus, stock dampers are old.

ramey

 

What threads are telling you to replace them? Unless they are worn out, there is no need to replace them just because of lowering springs.

 

part numbers -

19930016 for the front
19830001 for the rear

thanks

 

They were worn out, "like everything else on the car" and needed replacing. The car wasnt lowered before so i wasnt sure which struts/shocks to get with the lowered springs. From what i have read i need certain struts to accomodate the lowering of the car.

Do i just need to get a good pair, like the brands I listed (KYB, Bilstein,Tokico) and I should be all set?

I dont plan on racing the car. Maybe an occasional trip (once a year)to the track so i don't think i need adjustable struts/shocks.

thanks

 

One inch lowering and comparable spring rate, I'd buy Bilstein, KYB, and/or Tokico with confidence and probably in that order.

ramey

 

Shocks/struts are designed to work within an effective range of travel. By lowering you move them outside of that effective range. Also some shocks/struts can only dampen up to a certain stockish spring rate, and over that they will be under valved, inefficient, unable to contol the coil, or fail. Koni and Bilstein are the only ones I know of off the top that actually are designed and claim to be for lowered and higher rate applications. Also they are the only two I have heard on a shock dyno that have any margin of equality in their dampening rates. KYB and Tokico seem to be happy with "in the ballpark" quality but are still a step up from cheap-o gabriels.
But still should be considered as only a stock replacement sport shock.

If your barely lowering I wouldn't be too concerned and KYB's or Tokico should be fine. Agreeably "in that order". If your slamming it, however I would buy some quality shocks/struts.
I haven't seen this be much of an issue on F-bodies though as I have with some imports. Which literally blow the seals out of the strut when lowered and over sprung.
Just search Koni or Bilstein on honda tech and you'll see plenty of examples.
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Now I'll duck and wait for the "I ran Gabriels with a 4" drop and 1000lb in springs on 10 different cars for 999,999 miles and never have had a problem" comments that I know are coming.

 

OK, I'll bite since our only concern is with 3rd gens not imports as you brought up & I feel that a 3rd gen lowering is well within spec for any 3rd gen shock/strut.....Obviously on lowered trucks that is a concern since many go 4"-6", way more than a 3rd gen does.

Is 1 1/4" lowering (what I think the lowering spec is for his choice of lowering is) low enough to be "out of range" to require a new shock/strut?

Where have to see shocks/struts spec'd for lowered 3rd gens & lowered how much?

What strut mount have you seen (you know.....the ones that raise the strut mounting point) spec out a longer travel strut (since it would move it "out of the optimum range) or spec it to use utilized with a specific drop to counteract a certain drop amount to bring the strut length back to stock spec.

Along the same line.....What LCARB have you seen that specs out a certain length shock to be used since it would lengthen the shock mounting distance or combined with lowering springs to bring the travel back to stock specs?

 

I am running the same springs, I went Bilstien

 

Im leaning that way too. Big difference in price but from what several TGO members have said, Biltein is the way to go. New set of KYB GR-2's are only $178 for the entire car, the Bilsteins are $758.

How do you like the springs? My car is still on jack stands, and probably will be for a few more months so i havent seen how the car sits on the springs yet. Any pics of the car's stance?

Thanks for your help!