I'm not totally 100% sure... but I heard that if you use lowering springs on stock shock they will blow out really fast... so I have to buy shocks and do the installation over again.
Is this really true??? How many of you guys use your stock R1 shocks with lowering springs?? Do they handle well???
I have lowering springs but don't have shocks... so I was just wondering if its ok to do that...
Thanks Guys!!!!!!

 

search the suspension forum. or check the archives in the suspension forum.

it depends on the condition of your shocks.

 

That really depends on the spring rate of the springs, however most of them will be fine. What lowing springs did you purchase?

 

I had installed RB springs with my R1 shocks. The ride is stiffer, but not by much.
My car had 65K when I did this.
Recently, I did the pillow bushings and noted an old oil stain on the shocks.
I pull them out and to my surprise 3 out of 4 were blown.
Strange thing is, the car did not behave as blown shocks(jumping up and down over bumps).
So did the RB springs blow my R1 shocks???
I don't know, since I didn't installed the RB, I had it done.
What I'm saying is, I did not get a chance to inspect/test the R1 shocks, when the RB springs were installed(my bad).
Good luck.

 

i think the best springs for stock r1 struts would be the h&r springs. they ride great, better on small bumps then stock. i dont know how bad they are on the struts.. read sleepr1's write up on these springs. he has had them for a while. btw what type of spings do you have??

 

I have RB's on the rear and H&R for the front.
This set up will lower the car approximately 2 inches.

By the way why do shocks blow out when you place lowering springs???? How many of you guys shocks blew out on you by lowering your car with stock shocks?

 

Shocks blow out because they weren't designed for the stiffer spring rates. Quite a few people have run the stock R1/R2 shocks with Eibachs/H&Rs just fine.

BTW, it's a REALLY BAD idea to run different model springs like you are doing. It alters the handling of the car. Not to mention that neither of those springs lower the car 2" and you really wouldn't want them to either.

 

it is quite possible that your springs damaged the shocks. i have dynoed quite a few fd shocks, some w 150,000 miles on them and have not run into one leaking shock to date. BTW, the high mileage shocks work just as well as low mileage shocks.
generally when a shock is blown out it is either that the spring is too short or too soft. there have been numerous stories recently re Racing Beat springs... losing installed height and not controlling movement properly. (generally when this happens it is due to a poor heat treat).

if i were you and wished to get the most for my money i would buy a set of Eibach Pro Kit springs and acquire a set of used non R1 shocks. there may even be a set of Eibachs in the classified section currently. most people love the combo.

howard coleman

 

I see.....
Woww you guys really help me out a lot!!!!
Gotta love this forum man!!!
BTW maybe it doesn't lower 2 inches....kekekeke.

 

I've been trying to reason out why everyone complains about "blowing out" shocks with aftermarket springs. I'm not convinced it has anything to do with spring rate at all.
While the rate of a spring will definitely affect the loads within the spring and the loads passed into the body, the forces generated by a shock are mainly generated by displacement and velocity. So in theory a stiffer spring, which generates less suspension movement relative to the body, should make shocks last longer.
My theory on why shocks wear out is that the sideload of poorly made or designed aftermarket springs is much higher. This causes more stress on the seals of the shock (both where the rod enters the body and between the piston and inner tube) and thus wears them out faster.

Any thoughts on my theory? It would be interesting to try to prove this with data by comparing shock failures with aftermarket springs on a vehicle like a Mustang or truck that doesn't have coil-overs like most cars do.

 

Stock R1 Showa shocks work perfectly with H&R Sport Springs

 

I have 2 different sets of springs....
Ones for the front are H&R's and the Rear's are Racing Beat..... Is it really that bad to have different combinations??? I'm hesitating if I should go with stock shocks with those springs... because shocks are pretty expensive and my shocks on my R1 are in good condition...
What do you guys think?