Need Shocks Help

[Jimz]

My stock shocks are sagging and is in need of replacement.

What do ppl recommend?

I know about Koni Yellow already, but are there any other cheaper alternatives?

Does sydney ppl recommened any shops that sells shocks for cheap?

[RXSeven]

Uh...if you're after cheap then you'll get cheap to my knowledge. Let us know how much you're willing to spend. Koni yellows are excellent. Buuuuut you could fork out a little more and grab a set of G4 Coilovers or even D2's or something for $1450 - $1800. Once you have coilovers you never go back. Just like having a car on rails. Other thing is you could always revalve your current shocks, but I've heard mixed stories. Comments people? Let us help Jim and his...strange Corona wagon thingy lol.

[blue_rolla]

im sorry to hijack, but i have 2 questions about coilovers...

1. whats the cheapest you could be looking at buying some for?

2. why are they so good? like is the ride heaps better?

[shaohaok]

if a coilover's spring and a normal coil spring use the same spring rate and matched to the same damper. which is better?

[RME1]

im sorry to hijack, but i have 2 questions about coilovers...

1. whats the cheapest you could be looking at buying some for?

Second hand D2 coilovers are aroudns 1000 - these are bang for your buck...so i've been told >_<;;

2. why are they so good? like is the ride heaps better?

I've been in BangN's ride - he has D2 coilovers - handles like nothing i've ever riden in...the ride is heaps firmer than say my ride with lovells sport low springs. I think the fact taht you can tinker with the ride height, damper and spring rate makes it more enjoyable - you know, the learning invovled in tuning the perfect setup for daily driving and enthuisatic driving?

In fact, i wouldn't mind finding out a bit about coilovers as well...is there possibly a file or research articles that the 'elders' have compiled? ...*cough* Northy, silverbullet *cough* - i.e. prices, height adjustablitiy etc. etc. as well as overall views?

Edited May 16, 2006 by RME1

[CHA54]

I'd recommend getting the stock struts revalved to suit your specific springs. This is by far the best bang-for-buck mod.

If you get them done properly at somewhere like TSR in Slacks Creek, your car will probably handle better than it would with a cheap set of coilovers.

[RME1]

Revalving stock suspension? ...*sorry to hijack* does that just make the stock suspension more firmer? ...or do they do something to make it lower? ... :D

[NIKICH]

How much are we looking at revalving the stock shocks... Does anything else need to be done like shortening them or anything else??

[CAP]

Revalving stock suspension? ...*sorry to hijack* does that just make the stock suspension more firmer? ...or do they do something to make it lower? ... :D

Revalving is only for the dampers/shockers. It doesn't have anything to do with ride height.

When it comes to Coilovers v Spring/Shock matching, you have to ask yourself, how many times will you actually be adjusting height etc, it's not a 1 min process... I'd say for most people only when fitted. It's only of real value when you do track days and you want to have your street and track settings.

For most drivers, Well matched Coils and Dampers are still the go.

With Shockers, like anything you just get what you pay for. A good set will improve handling, stopping etc.

[CHA54]

the last time I checked it was $100-120 ea to get them valved to whatever rate you need, you can also go short-stroke etc if you've drastically reduced your ride height with springs.

[NIKICH]

the last time I checked it was $100-120 ea to get them valved to whatever rate you need, you can also go short-stroke etc if you've drastically reduced your ride height with springs.

Im riding on King Superlows so i will have to go short-stroke....

I know my shocks are on the way out, i can just tell everytime i go over a speed hump

[E-Gene]

Konis are great...and yes I've got mine up in the Buy/Sell section for $700.

[shaohaok]

can't u just run lowering springs and stock shocks?

[RXSeven]

I'd recommend getting the stock struts revalved to suit your specific springs. This is by far the best bang-for-buck mod.

If you get them done properly at somewhere like TSR in Slacks Creek, your car will probably handle better than it would with a cheap set of coilovers.

can't u just run lowering springs and stock shocks?

When I add it up I believe the D2's for $1800 are bang for buck. As Bangn's friend said. Coilovers are an integrated coil-over-spring unit, they are one piece. Irregardless of spring rate they are engineered better than any spring/shock combo. HOWEVER it depends on what you want! Revalving is still good if you just want springs still.

Oh and I'm running a 35mm drop on stock shocks. It's kinda bumpy, shocks will wear out faster tho. 50mm drop on stock shocks is worse (but not too bad) 65mm drop? Goodbye suspension travel. They'll bottom out and stock shocks will last like, 9 months lol.

[shaohaok]

I'd recommend getting the stock struts revalved to suit your specific springs. This is by far the best bang-for-buck mod.

If you get them done properly at somewhere like TSR in Slacks Creek, your car will probably handle better than it would with a cheap set of coilovers.

can't u just run lowering springs and stock shocks?

When I add it up I believe the D2's for $1800 are bang for buck. As Bangn's friend said. Coilovers are an integrated coil-over-spring unit, they are one piece. Irregardless of spring rate they are engineered better than any spring/shock combo. HOWEVER it depends on what you want! Revalving is still good if you just want springs still.

Oh and I'm running a 35mm drop on stock shocks. It's kinda bumpy, shocks will wear out faster tho. 50mm drop on stock shocks is worse (but not too bad) 65mm drop? Goodbye suspension travel. They'll bottom out and stock shocks will last like, 9 months lol.

yeah i asked coz there still some ppl out there who need convincing that lowering springs work perfectly fine with stock shocks.

[NIKICH]

I agree that stock shocks work well with 50 mm lowered springs, the only problem is they dont last very long...I have 60,000 odd on my car, ive had the lowered springs on for 10 - 12,000, so the shocks were already worn in, the has just shortened the life of the spring....I think i will get i think i will get another 8 - 10,000 more out of these springs before i need to change them or revalve them....For the price that rollamods said to have them revalved, im thinking its a good option if the marry up the spring rate and the shock...

[RXSeven]

I'd recommend getting the stock struts revalved to suit your specific springs. This is by far the best bang-for-buck mod.

If you get them done properly at somewhere like TSR in Slacks Creek, your car will probably handle better than it would with a cheap set of coilovers.

can't u just run lowering springs and stock shocks?

When I add it up I believe the D2's for $1800 are bang for buck. As Bangn's friend said. Coilovers are an integrated coil-over-spring unit, they are one piece. Irregardless of spring rate they are engineered better than any spring/shock combo. HOWEVER it depends on what you want! Revalving is still good if you just want springs still.

Oh and I'm running a 35mm drop on stock shocks. It's kinda bumpy, shocks will wear out faster tho. 50mm drop on stock shocks is worse (but not too bad) 65mm drop? Goodbye suspension travel. They'll bottom out and stock shocks will last like, 9 months lol.

yeah i asked coz there still some ppl out there who need convincing that lowering springs work perfectly fine with stock shocks.

I was about to say Shao you're like a veteran around here lol. Bah, spring sag also gets me. Put 2 people in the back...saaaaaagggggg. At least with coilovers they're stiff as hell. Like riding on four poles haha.

I think revalving is a good idea NIKITCH. As stated before it's better bang for buck depending on what you want.

[teddy1386]

damnz i had my kings superlows in for like 20,000km. im trying to research ahead what i shud do when it comes to new shocks. wud u's reckon revalving them would b better than getting new shocks such as koni's?

Northy: how was your ride when u had a 50mm drop and u had koni shocks with it ?

[gOODbOYz]

I've had my kings for over 30,000kms already .. ride still feels normal to me

[ZEEROLLA]

Stiffer is not always better guys especially when you drive on the street most of the time. KYB and Koni shocks are great. I had 35mm Whiteline lowered springs on stock shocks for about 20,000+kms and i could slowly feel the shocks "die", especially after a few hard cornering sessions, track days, Sydney roads etc etc.. and i also carry people. The car would "bounce" on the springs after hard cornering or after driving over humps. Braking also started to suffer. Needless to say a damaged shock absorber is VERY dangerous.

Edited May 18, 2006 by ZEEROLLA

[RXSeven]

Stiffer is not always better guys especially when you drive on the street most of the time. KYB and Koni shocks are great. I had 35mm Whiteline lowered springs on stock shocks for about 20,000+kms and i could slowly feel the shocks "die", especially after a few hard cornering sessions, track days, Sydney roads etc etc.. and i also carry people. The car would "bounce" on the springs after hard cornering or after driving over humps. Braking also started to suffer. Needless to say a damaged shock absorber is VERY dangerous.

Stiffer is better when you have coilovers and you choose to ride Danz/Bangn/Mario style. Last thing you want is a fat ***** getting in the back seat and sagging the back end. Scrape lol.

[MR22ZZ]

or driving the Wisemans Ferry - Gosford road and bottoming out every bump

[Gipper]

or driving the Wisemans Ferry - Gosford road and bottoming out every bump

A few observations from my experiances that may help:

* Simply putting harder, lower springs will decrease the life of your standard shocks and could decrease

your handling ability as well

* A good sports shock will make far more difference to ride and handling than simply changing the springs

will

* For street use a good Shock (Koni, Bilstein, etc) and a good dual rate spring are a great combination

* Some coil over setups are IMHO too hard for street use.

* Good quality coil overs are awesome for track use.

* Not all coil overs are the same. A cheap set of coil overs are not neccesarily better than a non-coil over

setup.

* Rather than buying a coil over or spring/shock setup based on mates/forum/etc, talk to a sports

suspension specialist like Trutrack in North Melbourne about what you want and what you use your car for.

He will be able to reccommend a setup that will suit you and your car.

[NIKICH]

Has anyone revalved or shortened the shock on their corolla here??

[RXSeven]

The G4's are cheap and they're still better than a regular setup. $1400 and they're fine for everyday driving and track use. JAZE55 had the G4's installed and raves about them. $1800 for D2's if you want something a little bit more versatile. $2000 and upwards for the Cusco's etc and Wei Wei and Northy etc still drive them everyday. Remember that you can still soften coilovers. Bangn is running the D2's which are street/track and he's had no problems with them AND he owns cars in higher classes than the sportivo around the track. The whole design concept of coilovers makes them better than a regular setup. Danz is another example of this. Cannot remember what brand, but they were even cheaper than the G4's and he'd never ever go back to a regular setup.