I have never modified the suspension on any of my cars before and I am a little ignorant to their workings. Alas, the time has come to at least change the shocks on my 97 sunfire because at least 1 is dead.
I plan on changing at the very minimum all 4 shocks and this is where I need help with pricing and understanding.
If I plan on putting in 4 new OEM shocks what is the price range I would be looking at?
For approximately the same price, is there a better deal on the market?
I was looking at getting the Tokico D-Specks witha price tag of $599 - which say they are adjustable shocks+struts. What I dont understand here is, if I keep the stock springs, what adjustibility do I actually have with the D-spec shocks?
Does the adjustable shocks mean that I can adjust them to match any spring? I.e buy the shocks now use them at stock height, and later on if I decide i can get coilover sleeves, or lowering springs and keep the same shocks?
If one has coilovers (adjustable) why would they need adjustable shocks.
I also have seen some shocks that say they only work on rims smaller than 16". I saw a post saying that I dont have to worry about it, but I just want to verify, that my 18" rims x 8" wide will still fit with any shocks.
I have searched and have not actually found the answers to these questions in a sufficient enough detail to help me make a decision as to what I will buy.
Thanks for any help.
I'm impressed someone who searched and then posted a legitimate question
If noons has answered your questions by tonight I'll get into it (when I'm on a computer and not my cell phone)
Ok, Ill give this a go....Anyone feel free to correct me if im wrong.
The Dspecs @ 599 is a good deal. There is a GP for them on there that might or might not be going on still.
If you keep the stock springs with Dspecs, you will still be able to adjust the stiffness and softness of the STRUT. That means how hard/soft it is on compression and rebound. If you use stock springs for now, when you buy something else, IE eibach or sprints, or whatever your choice is, the Dspecs will still be a VERY VERY good option.
When they say the strut is adjsutable, they do not mean the height is adjsutable, only the compression and rebound effect of it. The height all comes from the choice of spring, or coilover. There for your choice of spring would decide how high/low your car sits, not the strut it self.
AFAIK, The Dspecs will work with 18 inch wheels. The only reason they would not was if the tire hit the spring pearch, or your tires are too wide and hit the strut body. I am pretty sure that with a Dspec strut, running a 225 tire is safe, anything wider will rub the strut body, and a 225/17/45 would be IDEAL for that strut.
I have never modified the suspension on any of my cars before and I am a little ignorant to their workings. Alas, the time has come to at least change the shocks on my 97 sunfire because at least 1 is dead.
I plan on changing at the very minimum all 4 shocks and this is where I need help with pricing and understanding.
If I plan on putting in 4 new OEM shocks what is the price range I would be looking at?
For approximately the same price, is there a better deal on the market?
-typically aftermarket equivalent of OEM replacements will be cheaper then GM sock replacements. If your your NOT going to lower it any direct replacement is fine but if you want a little bit sportier feel to it I would recommend KYB GR2's, great struts but not meant to handle a drop.
I was looking at getting the Tokico D-Specks witha price tag of $599 - which say they are adjustable shocks+struts. What I dont understand here is, if I keep the stock springs, what adjustibility do I actually have with the D-spec shocks?
- All of the adjustable struts for J's are a single adjustment, compression and rebound are adjusted together. Your basically adjusting the firmness of the strut, even with stock springs you can adjust the struts for a firmer, sportier ride or soften them up for a nice smooth comfortable ride. For adjustable struts there are 3 options. The KYB AGX's are a dirrect replacement adjustable strut that can handle up to a 1.5" drop, the Tokico D-specs are dirrect replacement adjustable strut that are warrantied for whatever drop springs you throw at them, only way to void the warranty is by abuse (riding around bottoming out the struts on coilovers all the way down so the car handles and rides like @!#$ but looks cool) Koni's have the same warranty as the D-specs, can handle any springs but they are an insert and require a decent amount of work to install, they are not a direct replacement.
Does the adjustable shocks mean that I can adjust them to match any spring? I.e buy the shocks now use them at stock height, and later on if I decide i can get coilover sleeves, or lowering springs and keep the same shocks?
-Again adjustable struts let you adjust the firmness. And like I said above about the lowering, up to 1.5" go with the AGX's, D-specs, or Koni's anything over 1.5" your choices are the D-specs or Konis. Those are the ONLY 3 options for lowering the car and all of them are adjustable, none of them are cheap so plan ahead and do it once.
If one has coilovers (adjustable) why would they need adjustable shocks.
Assuming you mean a coilover kit and not the full out coilovers (like the Tien SS or somehting along those lines) the coilovers only adjust ride height you still need to adjust the dampeners to control the bounciness of the spring. In general you don't NEED an adjustable strut with coilover but all of the options for struts that can handle a dop for the J are adjustable. So weather you want adjustable or not for a J adjustable is your only choice.
I also have seen some shocks that say they only work on rims smaller than 16". I saw a post saying that I dont have to worry about it, but I just want to verify, that my 18" rims x 8" wide will still fit with any shocks.
-So long as you have the proper offset on the rims and the correct size tire you shouldn't run into any problems. I was running a 17x8 wheel with a 235 tire and had no rubbing issues with stock struts, AGX's, or Koni's (in other words every setup I tried) worse case scenario you run some small (liek 5mm) spacers. Replacement struts wont cause any clearance problems, I've only heard of clearance problems when people are running a full coilover setup, mainly the Tien Basics come to mind.
I have searched and have not actually found the answers to these questions in a sufficient enough detail to help me make a decision as to what I will buy.
-From the sound of it you want to lower the car, if that's the case just get the D-specs, they are a very good strut and a direct drop in replacement for very easy install. If your gonna stay at stock ride height go with the GR-2's or just find something cheap. Also keep in mind if your changing the struts now is the time to replace the strut mounts and after reinstalling the suspension you will need an alignment, so there is a bit more cost then just the struts.
darkstars nailed it 100% there, as did evofire
um, Just want to point this out, this is from info that I have been told, all struts, AGX's, Koni's and Tokico's are warrentied up to 1.5, but all three will still cover it if they are on a set-up lower than "warrentied".
Brad wrote:um, Just want to point this out, this is from info that I have been told, all struts, AGX's, Koni's and Tokico's are warrentied up to 1.5, but all three will still cover it if they are on a set-up lower than "warrentied".
completely false
kyb gr2 struts = oem replacement (no drop)
kyb agx struts = 1.5" drop max
koni red/yellows = no set limit as long as they are not abused (ie coilovers smalled all the way down to a 4" drop)
tokico hps = 1.5" drop (i still see these as oem replacements however some believe they can handle a 1.5" drop)
tokico d-specs = same as koni
can you get a away with lowering past 1.5" on some struts and still get the warranty? maybe but why chance it for a couple hundred more you can save the hassle and get the right struts.
Moar Candy! LAWL wrote:Brad wrote:um, Just want to point this out, this is from info that I have been told, all struts, AGX's, Koni's and Tokico's are warrentied up to 1.5, but all three will still cover it if they are on a set-up lower than "warrentied".
completely false
kyb gr2 struts = oem replacement (no drop)
kyb agx struts = 1.5" drop max
koni red/yellows = no set limit as long as they are not abused (ie coilovers smalled all the way down to a 4" drop)
tokico hps = 1.5" drop (i still see these as oem replacements however some believe they can handle a 1.5" drop)
tokico d-specs = same as koni
can you get a away with lowering past 1.5" on some struts and still get the warranty? maybe but why chance it for a couple hundred more you can save the hassle and get the right struts.
that settles that, thank you.
no problem. its also listed too in th faq and i believe its a little more indepth also. browse through it about springs and struts, art did a very good job writing it up.
