I picked up a set of new Suspension Technique springs for the g/f's 2002 Cavalier sedan. How quickly will i blow up the stock shocks/struts if i only install the springs? The car is driven very lightly, she just wants the unsightly gap taken away. As soon as we find some decent (and cheap!) Z24 16 inchers, we'll pick those up too. the 14's still have good tires on them so we're in no rush unless a deal pops up. An synthetic oil switch question is about to be posted over in the maintenance forum.

2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

Stock struts are unpredictable with any lowering springs, and could blow at any time. You would be lucky to get a few months, and more likely far less. "Light" driving might buy some extra time, but it's still simply a bad idea if you love your girlfriend at all.

Odds are she would whine about the rough ride the whole time anyways. Unless that's how she likes it.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edited Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:55 PM


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Geeky wrote:Stock struts are unpredictable with any lowering springs, and could blow at any time. You would be lucky to get a few months, and more likely far less. "Light" driving might buy some extra time, but it's still simply a bad idea if you love your girlfriend at all.

Odds are she would whine about the rough ride the whole time anyways. Unless that's how she likes it.

Don't get confused here, she's the one who wants the springs. She likes the way my BMW's feel, and they have H&R/Bilsteins, so they're pretty stiff. So i'll pick up these springs now, and then in a few weeks/months i'll decide what shocks and struts to go with to give the best ride with the springs. What shocks/struts give the softest ride with the susp tech. springs?


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

Thats like comparing Oranges and Apples....

Blisteins are like top of the line, stock struts are like cheapier than water.

All he is saying is that the stock struts are now valved correctly for the lowering springs. The shafts are too long and they bottom out really easy. The light driving will help indeed, but depending on how bad your local roads are, that might not help much.

Steve W wrote:Thats like comparing Oranges and Apples....

Blisteins are like top of the line, stock struts are like cheapier than water.

All he is saying is that the stock struts are now valved correctly for the lowering springs. The shafts are too long and they bottom out really easy. The light driving will help indeed, but depending on how bad your local roads are, that might not help much.

I figured as much. Also the susp techs are only 1.25" drop, i'll probably just pick up some KYB variant for it soon and call it a day.


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

Brandon Holloway wrote:Also the susp techs are only 1.25" drop, i'll probably just pick up some KYB variant for it soon and call it a day.

Many of the struts on the market are "OEM replacement" products that are little better than stock when used for lowering. If you are looking at KYB variants, you would do well to set your sights on the AGX struts. The extra cost gets you adjustability, but also some peace of mind knowing they are still warrantied when used with up to 1.5" of drop.



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Geeky wrote:

Brandon Holloway wrote:Also the susp techs are only 1.25" drop, i'll probably just pick up some KYB variant for it soon and call it a day.

Many of the struts on the market are "OEM replacement" products that are little better than stock when used for lowering. If you are looking at KYB variants, you would do well to set your sights on the AGX struts. The extra cost gets you adjustability, but also some peace of mind knowing they are still warrantied when used with up to 1.5" of drop.

I will assume that the basic KYB GR-2's are about as good as the stock ones. We'll probably throw the springs on with stock ones and see how it feels. If it's crap, then we'll go from there. She doesn't want a very rough riding car at all, just less wheel gap. the damn bilsteins for the Cavalier are more than my 540i.


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

Brandon Holloway wrote:I will assume that the basic KYB GR-2's are about as good as the stock ones. We'll probably throw the springs on with stock ones and see how it feels. If it's crap, then we'll go from there. She doesn't want a very rough riding car at all, just less wheel gap. the damn bilsteins for the Cavalier are more than my 540i.

You'd be right about the GR-2s -- they might fare only slightly better than stock. With the AGXs, you would be able to customize the ride to some extent, so whether she wants it smooth and comfortable (nearly like stock) or sporty and tight, or somewhere between -- they can deliver. The stock struts would come off as sloppy and abrupt by comparison, since they can't manage the more-rigid higher spring rates. I'd be surprised if they didn't seem like crap, but everybody has a different threshold for discomfort.



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Brandon Holloway wrote:

Geeky wrote:

Brandon Holloway wrote:Also the susp techs are only 1.25" drop, i'll probably just pick up some KYB variant for it soon and call it a day.

Many of the struts on the market are "OEM replacement" products that are little better than stock when used for lowering. If you are looking at KYB variants, you would do well to set your sights on the AGX struts. The extra cost gets you adjustability, but also some peace of mind knowing they are still warrantied when used with up to 1.5" of drop.

I will assume that the basic KYB GR-2's are about as good as the stock ones. We'll probably throw the springs on with stock ones and see how it feels. If it's crap, then we'll go from there. She doesn't want a very rough riding car at all, just less wheel gap. the damn bilsteins for the Cavalier are more than my 540i.

no offense to you or anything but i would just take the advice and wait. you cant really compare 2 different cars suspensions together. i would wait and buy the kyb agx struts and put them on at the same time. if not then you have to waste 2-3 hours swapping out struts and pay for another alignment.

StrippedCav98 (Now Quotable) wrote:

Brandon Holloway wrote:

Geeky wrote:

Brandon Holloway wrote:Also the susp techs are only 1.25" drop, i'll probably just pick up some KYB variant for it soon and call it a day.

Many of the struts on the market are "OEM replacement" products that are little better than stock when used for lowering. If you are looking at KYB variants, you would do well to set your sights on the AGX struts. The extra cost gets you adjustability, but also some peace of mind knowing they are still warrantied when used with up to 1.5" of drop.

I will assume that the basic KYB GR-2's are about as good as the stock ones. We'll probably throw the springs on with stock ones and see how it feels. If it's crap, then we'll go from there. She doesn't want a very rough riding car at all, just less wheel gap. the damn bilsteins for the Cavalier are more than my 540i.

no offense to you or anything but i would just take the advice and wait. you cant really compare 2 different cars suspensions together. i would wait and buy the kyb agx struts and put them on at the same time. if not then you have to waste 2-3 hours swapping out struts and pay for another alignment.

Ehh i have never had to do an alignment after installing lowering springs. After replacing control arms only.


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

Well, just finished putting on the Susp Techs. Ended up using the stock struts for now (i know i know, don't start). It seems to ride just like it did before, just a bit lower and a little more firm over speed bumps. Road manners are about the same, with a bit less roll all around. The only thing i must bicker about are bradiscool.com's instructions. They don't state that a '99+ has different front strut mounts and you have to use an impact wrench. I didn't have one handy, so i had to use some inginuity. I couldn't get the strut mount nuts as tight as they were before. I'll be grabbing a set of AGX's in the coming month or two, and some new strut mounts and an IMPACT wrench. Thanks for the advice guys, even though i kinda went against it I may take some pics if it ever stops raining in Texas.


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

yea the 95-99 mounts are much much better than the ones they use on the 00 and up. you will need to get an alignment on the car. anytime you remove struts, its strongly recommened to get an alignment

StrippedCav98 (Now Quotable) wrote:yea the 95-99 mounts are much much better than the ones they use on the 00 and up. you will need to get an alignment on the car. anytime you remove struts, its strongly recommened to get an alignment

Is it possible to use 95-99 mounts when i replace the struts soon?


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

StrippedCav98 (Now Quotable) wrote:yea the 95-99 mounts are much much better than the ones they use on the 00 and up. you will need to get an alignment on the car. anytime you remove struts, its strongly recommened to get an alignment

Is it possible to use 95-99 mounts when i replace the struts soon?


2002 Cavalier 4D auto, white/gray, Kenwood EZ700SR, 10" Kenwood sub, Pioneer 4x6/6x9s, stock otherwise. Susp. Tech. springs coming soon...
1998 BMW 540i 6-spd, lots of mods.
1990 BMW 557i LS1 swap.

Brandon Holloway wrote:Is it possible to use 95-99 mounts when i replace the struts soon?

Yes, they are interchangeable.



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