Calling all H&R owners with stock struts..

[Sternie]

Just a quick question.. is the ride pretty bouncy with the stock struts? Or if you've since upgrades to KYBs or Monroes, is there a world of difference? I'm constantly debating ordering the KYBs now that the rears are out and I'm looking for some advice! Thanks guys/gals.

Tony

[redfox]

ride is gonna be bouncey no matter what. I replaced the front with KYB when i installed my H&R. That was 100 bucks i spent for nothing, in my eyes. In hinsight, i would not have bought the KYB and saved myself 100 bucks. Know granted the "bouncey" is not as bad as those cars with cut springs. Any car dropped by spring will be bouncey.

[AMRAAM4]

KYB's have the same rating as our stock struts. They aren't a "performance" strut for lowering springs. Therefore, they will only provide a ride benefit if the stock struts are shot.

[SilverEcstasy]

This was explained to me by AaronGTR when I was asking him about springs but not in his exact words.

Springs like H&R's and Eibach's are going to lower your ride height. They're also stiffer to compensate for the less height your ride will have, thus giving you a stiffer, more responsive ride. Yet, your stock struts are at a dampening level for the springs that were already on there. So you're going to have a less responsive rebound and stroke on your suspension. Just like engine mods where one mod correllates with another, suspension mods correlate with one another. If you get springs, get struts. Not only are they goin to wear out your stock struts, KYB's or a new strut is going to dampen the action of the new spring MUCH better.

So, in short, don't skimp out. Get the struts as well. When I rode in his car, he had front KYB's but stock struts in the rear and it was very bouncy in the rear. Obviously cause his dampening wasn't as responsive to the springs as the fronts were with the KYB's. So if you're going to run just springs, you're going to be riddin funny inside. Springs with struts all the way around is my opinion and theory! :thumbs:

[AaronGTR]

Couldn't of said it better myself Mike. Bustin' out the mad science!:D

It's true the KYB's aren't a performance strut and they aren't perfectly matched to the spring rates, but they are 10-15% stiffer (it says so right on the website) and will perform more uniformly than the stock struts. They are the only choice we have and they will make a difference so I say get them.:thumbs:

[SilverEcstasy]

Originally posted by AaronGTR
Couldn't of said it better myself Mike. Bustin' out the mad science!:D

:thumbs: Hehe, i've been taught well.

[Sternie]

Well thanks for the advice guys, I went ahead and ordered them from PFYC this morning... I don't think I'll regret it. :D

Hopefully they will ship quickly...

[Natedog]

is it really necessary to replace the struts with an eibach lowering, i vaguely remember reading on here that Eibachs are fine with stock struts, and my 03 SC/T only has 5000 miles on it... im gonna drop it after i get my rims in late April:thumbs:

[drburns]

I did the H&R's w/ stock struts and I regret not putting the KYB's on at the same time. My struts and/or strut mounts sound terrible; the struts have 22000 miles on them, 7000 of which are with the H&R's. Hopefully I'll be getting the KYB's installed next week when the front strut mounts arrive. If I had the $, I'd like to get those Bilstiens.

My advice would be to do the springs and struts together. The difference in handling is totally worth the $, and the ride is not that harsh or bouncy. Just be extra careful when you pull up to parking blocks or curbs, the front is very low.:)

[AMRAAM4]

AWWWW CRAP I noticed the last 2 days my front end, mostly the front ride is kinda creaky on bumps/hard stopping/body weight shifting....is it possible I jinxed myself and my struts are now going :(

Car has 31,500 on it...H&Rs have been on for a year (16,500 miles)??

[SilverEcstasy]

Originally posted by AMRAAM4
AWWWW CRAP I noticed the last 2 days my front end, mostly the front ride is kinda creaky on bumps/hard stopping/body weight shifting....is it possible I jinxed myself and my struts are now going :(

Car has 31,500 on it...H&Rs have been on for a year (16,500 miles)??

Not that I am an expert with suspension, nor do I have any experience, but it sounds like they're starting to get shot.

KYB time!! PFYC has both the front and rears I believe? In stock and ready to order?

[AaronGTR]

Not trying to gloat here, but it's like I said. Even a low level upgrade like the KYB's will make a difference. Everything I've read and all the people I've talked to with other cars that have highly modified suspensions said the same thing. It's very important to match spring rates and damper stiffness. Lowering springs are stiffer springs, for both handling and to keep the car from bottoming. The stock struts are not matched to work with even a little stiffer spring. They are already under-damped from the factory. A 10-15% improvement in damper stiffness can make all the difference. My front end with the KYB's is great, but the rear is too bouncy. I will be ordering the rear KYB's as soon as I have the money. I'm kinda short after ordering wheels, tires, and brakes.

[Sternie]

Originally posted by AaronGTR
Not trying to gloat here, but it's like I said. Even a low level upgrade like the KYB's will make a difference. Everything I've read and all the people I've talked to with other cars that have highly modified suspensions said the same thing. It's very important to match spring rates and damper stiffness. Lowering springs are stiffer springs, for both handling and to keep the car from bottoming. The stock struts are not matched to work with even a little stiffer spring. They are already under-damped from the factory. A 10-15% improvement in damper stiffness can make all the difference. My front end with the KYB's is great, but the rear is too bouncy. I will be ordering the rear KYB's as soon as I have the money. I'm kinda short after ordering wheels, tires, and brakes.

A little off topic, but what wheels did you decide to go with?

[Sternie]

Also, should I order the strut boots found on TireRack for the struts? Or do they come w/ the PFYC order?

Tony

[AaronGTR]

I got white Centerline RPM's size 17x7 with 42mm offset and a 5x155mm bolt pattern. Tires are Toyo proxes FZ4's size 235/45W-R17.

I did a review of the KYB boots in this thread suspension review (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread/php?s=&threadid=11557) . They are nice but not necessary.