I was told when lowering the car you're at a greater risk to blow the shocks due to the more force on the shocks. Just wondering if anyone here has blown their shocks yet, and if how many miles have you driven with the shocks, and what brand are they, before the blow?

Also if you haven't blown them, please state how many miles you have and the brand name of the springs.. thanks!

 

No

Eibachs

about 7K miles

 

No blown shocks or struts

Had Eibach Pro ( the rear drop was too low )

Replaced two weeks ago with Hotchkis Tuning Silver springs.

12500 miles

Cheers Amy -

 

The shocks are there to dampen the springs, not support the weight of the car (that's the springs job). I guess they would be compressed a little more, increasing the internal pressure of the shock, but that might be a stretch.

 

It will eventually happen and or will make the ride suck.

 

Koni has a good explanation(FAQs) on their website, if I remember correctly. Some springs will wear your OE shocks out more quickly than normal, because they are putting more stress on the stock shocks. You should plan to add shocks in the future, I've had my stock shocks wear out in 30-40,000 miles. Some springs could cut that mileage in half or more, depending on your driving style.

 

It all depends on the car and the stock design of the stuts, coupled with spring rates and the amount they drop the car and the road conditions they see. Companies like Eibach have built the entire company on aftermarket suspension mods their springs are meant for stock struts. Same can be said for Tein, Tanabe, and RSR - al springs that are relatively mild in both rate and drop, and all designed to work on stock struts.

 

No, Eibach, 4k ish miles

 

To add to the logic that these lowering spring are on the mild side.

Stock spring rates
F/R in lb/in
350Z and G35 coupe: 347/419
G35 sedan with sport: 357/407
G35 sedan non sport 296/370 (-17% front -9% rear than sport
suspension. Transfers +8% roll stiffness to rear[interesting]

EIBACH:
350Z 1"front 1"rear 296/384 front 316/421 rear
G35s 1.1"f 1.1"rear 259/334 front 359/413 rear
G35c 1"front 1"rear 229/337 front 274/463 rear

Kg/mm springs for 350Z
http://www.kgm.co.jp/catalogue/dr21/...FIARLADY-Z.htm

DR21 super sport 15mm drop
260/419 front 266/431 rear
DRacing 30mm drop
266/478 front 266/507 rear

TANABE:
Sustec 210 Lowering Springs - GF210 Series -
Spring Rate: Front 336 Rear 375
Front Lowering 15-25mm/.50-1.00"; Rear Lowering 20-30mm/.75-1.25"

Sustec 210 Lowering Springs - NF210 Series -
Spring Rate: Front 314 Rear 353
Front Lowering 15-25mm/.50-1.00"; Rear Lowering 20-30mm/.75-1.25"

http://www.rs-r.com/suspension_springs.htm#spring_data
30-N200 15mm or .6" drop front and rear
345LBS front 417LBS rear

TEIN:
H-tech for 350Z
F/R Progressvie spring rates listed rates are final rates
H-tech
358/375

S-tech
386/402

H-tech for G35 Coupe & Sedan
F/R Progressive spring rates listed rates are final rates
324/263

S-tech
358/274

 

i have a roadster and thinking about lowering with springs. I think roadster rides 10mm higer than coupe, correct me if i am wrong though. kg/mm is the only brand that has special spring for roadster, does it make a difference at all if i go with tein, or eibach?

 

I was looking at the H-Tech Tiens for my 350Z.. based on that it would increase the stress, but not by much - correct?

I will end up getting a full suspension in the next year, I'm just worried about blowing the shocks withen 2 years.

 

You wont go ahead.

 

I have read a couple of reviews on the Z in the auto mags and they said the suspension on the Track model they tested was too stiff as if to suggest the other models have softer suspensions. According to the info above this is not true. So all models of 350Zs have the same springs,shocks,and sway bars from the factory?

 

Yep. Mags are wrong.

 

It depends on a couple of things.
- If the OEM suspension has strong enough dampening to compensate the new spring ..which usually isnt the case.
- If you live in an area with potholes vs sunny CA ...then I would say yes.
I would say that lowering spring have a tendency to wear out OEM suspension at a higher rate if you live in an area with rough roads (potholes)......Not everywhere is perfect like CA.

 

"Not everywhere is perfect like CA."


But, man, do we pay for perfection!!

LOL!

 

I dont see how u guys survive everyday out there.

 

Me neither. My house would cost $650,000 in San Jose, where a friend has a small 3 bdroom house worth $475,000!! She bought it 25 years ago. Small lot, small house, nothing special except the locale, at the end of Silicon Valley.

 

I rent a house for $700 a month....3bdrm, 2 car garage, and fenced in back yard.
I am now loking to buy a 3 bdrm in the 130 range. I couldnt even buy Mcdonalds out there.