Stock struts reliable with drop coils??

[mydecember1985]

I just purchased the H&R springs today. ($239 shipped) I know KingOfSorrow had installed his front springs only using the stock struts for a few months until he sadly wrecked it.

Just wondering, but I plan on ordering the struts(Illuminas) in January when I pay the car off, but until that time is it safe to use the stock strut??

Road bumpiness isnt a huge factor around here. our roads are quite nice.

[MetaOrbit]

I've had a few different suspension setups on this car with stock struts, KYB GR-2s, and Illuminas.

Illuminas are best, by far, overall.

When I recently switched to H&R front springs and stock rear springs I first ran it up front with stock struts and H&R springs. I didn't like that at ALL. It seemed VERY bouncy and uncontrolled to me, particularly on dips/expansion joints on the highway. On city streets it wasn't so bad, but still not to my liking.

After a little while I switched everything back to Illuminas (still had them in the garage) and am MUCH happier. The added bonus to having Illuminas in the rear with the stock springs allows me to set those stiffer to compensate for the stiffer front drop springs.

So, if you can, I would switch everything out to Illuminas while you're at it. I'm running 2 in the front and 3 in the rear. I also am using micro-cellular urethane foam bumpstops in the front.

[mydecember1985]

THats another thing, while I have them off, should I order new bumbpstops or simply trim the stock ones? what kind of effect does that have?

[MetaOrbit]

I would trim the bumpstops regardless. It helps compensate for the reduction in suspension travel associated with lowering springs.

As for whether to buy new ones or keep the ones you have...I'd jack up the car and look first.

What I mean, is the dustboots have the bumpstops integrated into them. The bumpstop should still be alright no matter what, but if your dustboots are ripped/torn, I'd go ahead and spend the money and buy new ones and put them on while you have everything apart. You should be able to see what condition the dustboots are in with the car jacked up.

And you can trim the stock bumpstops..it'll be fine. I just decided to try something new this last time around and bought some progressive mcu foam bumpstops to try to soften the impacts. MCU foam absorbs and acts as part of the suspension under compression...rubber (the stock bumpstop material) just deforms under compression and can be quite jarring. That said, I think I only notice a slight improvement.

[mydecember1985]

Thanks much. I've only got 40K miles on the car and from what I remember last time I had it up on jacks, they were all fine. So, I think I'll just install the front springs for now to get rid of the horrible wheel gap, then in January when I pay it off and purchase the Illuminas, I'll consider replacing bumpstops.

[i30ds]

You are taking a chance trying to make it all the way to January with drop springs on old stock struts.

I did not trim the bump stop when I dropped mine. That rubber will compress to a generous amount and won't hinder the suspension travel. There is nothing wrong with trimming them, but I don't think it is absolutely needed.

[MetaOrbit]

On an A33, I would trim. Having done it both ways with a variety of springs and struts, I think trimmed is a better option, especially when you already have it all apart anyway.