Do you really have to replace springs with the shocks?

[95Batmobile]

I was reading the sticky in this section and saw, "The main thing to keep in mind with springs is that the shocks MUST BE MATCHED or else the car will not ride well at all and is actually UNSAFE to drive. Please get new shocks when/if you change your springs!"

Do you really need to replace springs with shocks? I have Bel Tech springs on there right now and wanted to put some new Bilstein shocks and struts on..
It is going to make it a whole lot more expensive if I need springs too :(

[serpint]

You need to replace the shocks when you do springs. Not the other way around as you have worded it.

Also, another thing that is meant by matching the shocks and the springs is that you need to make sure the fronts/rears are coil-overs if you have those and not coil-overs if you don't.

[95Batmobile]

Originally posted by serpint:
You need to replace the shocks when you do springs. Not the other way around as you have worded it.

Also, another thing that is meant by matching the shocks and the springs is that you need to make sure the fronts/rears are coil-overs if you have those and not coil-overs if you don't.

You are right, I did have that TOTALLY backwards.

I was to replace my shocks, not springs LOL. Sorry, I wrote that like 10 minutes after I woke up.. I was totally out of it.

I have Bel Tech springs right now, so do I need to replace the springs with the shocks or can I just buy new Bilsetin shocks? They come with struts too.

[serpint]

All depends on how old and abused your springs are. If they are relatively young and you haven't abused the crap out of them like I do mine, then you should be ok to keep the old ones.

[zlexiss]

Yeah, you're fine. The Bilsteins will be fine with your stock shocks. Though if you're thinking about springs, nice to do it all in one swoop.

If you're doing the work yourself, I can find a couple links to sweet picture by picture guides on the install, and give a couple tips I learned from installing my coilover kit.

-Jeff

['98 BlackBird]

How dare you question a moderator [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

[95Batmobile]

Well the springs were on the car when I bought it back in 2001..
I just like the level my car is at right now and don't want to get new springs and have it sit higher or lower... I think its lowered like 1.75 in the front and 1.25 in the back or something... I forgot what the guy told me.

And zlexiss, my dad and I are going to do it so that guide would be nice [img]smile.gif[/img] Even though I won't have coilovers it will probably help a lot hehe.

Thanks!

[chas]

if you get springs with a higher rate you will need shocks with more damping. the stock decarbon shocks are intended for use with the softer (and taller) stock springs.

just about any of the aftermarket performance shocks should met your needs.

[zlexiss]

Well, the process is exactly the same, you just won't mess around with spring jackers to get the ride height you want.

Here's the links:
YearOne Guide Front and Rear
LS1Howto Front
LS1Howto Rear

If you have access to an impact wrench, you'll love life when removing all the suspension bolts. Check to make sure you have the proper torx bit beforehand for the shock mount bolts under the master cylinder. You'll also need an allen wrench to be able to tighten the bilsteins down on the rod side - the rod will just spin in the cylinder otherwise, the allen wrench goes in the top to hold it. Torque wrench is nice to get everything tightened properly, I'm anal on that.

Also make sure to rent a coilover spring compressor. It mounts on the outside of the springs, versus the other type that sits in the middle of the spring, which won't work for the front. (rears won't need a spring compressor)

The two of you should be able to clear it in a morning, esp with an impact.

-Jeff

Originally posted by 95Batmobile:
And zlexiss, my dad and I are going to do it so that guide would be nice [img]smile.gif[/img] Even though I won't have coilovers it will probably help a lot hehe.

Thanks!

[ August 28, 2004, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: zlexiss ]

[95Batmobile]

Well my dad has just about every tool possible so I'm hoping we will be able to do it in the driveway lol
I will have to take it down and get the tired rotated and aligned when we finish though..

thanks for the links!

[95Batmobile]

Another question..

Should I just buy the shocks, or should I get new struts too?
Fasttoys sells them with new struts..

And should I upgrade anything else with them? do I need bushing or anything?

[silvachris1]

If you take your sway bar loose to get easier access, you may break your endlinks. They aren't expensive though. Autozone has some nice Energy Suspension endlinks with poly bushings for 15 bucks.