A few lowering ?s that I haven't seen answered

[Ted]

Alright guys i'm lowering my car soon and have a few questions I been searching for here for ages. Unfortunatley I don't have too much more time to search on there through all the posts. So, you guys always recommend you change the shocks when you lower your car. I will probably go with the SLP take off shocks but is there any difference with the konis or bilsteins besides riding comfort? I mean it's not going to be lower or higher depending on the shock I use correct? Which brings me to my final question. If I do get the SLP take off shocks, they are originally for a v8. If I use those shocks will I still need the v6 eibach pro kit? or should I go with the v8 one? And what is the difference to begin with between the 2 kits.

Thanks

[ianwells100]

get the v6 kit, the v8 kit is for a heavier front end (v8) so it'd sit up slightly higher on the front...

as far as shocks go, many different ppl say different things
personally, i was gonna get the take off shocks, but $$ is a bit low, so i'm gonna keep the stockers on right now, put in the pro kit (for the v6), run it, see how it feels, if its no good, then i can order them (by then i'll have some $$ as school is over on friday, last exam, so i can work full time), and put the new ones in... its only an afternoon of my time, no biggie.. pain, yes, but whatever

also, v8 decarbons = v6 decarbons, thats why i'm gonna keep my stockers on there, for now (and they only have 80k kms on them)

[Ted]

I thought that the shocks in the rear were the same, however the front shocks are different to sustain the heavier load. I'm just afraid of getting the t/o shocks and getting the v6 pro kit and the back looks like it sags more than the front. I'm doing an obscene amount of stuff to my car right now and I don't want to spend $600 just to lower my car. I'd rather put that towards nitrous. $50 for some t/o shocks compared to $300 for bilsteins doesn't sound like too bad of a deal. I don't really care about "do it now while you can" because I work in a bodyshop, and we have a spring compressor. We lower a lot of cars. So it's all good. Can somebody help me out who has a pro kit with t/o or stock shocks? Thanks, pictures are greatly appreciated too!

[ianwells100]

i've always been told that the t/o shocks are exactly the same as the v6 shocks

what u prolly heared, or was told wrong is that the z28 t/o springs for the rear are the same as the v6 springs in the rear for the 98+ v6 (front still stiffer in front for z28)

personally, if its just ur time, keep ur shocks, and get, maybe t/o ones when u need to (or better if u have cash)

[hawgs]

The T/O shocks are sh*t. Not good for lowering.

Get some Bilsteins from www.bimmerparts.com for 307.00 shippied to your door.

[Ted]

which brings me back to my original question. I'm not going to care to much about the comfort of my shocks. Why are stock and t/o not good for lowering? Does it lower it too much? Not enough? I'm kinda lost here. I don't want to drop $300 extra dollars down for some shocks that are going to make my ride a little smoother right now.

[LordoftheBling]

Originally posted by hawgs:
The T/O shocks are sh*t. Not good for lowering.

Get some Bilsteins from www.bimmerparts.com for 307.00 shippied to your door.

are they a sponsor?


didnt think so [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[LordoftheBling]

its 50000 times easier and smarter to do it both at one time. the T/O ones suck they will be toast after no more than a year and you will get to redo the entire thing again.. bilstein own.

[Arctc Wolf]

the shocks actually help u handle better w/ the springs. if u keep the crappy shocks on the car, u won't get the best level of handling that u want out of it.

[ianwells100]

but i think ted, like myself may just be going more for the look with an ounce of other improvements.... some of us have very limited funds (grrrr....)

[John_D.]

The aftermarket shocks shouldn't change the ride height one way or the other. (unless you get some Koni's with an adjustable spring perch...)

What they should do, is match the new spring rate. (some number of lbs. per inch)

One of the main jobs of the shock, is to keep the spring from continuing to bounce after you hit a bump. A softer spring is matched with softer shock. A stiffer spring is matched with a stiffer shock, to control the spring.

Also the stiffer shock is built to handle the increased load placed on it.

It's a pain to take the top nut off these shocks. (and you will have to do this, to get the spring off) It's very likely you will twist the top off the rod of one of your existing shocks. The nut sits in the bottom of a rubber well, with no drainage hole, so water collects in there, and it rusts (a lot).

It would be a good idea to have another set of shocks to put on, just in case. A stiffer set would be the best.

[Ted]

Thank you john and artic, you are the first guys ever in like a year to actually give me a straight intelligent answer on this board, if at all one. The reason being anyway, i'm not limited on funds at all actually I just don't want to drop down $300+ dollars on some shocks just because "bilstein own". I think i'm going to get a bodykit instead of lowering my car though. It's actually a lot cheaper for me to go that route and will look better then spending more money on a 1 1/2inch drop. Thanks again guys.