Serious damage from bad shocks?

[POISONLOTUS]

I am going to be putting a set of Tanabe springs with the stock shocks for a little while. I have heard of people here doing that and not having any problems, but I am also expecting to blow my shocks out eventually (2 inch drop). What I need to know is if I could be expecting any other damage, or am I just looking at a rough ride until the shocks are replaced? Thanx in advance.

[POISONLOTUS]

so nobody knows if there would be any further damage by driving around on blown shocks?

[DopeCelicaGT]

Originally posted by POISONLOTUS
so nobody knows if there would be any further damage by driving around on blown shocks?

I was wondering the same thing. I actually asked pretty much the same question in my thread about Hotchkis springs, but nobody has replied yet.

Justin

[AM03GT]

it'll be fine as long as your springs can maintain "suspension travel" the only side effect will be premature wear in the springs, car damage comes when the springs dont cut it and your car bottoms out, the suspension components and associated linkages will experience shock impact forces and may warp and damage.

[POISONLOTUS]

Thanks a lot AM!! :thumbup:
Originally posted by DopeCelicaGT
but nobody has replied yet.
I know I asked a good question when I come back 24 hours later, and there is still no answer. :chuckles: To be honest, I was surprised that the Bomber himself didn't have any feedback. :gap:

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by POISONLOTUS
To be honest, I was surprised that the Bomber himself didn't have any feedback. :gap: Sorry, guess my omnipotence needs a break every now and then. :rolleyes:

I'm thinking the front sway bar and/or endlinks may also be affected. Just like with coilovers, you'll be riding at a much lower height than the endlinks were designed for. If you're constantly bottoming out, they may either bend, their ball joints may break, or the front sway may rub up against parts of the body or the suspension.

[POISONLOTUS]

So, then I am guessing you feel that it would be a bad idea to be rolling around on blown shocks for a while... OK :thumbup:

As far as "omnipotence" goes, yeah, I am usually pretty shocked if you dont have an answer for something within 5 minutes. But that's a good thing to be known for, isnt it? :D

[DopeCelicaGT]

Well I can say that I am my car is definitely not bottoming out everywhere. However, I am assuming that when you say, bottoming out, that you are referring to the actuall car body hitting the road. Is that a correct assumption? On that note I am also going to assume that my shocks are not completely blown or the Hotchkis spring have been absorbing the difference in suspension travel themselves for quite awhile. You guys said there could be excess spring wear so um does this mean I would need new springs if I were to put new shocks on and the car doesn't handle as good as it did? I am kind of lost here. I cma going to get a full coilover set-up anyways but foir the time being I was wondering what is the worst scenario I could have here. Also, how would I know if any other suspension pieces were damaged? Thanks in advance.

Justin

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by DopeCelicaGT
However, I am assuming that when you say, bottoming out, that you are referring to the actuall car body hitting the road. Is that a correct assumption?Nope, I meant the struts bottoming out, hitting the bumpstops. That would wear the struts out rather quickly if it happend often.Originally posted by DopeCelicaGT
You guys said there could be excess spring wear so um does this mean I would need new springs if I were to put new shocks on and the car doesn't handle as good as it did? All depends on how long you've been driving the car like that.Originally posted by DopeCelicaGT
Also, how would I know if any other suspension pieces were damaged? Check your sway bars (especially the ends), your endlinks, and any area around them. People who use stock endlinks on coilovers tend to have the sway bar scraping against part of the car or suspension, and the added stress shortens the life of the endlinks by a lot.