KYB AGX + Tein S-Techs...hitting bump stops...

[SQ GT-S]

So I finished up installing my KYBs and Teins last night, and was driving around today only to feel the back end feel very stiff. So I get out in a parking lot, open the back of the car, and jump up and down inside the back. The car lowers and bam, something hits. About 5 minutes ago I jack the rear of the car up and measure center of tire to wheel well sheet metal, then do the same in the lowered position. The difference is 4.25". SO, the rear strut compressed 4.25" when sitting normally on the ground. For fun, I measured the stock struts. I was sad to find that the stock struts have only 4.5" of travel before bottoming out. Hmm.

I re-installed the struts the same way that I took them out, and I even cut the bump stops in half. But from how it feels driving and just jumping in the rear of my car, I think they are hitting the bump stops. I have just about a 2 finger gap in the rear with the car sitting in the garage. I also have a lot of weight in the rear due to the stereo system. I also have the fronts and rears set to 2 on the dials.

Has anyone else had this problem? Or am I just freaking out, and I should let the springs loosen up? I'd rather not keep hitting the bump stops on a small 1.4" drop. Someone please help.

Thanks,

Curt

[Blue Bomber]

What stiffness do you have the rears set at? My friend's car with S-Tech/AGX has a big ass sub box in the rear, totally elminating any wheel gap back there, and his car still doesn't bottom out. His are set at 2F/3R.

[GTSJASON]

:werd:
put the rear on a stiffer setting, that should fix the problem

[Chiller]

I'm getting the exact same thing installed in a week or two, I have been recommended to set it to 3F/4R, is this about right?

[Blue Bomber]

I'm getting the exact same thing installed in a week or two, I have been recommended to set it to 3F/4R, is this about right?
Yup, that's good for optimal performance. If it's too stiff for you, lower them both at the same time.

[Chiller]

Yup, that's good for optimal performance. If it's too stiff for you, lower them both at the same time.

I'm thinking that is good advice! If I put both the settings on one right when I put on the springs will they settle more compared to if I put them on four or does it matter at all?

[SQ GT-S]

Thanks for the fast replies guys. The fronts and rears are both on 2 right now, but I'll squeeze my fingers in and change the rears to 3 to see if it helps.

Curt

[Chiller]

I'm thinking that is good advice! If I put both the settings on one right when I put on the springs will they settle more compared to if I put them on four or does it matter at all?

bump

[Sguerra923]

Thanks for the fast replies guys. The fronts and rears are both on 2 right now, but I'll squeeze my fingers in and change the rears to 3 to see if it helps.

Curt

Yeah tell us how it feels after the change...

[Blue Bomber]

Yup, that's good for optimal performance. If it's too stiff for you, lower them both at the same time.

I'm thinking that is good advice! If I put both the settings on one right when I put on the springs will they settle more compared to if I put them on four or does it matter at all?
Nope. They'll just take a bit longer to compress, but the S-Techs don't really settle.

[rotchcrocket04]

my s-techs settled after about 2 minutes of driving lol

they aren't like my springs on my mazda, it took almost a week and a half to settle!

[SQ GT-S]

*UPDATE*

Yeah, the stiffer rear helped out, and so did some more hours of drive time. I spent the weekend in Chicago, so the drive there and back on those crappy high-ways helped break everything in.

Curt

[rotchcrocket04]

:thumbup:

[Ricerboi]

with the new shock/struts, is it less stiff than stock shocks?

[S|Lv3rBu||et]

I spent the weekend in Chicago, so the drive there and back on those crappy high-ways helped break everything in.

Ahh, so crappy pavement is good for something. :chuckles:
Glad to hear it worked out Curt, how are you likeing the KYB/Tein combo otherwise?

[Blue Bomber]

with the new shock/struts, is it less stiff than stock shocks?
The feel is less stiff than stock, but the suspension is actually stiffer. It's just dampened correctly with stiffer struts, so you don't feel the impact of the road as much.

[SQ GT-S]

I felt the ride did become a bit more rough with the Tein's and KYB's. But overall, I really like it. Add to that the Hotchkis sways and custom endlinks I made for it, she it a totally new car. It was a VERY worthwhile purchase!! The only part that sucked was me installing them on a car that has gone through 5 years of Michigan weather. I had to use the plasma cutter and welder to get the new rear sway bar mounted. :(

Curt

[Sguerra923]

I felt the ride did become a bit more rough with the Tein's and KYB's. But overall, I really like it. Add to that the Hotchkis sways and custom endlinks I made for it, she it a totally new car. It was a VERY worthwhile purchase!! The only part that sucked was me installing them on a car that has gone through 5 years of Michigan weather. I had to use the plasma cutter and welder to get the new rear sway bar mounted. :(

Curt

hey curt.. when you changed the rear to 3 did the ride get more rough or better? did you feel any major performance difference? because i have my settings on 2f/2r and im installing tein stechs and i have a heavy system in the back do you guys recommed me to put the setting at 3 in the rear? because i want a smooth ride should i leave it at 2 in the rear?

[SQ GT-S]

Sguerra923, the 3 setting stiffened it up a bit, I think allowing it to not hit the bump stops? The ride was a bit more rough, but it's still very good. Here are some pics of what it looks like after the drop:

http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/11443DSC01043.JPG

http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/11443DSC01042.JPG

Yes, I have stock rims, but some nice tires. I've already dented a few stock rims on the Michigan roads, and blew out a few belts on another tire. All these because of potholes that turn-up over night. I'm NOT planning on running larger rims, since I would destroy them in a month.

Curt

[Chiller]

I can't decide if I want to start out with 3F/4R or 2F/3R, i'm pretty sure I'm going to start out with 3F/4R. My friend has them set on 4 all around so I'm going to ride in his car before I decide.

[Miketrd]

I'm getting the exact same thing installed in a week or two, I have been recommended to set it to 3F/4R, is this about right?

sorry for the stupid question, but i have to ask because i don't know and currently i have tein stech springs but with stock shocks and struts, is been only one month but i plan to buy new shocks in the summer and i was thinking of kyb, but i have no idea what you guys are talking about setting 3F/4R , or whatever?

can someone explain me?

[Chiller]

sorry for the stupid question, but i have to ask because i don't know and currently i have tein stech springs but with stock shocks and struts, is been only one month but i plan to buy new shocks in the summer and i was thinking of kyb, but i have no idea what you guys are talking about setting 3F/4R , or whatever?

can someone explain me?

We are talking about the adjustments on the shocks for stiffness or amount of compression. They are four way adjustable shocks, 1-softest to 4-the stiffest. The stiffer, the less compression with a harsher ride, but usually better handling. Most suggest 2 in the front and 3 in the rear for daily driving and 3 in the front and 4 in the rear for street/autocross driving. I hope that helps a little.

[Miketrd]

Thanks a lot, now i have an idea of you guys are talking about, in the meantime i should't be worried about, because i still have stock shocks and struts, but i have plans to change them.

what kyb shocks are those that you can change the compression?


We are talking about the adjustments on the shocks for stiffness or amount of compression. They are four way adjustable shocks, 1-softest to 4-the stiffest. The stiffer, the less compression with a harsher ride, but usually better handling. Most suggest 2 in the front and 3 in the rear for daily driving and 3 in the front and 4 in the rear for street/autocross driving. I hope that helps a little.

[Blue Bomber]

We are talking about the adjustments on the shocks for stiffness or amount of compression. They are four way adjustable shocks, 1-softest to 4-the stiffest. The stiffer, the less compression with a harsher ride, but usually better handling. The adjustability controls the rate at which the struts compress, not the range of compression. The higher the setting, the slower the struts compresss, and the more level the car stays into the turn. The ride will also become firmer.

[Chiller]

Thanks a lot, now i have an idea of you guys are talking about, in the meantime i should't be worried about, because i still have stock shocks and struts, but i have plans to change them.

what kyb shocks are those that you can change the compression?

The KYB AGX shocks. Sorry Blue Bomber for the mess up in the explanation. I just got my springs tonight, it says you have to cut the bump stops in the instructions, so the shop definately needs to right?

[Blue Bomber]

I just got my springs tonight, it says you have to cut the bump stops in the instructions, so the shop definately needs to right? Yup, otherwise you'll have a greater chance of hitting them on larger bumps, and that's not a pleasant experience. ;)

[Chiller]

Ok, thanks! I've learned so much stuff at this forum.

[Sguerra923]

I can't decide if I want to start out with 3F/4R or 2F/3R, i'm pretty sure I'm going to start out with 3F/4R. My friend has them set on 4 all around so I'm going to ride in his car before I decide.

yeah keep us update on how it goes...

[rotchcrocket04]

Ok, thanks! I've learned so much stuff at this forum.


hell yeah man! ive been on here for almost three months now and i cant even begin to explain how everyone helped me out, especially blue :thumbup: