New Shock Absorbers

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dan3258
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New Shock Absorbers

Post by dan3258 »

I'm hoping to get some advise. I have a set to Eibach Pro springs on order and was considering changing my shocks.

My 192ps has 47,500 on the clock, the rear shocks have both been changed recently and I believe the front have been on since new.

Couple of questions:
Is it worth change the front shock at the same time as the springs are fitted?
If so what shocks are good? If see Borg, Sachs, KYB, etc...
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Dr. FrankenRex
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by Dr. FrankenRex »

at 47k it's not necessarily essential to replace the shocks, but if you're changing the springs it seems daft not to given the labour required... Kinda like removing the gearbox without changing the clutch - not essential, but it's like having the labour paid for.

I put KYB shocks on my 192 when the rear springs snapped and I have to say they were very good, but that could just be becase the old ones had covered the best part of 100,000 miles.

The other factor is the age of the car, if it's an older car then i'd be inclined to change them - again for the reasons stated above.
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dan3258
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by dan3258 »

Dan.NJ72 wrote:at 47k it's not necessarily essential to replace the shocks, but if you're changing the springs it seems daft not to given the labour required... Kinda like removing the gearbox without changing the clutch - not essential, but it's like having the labour paid for.

I put KYB shocks on my 192 when the rear springs snapped and I have to say they were very good, but that could just be becase the old ones had covered the best part of 100,000 miles.

The other factor is the age of the car, if it's an older car then i'd be inclined to change them - again for the reasons stated above.

Thanks Dan, it's a 2007, so getting of for 10 years old now. The shock feel fine, slight squeak when cold over speed bumps but no obvious issues.
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by Dr. FrankenRex »

Depending on budgets I'd get them replaced if you can but wouldn't worry if you couldn't. Main question is if they are leaking at all, but that will become apparent when the springs are changed.

And I wouldn't worry about the squeak, my wife's 2016 A4 estate does it too...
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by Conan »

For me the question would be how many miles are you likely to do in the car ?
If you had asked before doing the rears and buying the springs the advice would probably have been to buy a complete after market set.
The fronts shouldn't need changing and it's a quick and simple job to do the fronts in comparison to the rears.
If your going to do 50K in the next 3 years change them. if not you don't need to and probably never will.
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PS: I'm surprised the rears needed changing at that mileage, perhaps a lot of weight in the boot
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dan3258
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by dan3258 »

The fronts are not leaking, passed MOT in August and RR service last month.

The tears were change before I bought the car, so can't say where the abuse came from. One was changed in 2015 and the other this year.

I got the spring for £100, to good a price to miss.

Pete, thanks for the reassurance another the shocks. I think I will stick with them until they need replacing but agree that a complete set would have been sensible.
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by PeteH »

If your rear dampers were changed at different times then they will not be a matched pair. It's never a good idea to replace dampers individually. If the car feels OK then you can probably just leave them as they are, but if your car has any odd handling characteristics then you should consider changing the rears for a matched pair.
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by dan3258 »

PeteH wrote:If your rear dampers were changed at different times then they will not be a matched pair. It's never a good idea to replace dampers individually. If the car feels OK then you can probably just leave them as they are, but if your car has any odd handling characteristics then you should consider changing the rears for a matched pair.
Good to know. What would you class as odd handeling characteristics?
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by PeteH »

In a word, corkscrewing! If you, for instance, go over a humped back bridge the car should go over it level and symmetrical. If it rolls and steers itself as you go over then the left and right suspension are behaving differently, and your dampers are mismatched.

If it feels OK then it probably is OK. But it's never good to replace suspension parts on only one side. (Just the same as with brake parts)
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by dan3258 »

Just ordered a full set of Bilstein B8s to go with the Eibach springs. I'm hoping that it will be a good improvement.

Is anyone running this setup? If so what are you views?
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RE-Amemiya Short Shifter
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by warpc0il »

dan3258 wrote:Just ordered a full set of Bilstein B8s to go with the Eibach springs. Is anyone running this setup? If so what are you views?
Search is a good place to start...
[urlw]http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/se ... ilstein+B8[/urlw]
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by PeteH »

Good move. Can't go wrong with that setup. :thumleft:
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by warpc0il »

At least the Bilsteins are as good, if not better, than the Mazda OEM units.

So many owners don't appreciate how hi-quality most of the OEM kit is and go for brands that may be upgrades for other cars but are a down-grade for the 8.
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dan3258
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Re: New Shock Absorbers

Post by dan3258 »

The fact that prodrive opted for a Bilstein setup on on the PZ suggests to me that it's a better setup.

Plus the drop from the Eibach will look better and hopefully preform better than stock.
2007 Brilliant Black 192ps
New Cat
D585 Coils
RR Mini-Map
Prodrive Cat Back
RE-Amemiya Short Shifter
Eibach Pro Springs
Bilstein B8 Shocks
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