question about struts? Options

[super13jew]

what are the benfits of upgraded struts like kyb or koni?

[mr_dude]

KYBs are stock. Your mounts even say KYB on them. But since your car is 13 years old, a replacement is a big upgrade.

If you're asking about struts in conjunction with springs, racey suspension gives you a stiffer ride. It keeps your tires on the ground when changing speed (accellerating, cornering, etc.). Better springs and struts will let you throw your car around more - depending on your tires.

If you're asking about the benefits of struts compared to springs, I'm not sure. They work in parallel and it's a mechanical engineering question to ask which is more effective at maintaining stiffness, damping, etc.

But since they're both cheap and both in the same place, it's a good idea to do both at the same time. However your stock springs will last a long time. Your struts are probably shot by now.

[uberschall]

i thought the stocks were tokico. i don't know about other model years, though.

aftermarket shocks like the gr-2, monroe sensa-trac, or bilsteins are simply an oem replacement. obviously the bilsteins are better built than the kybs, but they are all designed for the stock ride height and springs, and give a plush factory feel.

koni yellows, kyb agx's (which aren't actually made for our car, but coomer (props!!) is sorting out an install on his coupe) and illuminas (which aren't made for 6gc's to my knowledgee either, but for example's sake) have different valving and adjustable damping, which controls the motion of the shock assembly under load. they hold up better when using lowering springs, but can also be used with the stock springs to improve handling control. by increasing the damping on the shock, the spring compression and rebound forces associated with hard cornering are mellowed out, making tight turns more stable and controlled.

stiffer springs like eibachs or tein s.techs help reduce body roll and lower the ride height (as well as the center of gravity) to improve cornering. mr_dude is absolutely right that springs and shocks should be replaced simultaneously.

the best of both worlds is a full coilover setup, like the tein super street dampers. they combine much higher spring rates than stock with adjustable ride height and adjustable damping, optimizing the performance of each feature. while that's the most expensive option, it offers the best handling.

most drivers opt for a better spring (sportlines or s.techs) with an aftermarket shock like the gr-2. if you want to do one better, just substitute koni yellows. to play the trump card, get full coilovers.