What struts for a lowered car?

[HiRAEdd]

Ok, so my car is lowered. When I bought her, I had all the springs and struts replaced. Five years on, apparently the strut(s) are leaking oil and need to be replaced.

Question 1: Is leaking struts after ~5 years symptomatic of:
a) the wrong match of springs to struts (dodgy workmanship)
b) lowering a car (sh*t happens)
c) totally normal for a car that does about 10k a year and isn't thrashed
d) something else

Question 2: How can I determine what struts match the lowered springs on my car? Is there some chart or formula or something else I can refer to because my mechanic hasn't given me much faith when they say they can only go by what's on the car now.

Appreciate any guidance.

Cheers,

Gavin

[rock_it]

Check the sticky on suspension ...

Ben has put the part number for the KYB's that you should get... Including model number... Or, there are another couple of 1 page suspension threads that he has coppied and pasted the relevant information ...

[Bennoz]

b) lowering a car (sh*t happens)

Mostly this ^^

5 years aint a bad run though. Leaking just means the seals have gone. They can go for a number of reasons, both under & over use.

A strut is a strut. It will operate at any range you choose (ie the spring height you select.)

Go the KYB gas. Best value for money & good ride quality.

[rock_it]

Found it ..


KYB Shocks part numbers:
Front L: 334154 (Same as a Volvo)
Front R: 334155 (Same as a Volvo)
Rears: 341140

[HiRAEdd]

b) lowering a car (sh*t happens)

Mostly this ^^

Thanks, makes me feel better

Go the KYB gas. Best value for money & good ride quality.

So is that the KYB's that you listed and rock_it (thanks for looking them up, I found them too) pasted in here?

[HiRAEdd]

Ok, so far I'm down to:

Front L: 334154 = $212.15 inc GST
Front R: 334155 = $212.15 inc GST
Rears: 341140 = $133.05 inc GST (each)

Grand total of $690.40 plus $9.50 delivery from http://www.gsad.com.au/

Anyone know where I can get them any cheaper?

[HiRAEdd]

Ok so happened to be in Autobarn and got another price. The KYBs came down to $676.

They also made the suggestion of Monroe. According to them, they're the same shock. They come down to $587.

Any thoughts?

[silverGPX]

i have monroes, my car handles like sh*t.

Get KYB's, dont risk it haha, serious..

[HiRAEdd]

Ok, so it's KYBs at $676. Do I have any lower quotes?

[I8A4RE]

f**k, there were bc coilovers a month or so ago for $700 on ebay

[Bennoz]

Thats expensive.

I bought mine from these guys: Precision Auto spares: 02 93166800

Full set was $400.

[silverGPX]

yeah i got quoted $400 as well.

Im pretty sure its $110ea for Front struts (Volvo S40) and $90 for Rear Struts (Lancer, Mirage whatever)

[Bennoz]

Yeah, that sounds about right ^

[HiRAEdd]

Got them through Precision Auto Spares. Price has gone up, $145 for each strut. But even with the courier cost, it's still dramatically cheaper than anything I've found up here.
Thanks for the recommendation.

Now, bump stops, where can I get them? Precision only sell the universals and they had no idea whether they'd fit an FTO.

[HiRAEdd]

Saw the Camskill had the bump stop kits for KYB shocks so I got them at the same time as getting new drop links.

[RallyMad]

Did you get the bump stops from camskill as well? If you didn't you should be able to pick them up and any suspension shop, even pedders, just don't let them fit them

[HiRAEdd]

Did you get the bump stops from camskill as well?

Yep, added them on the order with the drop links.