Suspension question if I may

I need to replace my stock shocks and struts on my 1997 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD. I have 73k miles on her and had her for 9 years. Anyway, I got the mod bug a couple of months ago :naughty: and got my 60k service done as recommended on the 2g upgrade path. I replaced my timing belt first and then did the 60k due to $$$ restrictions. While my mechanic was perfoming the service he advised that my shocks were leaking. The bump that I was hearing at the drivers rear was a strut. So I read a bunch of information on this great site and decided to get Kyb Gr2's. They are a little stiffer than the stock shocks but I am keeping the stock springs and stuff till a little later.
My question is: Do I have to have a camber adjustment and a wheel alignment done after they are replaced? I am not lowering my car or adding bigger rims yet. I read a bunch of threads by the gurus but nothing definitive about just replacing shocks and struts. It only covers if you add coils kits and lowering. My Haynes manual also does not indicate that those adjustments should be done after work is complete but it doesn't have a lot of info that it should have either :screwy:

Thanks in advance for your responses ladies and gents :smokin:

John

The very fist post i ever had on this forum was almost identical to your question. Those KYB shocks are 1 inch to long for your car. you would have to cut the bumper stops off the car to make clearence for the rebound. A more reliable and accepted path would be Tokio HP, or Illuminas depending on your Modification levels. both relitivly cheap (as far as suppention goes)!!

You won't run into needing cambers for your car untell you hit the 2 inch drop area. Infact i personaly know a guy who has a 2in drop that baaarly slid buy not needing a camber kit. Its up to you. Ingall, and Ebeach both make respectable kits for around $100.

I dont know. does that answer your question?

<edit: you sure know how to use those Smilies.. I didnt figure out how to use those untell 1500 post.

I went with Koni struts and Skunk2 coilovers, which are excellent if you're willing to spend the money.

I need a camber kit for my drop by i'm lazy and out of $$ for that part of my car right now.

got my 60k service done as recommended on the 2g upgrade path.

Good thinking.

The bump that I was hearing at the drivers rear was a strut.

Actually, it was a shock. Don't worry, I'm nit picking.

I am keeping the stock springs and stuff till a little later.

Good call. Shock replacement is more important than spring replacement. Well, at least, if you'll only be doing one and not the other, choose shocks. Especially if they're already busty.

Do I have to have a camber adjustment and a wheel alignment done after they are replaced?

Check your height now and compare afterward. If they're close, toe should be fine. Camber won't be a problem. It never hurts to have a shop check, even if it seems fine.

Scottsee is right about the KYB stuff. The shock body is too long and decreases travel. They supposedly changed design. People now talk about "old code" and "new code" KYBs. The newer are OK.

Josh's Konis are very nice, but out of most buyer's price ranges. Skunk2 coils I don't really like. Their springs aren't the best.

Josh's Konis are very nice, but out of most buyer's price ranges. Skunk2 coils I don't really like. Their springs aren't the best.



I can honestly say that it's like riding on a school bus at timeswith the Skunk2's but other than that i haven't had any problems.

The Scottsee Suggestion:

If your seriously willing to go the distance on a new suspention setup, plan for the future. keep in mind a final goal with your car. There are 4 types of suspention setups. Drift, Autocross, Drag, Street.

Each have their own needs. Everyone of those setups will require you to know a few things.

1) What Spring rate and Dampening force your suspention will have

2) What that setup will do to your Lateral weight distribution & Center of gravity "height"

<Edit: I really wish somone wouldn't have deleted the Suspention sticky!

Got a link? I'll resticky it. Or was it deleted altogether?

There are 4 types of suspention setups. Drift, Autocross, Drag, Street.

Everything that I am doing mod wise is for my daily driver. I might hit the track once in a while to kick it and have fun. I just want a lot of OOOMMF when I hit the pedal :evillol:

Thanks for all of your responses!!

John

It looks to be one of the sticky's deleted. Search Spring rates, Kevin has writen a few novels on the subject!!

Found and stickied, happy reading :smile:

Thanks Josh :smokin:

"....and for a lowered 2G, oh ye' 2G DSMers, setting they toe to zero is surely more important than getting a camber kit. Even though camber kits helpeth thee, setting thy toe to zero shall saveth thy tires from uneven wear..."

Kevin, 3:24 :icesangel