Two blown Struts After Lowering

[JGM]

WTF??!!!
Installed Eibach Pro Kit on my 01 Accord. Cut the Bump Stops pre the instruction (30mm front 20mm back). Car looks good, rides good. 400 miles later rattle rattle front struts are blown. WTF Eibach says the struts are only good for about 30k?? Car under warranty but I can't be replacing struts yearly. What are some good shock that can handle the new springs. If you didn't figure it out I put about 30K a year on a car so ride quality is very important. I want performance and a smooth ride.
Thanks

[Racing Rice]

Are you using stock shocks? If so I say get a set of aftermarket ones. They will last you much longer. Stock shocks arent really made for lowering. An aftermarket shock like, lets say Koni, Will have a shortened shaft that will allow for more travel with out bottoming out, not to mention this will make for a much better ride, and will keep your shocks from blowing. When your shock bottoms out you will break seals in your shocks causing them to leak.

[JD@af]

I have a set of Koni Yellows with my Eibach Pro springs, and am very happy with them. They are adjustable, and on the softest setting, they are close to the plushness of the ride pre-lowering. But Konis are a fairly expensive option, and there are many more affordable gas shocks that represent a good alternative, with a minimal sacrifice in quality. Tokico and KYB offer notable, quality gas shocks.

[JGM]

Ok been looking into this and have found out the following:

Tokio Gas none adjustable $399 for 4
Tokio Adjustable ~$600 for 4
Koni Adjustable ~$600 for 4

These are the only shocks struts available for my car.
Leaning toward the Tokio none adjustable but they don't come with dust covers or bump stops. The rear dust cover I can us again but the front are a dust cover - bump stop in one. And since I cut the bump stop out the dust cover is really useless. If I buy the OEM Front dust cover again will I be riding around on the bump stop??? Eibach said to cut 30mm out of the bump stop.

What have you all done I can’t be the only one lowering a 01 Accord.
I need more information. Like are the bumps Truly needed with the eibach pro kit springs? Where can I get dust covers other them the OEM?
Are the Dust cover truly needed? Them seem like a good idea to me.
Thanks

[JD@af]

Hmmm... I don't know about the dust covers. You should be able to find better pricing than that, I would think (that $600 for Tokico non-adjustables is pretty steep). Try checking pricing at http://www.shox.com and see if you can't find some better deals. I was very happy in my experience with them.

[Dezoris]

The Illuminas will handle the Eibachs no problem as will the Konis, I would go Koni, due to the weight of the car, it is an investment, do it right.

And yes if you call SHOC.com and talk with chris he will give you a better price than quoted in the email from the site.

[JGM]

Koni Adjustable $610 Ok the price is sinking in and I can accpet it now. But what about the Bump Stops and Dust cover? I didn't ask about the Konis. But the Tokico adjustable ($439) didn't come with either. And Chris told me to get on a Forum and ask you guy what you are doing cause he didn't know for an Accord.

***So are the Bump Stops needed with Eibach Pro Kit and Koni Adjustable Shocks on a 01 EX 4cyc?

P.S. Konis the best? You get what you payfor?

Thanks

[Dezoris]

You can tell Chris that, he need s to help you out and cut deals.
Tell him it is Mark sanew the guy with all the kmac problems.
yep, and koni should either supply them or you will need new ones from honda and re-cut them. You need them!

Also Konis are the most aggressive out of the box shocks, they are stiff as hell but with the Eibachs they will be good.
If you want performance the the konis are what you want, if you want a drop on shocks that will last but not perform as well the the illuminas are the route.

If you want to get a head start call koni or tire rack and ask the what the bumpstops should be cut to.

[JD@af]

I'll add here that I keep my Koni Yellows on the firmest setting virtually all the time (except when I'm going on a 100+ mile trip with passengers in the back seat - then I'll crank it down a notch), and I've gotten to the point where I wish I could set them tighter still!!!

[Dezoris]

Originally posted by JD@af
I'll add here that I keep my Koni Yellows on the firmest setting virtually all the time (except when I'm going on a 100+ mile trip with passengers in the back seat - then I'll crank it down a notch), and I've gotten to the point where I wish I could set them tighter still!!!

Although Koni recommends keeping the stiffness settings in the middle or at factory settings

[JGM]

Confused still
Dezoris-sorry to be a pain but this is my baby here. You worry me when you say the Konis are the most aggressive out of the box shocks and are stiff as hell. I saw in other post Civic setups that ride like stock but with better handling when driven hard. That is what I’m looking for along with the lower look to get rid of the fender gap. I will never race this car, it’s more for show than go. The added handling is a plus. The reason for my concerns is that my job is a 110 mile round trip. Some day’s 300 miles trip is the norm. So that’s why I am worried. Going back to stock is not an option. The brief time the car was working was the best. The 110 mile trip has all kinds of road surfaces to play with. I love cars and performance but I want my comfort too.
In one post you said go with the Koni not the Tokico Illuminas for my car because of the weight, then later they would be ok. What is the difference between the two?
If the Eibach Pro Kit is to stiff so that I need Racing shocks to have the shocks last because the springs are too stiff, maybe I need to start over.
I will call Koni Monday and talk it out. Hopefully they will give me a warm fuzzy feeling.

Thanks for you voice of reason.

[Dezoris]

I know many people love them. and the fact is they are stiff.
They are the stiffest out of the box shocks you can get, and no one will argue that. You are all Show? They are great but there are other shocks that will hold up and not be so aggressive. If you want the best shock short of Bilstein sport, or a pricey coiover setup, these are it but, You said you don't care about performance then. I would rule them out.

[JGM]

Nothing available from Bilstein Yet per shox.com or I would go of it. I am all show in the fact I'll never race the car. Performance is great and I want it but confort is a high on the list too. I don't want a stiff bouncy ride thats all. Handle is great but the Long trip confort is important too.

Thanks

[Racing Rice]

Im running the Eibach Sportlines with Koni Sports (yellows) They arent that much stiffer then a stock ride, Believe it or not. I keep my rear shocks as tight as they go and the front about in the middle. I can go from my car and get into my fiancee's civic with stock springs and shocks the rides not much different. Theres enough of a difference to know that you arent on stock suspension any more, but my no means is it uncomfortable. I think youd be very pleased with that combination if you decided to go with it. Konis would be my 1st choice beside a true coilover.

[JGM]

Ordered the Koni sports today. Also order new OEM Bump Stops Front and rear, Along with Koni Bump Stops 45 mm Linear (Front?) 55 mm reactive (rear?).
Talked to Eiabach and they have no reason for my strut blow out. All they could tell me was cut the factory bump stop 30mm in the front 20mm in the rear. When I asked what is the length of the bump stop needed was told again cut 30mm in the front 20mm in the rear.

OEM Front bump stop- dust cover is 60mm long not counting the dust cover. Figure I'll put the 45mm linear up front. And put the factory bump cut 20mm in the rear or if the length is close to 55mm use those.

Koni Stated that they don’t need dust covers???? So I guess I will not have any .

Any thoughts on this bump stop plan, Dust Covers?

Thanks again for all the input don't now where easy to turn.