E60, E61 Parts, Accessories and Mods Discussion about both stock and aftermarket parts for the E60. Accessories and modifications too!
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long term affect of 3rd party springs on stock shocks (E60) on ride co

Old Mar 1, 2010 | 11:39 PM
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I'm wondering how others with lowering springs (Eiback/H&R) on stock shocks are doing after a year or more of driving? Do you feel it's getting rougher or losing its 'spring'?

My wife mentioned this a few weeks ago and got me thinking that perhaps my ride is getting a bit 'soft'.... Not sure, so since I know there are others out there too I wanted to throw it out and see how others feel.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 11:45 PM
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Springs tend to get softer with time and struts/shocks get harder, dude - I think its just a matter of age. Although, I would expect that aftermarket anything matched to OEM anything is usually a combination that yields more than normal wear and tear.

BTW good to see you posting again, Mike
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 05:18 PM
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I haven't noticed a difference in mine over the last 9 months or so. I look forward to mine going, gives me an excuse to get coils

The springs cost me $350 installed so I really don't have much invested in them if I have to upgrade but the car looks a hell of a lot better!
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by v_therussian
Springs tend to get softer with time and struts/shocks get harder, dude - I think its just a matter of age. Although, I would expect that aftermarket anything matched to OEM anything is usually a combination that yields more than normal wear and tear.

BTW good to see you posting again, Mike
(Cough)
Bro - I hope you got that mixed up. Springs do not "soften" & dampeners (or shocks) do not "stiffen" over time. In fact, dampeners soften BIG TIME as the valves wear over time- so much so that when off the car - you can pump the shock with your hands... Springs may "settle" but they will not "soften".

Cheers
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 12:00 PM
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^am I the only one that read delval's posts as condescending sometimes, most of the time
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by GENEaTALS
^am I the only one that read delval's posts as condescending sometimes, most of the time
face it - you love me
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 07:22 PM
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One thing I'm dreading is having to get springs to lower my ride after installing the new miro's I ordered (20x8.5 / 20x9.5). I wanted to keep everything stock because of bad experiences with struts blowing out eventually after installing aftermarket springs to my previous vehicle. Hopefully the rims won't make my ride stand too far up in the air, hoping that .5" of sport package helps out a little
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by DelVal550i
(Cough)
Bro - I hope you got that mixed up. Springs do not "soften" & dampeners (or shocks) do not "stiffen" over time. In fact, dampeners soften BIG TIME as the valves wear over time- so much so that when off the car - you can pump the shock with your hands... Springs may "settle" but they will not "soften".

Cheers
Hmm you may be right about the dampeners, but I keep noticing that as mine are getting closer and closer to the point of replacement, the ride crashes more. Guess its not because they are getting harder - why do you think that may be?

As for the springs, they'll set. But any metal with time starts losing it's physical properties - I don't see how it could do anything but get softer.

Anyway, stop condescending me! hahaha
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Old Mar 5, 2010 | 02:26 AM
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Originally Posted by v_therussian
Hmm you may be right about the dampeners, but I keep noticing that as mine are getting closer and closer to the point of replacement, the ride crashes more. Guess its not because they are getting harder - why do you think that may be?
Could it be that as dampers are getting softer, they provide less and less resistance when you hit a pothole or a rough patch, and as a result your suspension contracts much more and either hits the bumpstops (when hitting a larger pothole) or just generally has a lot of movement up and down, which you perceive as "crashy ride"?

I mean the purpose of dampeners is to restrict the movement of the suspension, so when they weaken this movement is less restricted and the suspension feels loose or "crashy". I'm not a huge specialist, but that would be my take.
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