Or does it not really matter?
Thinking of lowering the car, going with Eibach Pro
Which shocks would you recommend to go with these springs and why?

Front drop 1.2"
Front rate 180 lb Progressive
Rear Drop .8" (another site says 1.2 ")
Rear rate 130 lb Progressive


Also how do the front and rear rates affect the ride/?


thanks

 

As far as I've heard, the best combination of springs and shocks for good performance and a good ride is Tein H'techs with the Koni yellows.

Koni yellows may be one of the better shocks out there, I don't know if the Bilstein's and the Tokico's are good.

 

^ive heard koni yellows with tein S tech is good....i like my RSRs on stock shocks

 

I plan on getting Koni yellows to go with my Eibach's as soon as I have the money.

Yay for OEM shocks blowing at 2500 miles!

 

the racing section will have good info, the peeps that frequent there are pretty hardcore about springs and shocks.

 

Damn.. wtf were you driving on?

And just for my reference, what does a blown shock feel like?

 

i had swift springs on my stock shocks for well over 5k miles, im running RSRs on stock shocks right now and they have yet to give out, im on about 18k with em no problems

 

Not to thread jack but, what would be the best combination for ride comfort and reduced wheel gap, but nothing to the point where it'll scrap every speed bump? Some better performance would be a plus

I'm guessing the H-tech/ koni combo?

 

I'd double check with your wheel gap. H-tech drops by around .7 on the front and rear (probably less on the rear), so it's not a lot. It's perfect for me, because I don't intend on dropping it further.

I think the S-tech drops it 1.2, and a few others are more (1.4 or so).

I'd suggest the S-tech if you really want to close up the gap, but again, double check the gap. I don't remember the exact distance from your fender to the tires.

With regards to the speed bump, just the springs dropping it won't kill you. Coilovers that let you drop a lot more will, though.

 

I guess I'll start comparing between the H-techs and RB springs then. On that note, JinDesu, any pictures of your 8 with the RB springs on?

 

I ran my first set of S Techs on stock shocks with track days for 75k or so. I have MSP shocks but I am going with Bilstein HD's soon (I have ran them on previous cars and on Off Road vehicles forever without issue). Koni's are great but if you don't track then I don't think its necessary.

 

No, hence the "stuff to get" =p

The shocks aren't really necessary, especially if your stocks are perfectly fine. But adjustability doesn't hurt if you have the money

 

Ohh, stuff to get.... Whoops lol. Nah, no plans on tracking or anything in that sense. I was actually pm'ing 9krpmrx8 for info on stock shocks, for fear of thread jacking. But since we're on the subject

So stock shocks are fine when paired with aftermarket springs right? ie, RB/H-techs with the stock shocks?

 

Just double check the spring rates. I think the S-techs are often used on stock shocks without issues. Harsher spring rates can cause premature shock failure, though, I've read a few threads on that.

 

I always recommend to people that continually ask this same question on this forum over and over again (As evidenced by the list of identical threads at the bottom of the page) to replace the shocks at the same time as springs. You'll save yourself time and money. If you just swap springs and then go back and swap shocks later you're paying for the same time and labor twice. Save yourself the couple hundred bucks and get it all done at once.

The stock shocks are underdamped as it is and higher rate springs will just make it worse and cause them to wear out faster. Do it all at the same time or wait and save your money until you can.

I have the konis and while they're great track day shocks and have taken everything I've thrown at them they have a very stiff jounce so they aren't very comfy around town even at the softest setting. I'd suggest the Tokico D specs or the Bilstiens as I've heard good things about both of these for performance and comfort for the street.

The Tokicos are nice because they are adjustable and you can adjust both the fronts and rears on the car. The Konis need to have the rears removed from the car to adjust them so they're not as practical to play with. You kinda end up setting them and forgetting them unless you are really in to tearing your suspension down all the time.

Most folks that have the Bilstiens really like them. For basically the same price I would rather have the adjustability of the Tokicos.

 

I have Tein S. Techs with Koni Yellows and I somewhat bottom out on a speedbump about 15% of the time, just take a good angle and you should be fine, and yes Tein S.Techs on Koni Yellows is an amazing combo. As far as adjustability of the rears... well that does kinda suck and i have yet to adjust my front since i installed them 3 months ago, but I have a auto and theres no use to go to a autox yet. After i sell my auto and get a manual the shocks should play a better role... I think my shocks are comfortable, maybe its just me but my Koni's arent that bad... I have them at 50% stiff front and rear and I love them... Any stiffer on the street and id bounce like a rock on the water around corners but these are deffinately a track shock but completely worth it to buy. I love them...

 

I have the Tokicos and I like them for just that reason. I can set them stiff for track or mountain runs and soft for daily driving. I'm using the S Techs with them.

 

i have stocks with stechs but im going to upgrade to koni yellows soon

 

^^^ Yes... do it...

 

I have stock shocks on mazdaspeed springs. I like it

 

OEM springs regular Jersey driving.

Off the car it feels jerky when you try and compress it and it doesn't rebound smoothly. On the car it's less stiff on that side and there's a knocking when making low speed turns to that side of the car.

 

Ouch, I think I have to be aware of it myself then.. I got some shitty *** roads where I live =\