I have heard that they blow and ride isn't so hot, but why is it bad to do them?

 

well the stock ride height for the stock struts are set the way the are, when u do a different spring the car is riding lower and compressing the strut more, making it a stiffer ride (not in a good way either) and makes them more prone to pop. =) you can do it, alot of people do but i dont recommend it, its cheap but dont be cheap. hehe

 

Shocks/struts are engineered for each specific application. The piston travel length would be the leading factor for blown struts caused by mismatching spring height/rate with said strut. Not a great idea.

 

I got brand new stockers at one time with some stiff springs and my reaers were spilling oin in a month and the fronts lasted 5 months. Then I got KYB2 struts, very nice ride, going on 8 months with no problem.

 

once u drop the car with only lowering springs the stock shocks will roughly last about 1-2 months and then oil starts leaking out of them. i did this and i wouldn't recommend it either. the ride is horrible but now i have KYB's and damn what a difference. very nice ride now.

 

Acutally I'm not sure the Konis or Tokicos have shorter rods. But they are stiffer. Konis can be alot stiffer depending on where you set it.

What happens most of the time:

1) Using too short of a spring: Bottoms out the strut rod and damages it = leaks
2) Using performance springs on stock shocks. Springs overwhelm the stock shock (that's probably already worn) and causes the seal to fail and or bottoms out the rod. Either = leaks