superblack98se

would it be ok if I lowered the car with intrax springs, and kept the stock struts??

phenryiv1

iTrader: (19)

How many miles are on the struts? What springs are you going with?

The general belief is "no, you cannot," but there are guys on here who have. If you are a DIY guy, then it moight be pokay, but if you are paying someone else to do it, it woudl be a lot better to do it all at once. You have to get an alignment after a drop, and then when your OEM struts blow (and they will) you will still have to buy new struts AND pay for installation.

Some softer springs like H&Rs can go for a while on OEM struts, but other ones (such as sprints) are a definate no-go.

Answer the above questions and we can try to help you, but my opinion would be to scrape up a few more bucks and do it all at once, and to do it right...

ohannon7

iTrader: (5)

yes..........

I have progress spring and stock struts, if they blow, then ill get some aftermarker ones and install them, till then im fine w/ these

phenryiv1

iTrader: (19)

Like i said, you CAN do it, and as ohannon7 already knows, inevitably he will have to replace the struts. As long as you know up front this is not a big deal.

It really depends on mileage, budget, and the brand of the spring. Also, DIY or shop install can be a factor in how this should be handled.

maxspeed96CT

iTrader: (9)

I had maxspeed springs with my stock shocks for a month or 2 and then they blew and the car bounced ike crazy. But i didnt care cause i changed um myself so labor wasnt a problem. But if your paying to get them put on just get aftermarket struts right away cause if you stay stock your gona need to change them again soon.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

Your wasting your time if you change springs and don't replace the struts. OEM struts are valved specifically for the OEM springs. They are not valved correctly for sport (lower) springs.

Your goal in lowering is both looks and handling. If you don't replace the struts you get looks but your ride quality and handling is not improved and in some cases gets worse.

ManualMaxima

iTrader: (10)

what all does blown sturts do? i knowit is bad but is it harmful to the car?

SterlingMistMax

I have H&R on my car almost 3 yrs now and my shocks seem fine and they did make a difference when i put them on , i will probly eventually put some Kyb Agx on next if they blow or i get the urge to spend some more dough

superblack98se

I was gonna get either maxspeeds, or intrax. I think i'm going to get intrax springs with tokico blues from phenryiv1 if the deal doesn't go through with the other guy.

lxl - MaX

iTrader: (2)

i want sprints...

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

Dude what a coincidence. I had the same set up on my 96 SE. I had the Intrax on for 8 or so months with the stock struts. The ride is not that bad, but the back hits the bump stops enough, so I took them out. The rears started to leak, and the fronts were fine. I wouldn't lower it on stock struts again though. And I wouldn't use Tokico HP with any lowering spring either. Have you looked for the springs yet? Just so you know, I'm selling my Intrax .

phenryiv1

iTrader: (19)

Those are a definite no-go w/ OEM struts.

Taken2DaMax

iTrader: (5)

Sprints are too too low of a drop to let the OEM shocks handle them. You will blow them in a couple of months. I would say that lowering without changeing shocks would work but y not change out shocks and springs at the same time you will have to change them out when they blow anyways. Just save the trouble of destroying your car later and get shocks now.

young1976

what do you guys thing about oem spring but performance shocks?

Taken2DaMax

iTrader: (5)

it would be alot safer...

98se5speed

I did Maxspeeds on my 98, kept the stock struts that had ~94k miles on em. Got about 99k on the car now, so far no complaints about the ride.

I'll probably have to do struts some time this year, but I have my buddy's auto shop where I can do all the work myself, so double labor was never a huge concern of mine.

maxspeed96CT

iTrader: (9)

For who ever had the question about what happens when you use stock struts, your handling wont imporve and after a short while the car will bounce uncontrolably when you hit a small bump or pot hole.

Y2KSESteve

iTrader: (22)

I drove my 2000 with sprints and stock struts for 10 months before I had to replace them. The ride was fine until about 9 months until I noticed it the bumps hitting real hard. On my 97 now, I have Teins with stock struts for almost a month and they ride even better than my 2000 did. Stocks are fine for awhile, especially if the spring install is done right.

GeeShack

I thought about buying the springs first and then the struts later, but I decided to get both at the same time. Let me tell anyone who is thinking about doing their suspension to wait and do both. I ran into problems with the aftermarket struts but that was easy to fix, it is so aggrevating to have to jack the car up and take the suspension apart again....which is what you will have to do if the stock struts blow. My advice is to wait and get both, if your going with a drop that is lower than H&R's(1.4-front, 1.3-back). My $.02