Alright guys, are these the strut bump stops? I've circled them in ORANGE.

FRONT:


REAR:


I understand these are the bump stops. They are connected to the strut dust boot. If this isn't correct, please correct me. Thanks!

 

I don't think so....you're referring to the steering bump stops, right? Or do you mean the stops when the suspension bottoms out? If that's the case, I think the bump stops are in the strut itself, the boot isn't strong enough to stop anything...

 

I'm referring to the strut bump stops - as in the piece that must be trimmed to increase suspension travel when lowering springs are installed.

 

It's not just the big ring that makes up our bumpstops, instead the smaller rings are a part of it too.
When I installed tein springs I had to cut off the big rings from both front and rear.

 

Ah! So these are the bumpstops! So if you cut off the big ring, how does the dustboot cover the strut properly? Without at least some of the large rubber piece at the top there isn't a firm seal between the top hat area and the dust boot, right?

 

Yes, you're right. Once you cut them, there won't be anything to hang them from struts. Don't worry about getting a good seal up top. The hole will be bigger, but not by much. Just enough to clear the hanger. What could cause some problems is if the dust boots are sitting too low. Fortunately, tein's drop quite low, so that during normal driving dust boots are still covering the entire strut assembly.
I don't think it's that big of an issue. If you think about it, most coilovers are installed without dust boots.

 

Gotcha. However, according to the documentation provided with my Illuminas, Tokico recommends not cutting the bumpstops more than 1/2 their length. What I wonder is, what exactly is considered the bump stop? Just the part I circled or the lower rubber bumpers as well?

 

The circled is the bump stop and cutting half of it is fine.

 

Yes, those are the bumpstops and don't worry about them not covering the strut shaft. Once everything is done and the car is down on the ground the boots will cover them nicely cuz of the drop. I cut mine per the instructions of Teins H-Tech (1"F and 1.3"R) and have no probems with noise or bottoming out.

One way to tell if you bottom out on the struts is to go over a speed bump. If you hear a loud thump then you are having problems. Good luck.

 

Really? That's great because I've been having a lot of problems with bottoming out - particularly on the front where I didn't trim the bumpstop at all. However the front bump stop isn't even an inch long is it? (assuming the bump stop is ONLY the piece I circled and not the round rubber sections above the dust boot) So, I assume you cut into the first round section below the circled area on the front, correct? Thanks guys - You've all been a big help!!

 

Yes...whatever it measures out to be and just cut. Just remember that the specs to cut the bumpstops are for Tein springs. It looks like you are using Progress springs so I'm not sure if it's the same...probably not a bif diff. How much of a drop are the Progress?

 

Progress drop is a little lower than the H-tech: 1.7F 1.5R. Man, sounds like I better do some cutting!

 

Looks like it's about the same...for the front at least. Progress rears drop about .5" more.