well, with my Illuminas were in the mail I decided to bite the bullet and get some maxspeeds to see if I like the ride better than the stock springs (if not, then keep your eyes on the f/s forum!)...do it all at once.

anyways my question is....is it required to cut the bump stops with maxspeeds? I frequently have a full load of people and gear in the car on trips and want to make sure it's not bottoming out on the bump stops - anyone who has maxspeeds please let me know what the deal is!

thanks

 

My installer didn't cut anything when he installed them. The drop is minimal so you don't really need to trim anything.

 

i think its a good drop.. enough to get rid of the wheel gap and sill have room for suspension to move..
the ride quality is as close to stock
bump stops are always a little annoying with after market suspension

 

Yes, definitely cut your bump stops or get the aftermarket (KYB makes them, I think) ones. I'm crashing into my bumpstops all the time, I wish I'd cut them! Having Illuminas will help (I have KYB GR2's), but it's still a good idea.

Btw, the GR2's are absolutely terrible with the Maxspeeds. Rebound damping absolutely sucks. The Maxspeeds are great springs, but the KYB GR2's just aren't up to the task. So many people on the org recommend the combo I have and I just don't get it.

Any setting above 2 for you with the Illuminas/Maxspeeds will be nice. Good luck and let us know how it turns out! I'll be getting the Illuminas or AGX pretty soon.

 

bump...any more inputs?

 

you don't have to cut them. I didn't and haven't heard of anyone with Maxspeeds having problems when them after not cutting them.

 

Uh, me! I'm definitely having problems with them. Trust me, when I put on the Illuminas or AGXs, I'll definitely be cutting the bumpstops or getting new strut boots. You wouldn't believe what an extra half an inch of travel can do. I'm really disapointed with the ride with the GR2s. The Maxspeeds are not to blame, it's the GR2s.

 

how do you cut the bumpstops? Just take a hacksaw and cut 1/2" off it? The bumpstops are the part on the end of the boot, right? I have an extra set of boots i picked up at a junkyard for another project so I don't mind cutting them...

 

Yeah, a hacksaw will work fine. I'd cut them in half or maybe a bit more. No more than 2/3, tho. Yes, the bump stops are the part above the bellows. Kinda looks like a smallish hockey puck.

 

you should leave the bumpstops on...the maxspeeds really dont travel much to need to trim those things

 

Huh?

When you lower your car you're reducing suspension travel that was built in during the design of the car. Maxpseeds lower the car by about 1.5" or so. So, you're reducing your suspension travel by the same amount. You may not think 1.5" makes much difference, but it does. Every time you hit the bump stops, you're not allowing the shock to do its job.

The Maxspeeds are not a progressive rate spring, so during full compression, it's easy to hit the bump stops if you don't have a shock that's up to the task (for instance KYB GR2's or Tokico Blues). I live in Florida where we have somewhat decent roads and I crash into my bump stops all the time. Part of the blame is the GR2's, part is the fact that I didn't cut my bump stops.

What is the disadvantage to cutting them? None. You're not going to thrash your strut mounts or anything like that.

 

maxspeed DOES NOT lower the car 1.5 inches. go check your math buddy.

disadvantage is the struts have to travel firther, therefore wearing them out quicker.

 

maxspeed varies....
MAX is 1.25 front.. .5 rear

 

as stated above, I'm getting Illuminas with them, so I may not have the problems that the Blues or KYBs have...I'll probably cut the stops a little just to be safe...

 

Check the FAQ's "buddy." Mine dropped 1.8 front 1.2 rear. Excuse my rounding off.

Inches (front/back)
Eibach 1.3, 1.0 (stiff)
H&R 1.4, 1.3 (near stock)
Progress 1.7, 1.5 (near stock)
Intrax 1.75 all around
Sprint 2.0 all around (stiff)
B&G 1.6, 1.6
Ground Controls adjustable (very stiff)
MaxSpeed 1.7, 1.4 (near stock)

Credit: Wustyle and BigDogJonx

Huh, the struts have to travel longer = wearing them out quicker? It's actually the opposite. Hitting the bumpstops is better for your car? You have any idea what shocks actually do? They transfer momentum (potential energy) into heat. Do some research on unitbody construction. You'll find that shorter suspension travel weakens the welds and the whole chassis, which = more squeaks and rattles, more flex, and poor handling.

 

So diplomatic! You made a good choice with the Illuminas, they rock.

 

kirzan, is it possible that maybe your GR2's are blown? It's a long shot since i'm assuming it was brand new - but you never know.

 

you may go by the faqs... those are most likely the manufactures' claims... i speak from experience.. so you try to tell me that the
H&R 1.4, 1.3
drops less then
MaxSpeed 1.7, 1.4
???



H&R

 

I think they are blown, but they didn't ride much differently (brand new) when I first got them. They never seemed to have enough damping to deal with the spring rate on the Maxspeeds. I've had them on for about 7.5-10K miles. I actually used my stock GXE shocks with the Maxpspeeds when I first got them, but I could only deal with that for a couple of weeks. There's too much bouncing with the GR2a after a medium sized bump and I hit the bump stops just going over a speed bump slowly. It's actually gotten a little bit better with mileage, but still not acceptable. Too much up/down motion.

 

Yup, the HR's drop less in front and more in back. I tend to go by experience, too. That's why I quoted you my drop. Before and after measurements. Those aren't the MFR's claims, they are from real people here on the .org. Should we whip them out now? LOL.

You're also parked in an angled driveway in the second pic, completely eliminating any objectivity to the pics.

Ask other people on the org which spring delivers a more even drop. K?

 

it's all documented and measured on housecor's site, guys.....you can't argue with direct side-view photos....

http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html

 

did i say anything about an even drop?
no
i said the H&Rs drop lower.
e-arguing is lame..get over it

 

Hey irish,

I've got Maxspeeds on stock struts. I did not cut my bumpstops. The ride is close to stock and I haven't had a problem with bottoming out....but I rarely have more than myself and 1 passenger in the car and the roads around here are pretty good.

 

hey for those who did cut them....did you take out the pink part itself and cut it or did you just cut the entire top of the boot? I would think that taking the pink part out and cutting one ring off it would be sufficient....

 

Do maxspeeds handle better then H&R springs?????? Do they also make the car sit even????????

 

I didn't cut my stops with my S-Tech Teins.

 

Ok, but this thread is about trimming bumpstops on Maxspeeds. Either way, you should have trimmed your bumpstops on S-Techs.