My car has gotten lower over the past few months. The b-pipe now scrapes all the time when I go down my steep/hilly driveway, before it would only scrape if I went in too quick, or went in at a wrong angle. Now I've put just about 25K miles on my Maxspeed/Blues HP setup since installed in July 2004 and on sh*tty New York roads, no less. I recently also had my front bumpstops cut 2 notches and since then it feels like my suspension woes have only gotten worse.

So now I'm trying to understand what is wearing down, the struts or the springs? I think I'm going to replace the front Maxspeeds, regardless, but I'd still like some advice.

 

Its the springs. The struts do not control the ride height, they mearly dampen the impacts.

 

the springs

 

It could only be the springs... but after a year and 25k miles... isn't it a little too early

 

Springs, or exhaust hangers

 

DrKlop: Not when you're in the heart of NYC.

00SEMAX19: Nah, my car definitely looks lower.

 

possible maybe you cut your stops to much. i cut mine on my max with the same set up. i dont have anything to compare to though. maybe next time i go to queens ill pm you and meet up. otherwise h&r used to have a feature for the civic that if you cut the bumpstop in half you would gain another 1/4 inch drop. also check to see if you struts are leaking. all that aside measure from the ground to the wheel well and ill do the same.

 

The exhaust hangers was kinda a joke. It's deffinately the springs, Unless your strut mounts are crushed. But most likesly the springs.

 

If cutting your bump stops makes your car lower then you are already sitting on the bump stops and have no suspention travel. (very doughtful its the bumpstops)

 

Springs for sure. I had neuspeed springs on my previous car (prelude) and after 2 years if I turned the steering wheel all the way in either direction it would rub and the front wheels (even when the stock wheels were back on) were tucked.

 

The cold makes the car suspension lower since most all struts are gas and the fact that when it's cold molecules are closer together and thus the struts are compressed more so I think that it's actually the struts which is obviously disagreeing with the other posts on here, but I'm by no means an expert and could be wrong. All I know is H&R springs are guaranteed not to sag from the day you put them in, and I find that my ride height only has to do with a.) how long has it been since the last time I jacked up my car and b. the temperature outside (colder = lower unfortunately)

 

That has to be the funniest ish ive read all day... BTW, struts are filled with nitrogen, which is not affected by hot/cold temps like many other gasses.

 

Ok moderator...if you want to get technical (yes there is nitrogen, and yes, nitrogen is a gas by the way) gas powered shocks use oil for dampening

"Gas-pressurized shock absorbers have been available for over 30 years. Like non-pressurized shocks they use oil as a damping medium. Sometimes you may see the term gas-filled but this is misleading. Gas-filled struts are a form of spring like those used for hoods, hatches and truck lids.

In gas pressurized shocks, the oil is pressurized to minimize the negative effects of foaming or cavitation. Oil has some gas or air bound up in solution. When the shock piston moves through the oil there is a pressure drop behind the piston and the air comes out of solution and forms foamed oil. For maximum performance and efficiency the shock piston must work in clear oil."

If oil is used for dampening and suspension rebound and oil is very sensitive to temperature changes (hence why you wait until your car is cold to change oil) then if anything is more likely to be correct...it's my statement.

 

It's not the weather. This has been going on even when NY has seen 70-degree days. It's definitely not the weather. I've already driven through 0-degree weather numerous times and the ride was fine. A crappy strut like the KYB GR2 hardens in the winter, while the HPs don't have that issue. I think I'm going to scoop up a new pair of front springs, and also install the bumpstops back.

 

So lets say its the oil... The oil would then tend to thicken, or increase in viscosity as the temp dropped. All this would do is limit the amount of dampening the strut provides, which would equal a rougher, not a lower, ride. Struts provide two functions, they absord the impacts placed on them, but they also control rebound, how fast they allow the spring to return to its nominal length. No where in there do they control the height at which a car sets. from KYB's website: H&R springs or any of the aftermarket springs can and WILL settle over time, some worse than others. If its any issue, its THE SPRINGS, not the struts. If you would like to confirm this with KYB, call them, the tech support number is (630) 620-5555. I just spoke with a guy there named Aaron, who confirmed everything I have said here, but if you still want to argue the struts are causing the issue, go ahead and give them a call. I don't speak out my rear, so you should watch your mister moderator comments, you are wrong, end of story.

 

Hehe, guys, guys. It's cool, no need to get heated over this. Thanks for all the advice. I really appreciate it.

 

why is it lower?


your tires are flat. I slashed them last night

 

Springs!!! My hp haven't been effected by the cold yet either. I think it needs to be really cold for the struts to stiffen up. The coldest its gotten so far in Boston since i put my hps on is 28 degress. Now when we had that artic blast about 2 years ago. My stock shocks were stiff as hell.................

 

There was no ownage involved. I said I am by no means an expert and could be wrong in my very first post if you saw that. Neither of us were completely right when the "ownage" supposedly first ocurred...but nonetheless I love you anyways...let's just all get along

 

its the maxspeed they are not that great to begin with.

 

exactly...you get what you pay for...altho many people have great luck with them...the H&R (minus sagging) are better springs for that approximate ride height.

 

soon enough, I'll be switching H&Rs into my fronts to replace the maxspeeds...same drop, but I want a progressive spring rate instead of the linear. The rears I will leave the Maxspeeds in - the H&R rears just look too "saggy" for me.

BTW, I have 20K on my Maxspeeds, and they are the same height as they were new, and the ride is the same. I think the quality is fine (except the powdercoat is chipping a bit), I'm just looking for a different spring rate and feel for autocross. Otherwise, i've been very happy with them.....good bang for the buck - ride is like stock, but they sit lower.

 

Yeap Kruppa,, you get what you pay for... more expensiv for the same result..... I love my maxspeeds.. and don't see the need to spend more money on the same adjustment....

 

Mr Moderator is 100% correct with all his statements! Struts/ shocks will never effect ride height. The gasses in a strut flow past seals in either direction to dampen movement in the suspention. This means that the pressure is the same going up or down.

IT IS THE SPRINGS!

 

there is a chance it could be the rubber on the upper strut mount, buts its unlikely.