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LOTEK Shocks and struts

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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 05:19 PM
  #1  
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LOTEK Shocks and struts

So i bought some eGay shocks and struts a while back and had heard mixed reviews for them for other cars, but was tight on money and looking for an easy route. I bought the LoTek silver shocks and struts for a whopping $175 (for the set) and put my lowering springs on those. The ride is... meh... could be better but I blame the springs for that. They do the job and, FOR THE PRICE, are nice if you just want a sensible drop for a good price. I have yet to blow one out and overall feel like it was a good buy. They claim to be OEM replacement in some cars but from what I understand the ones I bought were shortened for a lower standard of driving . I understand you get what you pay for and they will somehow fail me eventually, but so far so good. I'm very impressed. Now. Let the bashing begin for my buying of a cheap ebay part. GO!

Edit:

That is my current ride height on LoTek Shocks and struts along with eBay springs on both sets of wheels. Also a picture of the purple cheap-o spring on the shock. My girl's car on the left (with the Hyundai wheels) is lowered on Eibachs and monroe shocks and struts approx 2" drop

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That is my current ride height on LoTek Shocks and struts along with eBay springs on both sets of wheels. Also a picture of the purple cheap-o spring on the shock.

Last edited by CallMeThatOneGuy; Oct 30, 2012 at 05:32 PM.
Old Oct 16, 2012 | 05:48 PM
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I am not sure bashing is in order here, I would like specifics i.e.
1: How far of a drop did you go?
2: Wheel and tire setup?
3: What axles are you using?

The way I see it, ebay special shocks n struts on a 1 inch drop with 16 inch rims is alot different than 2.5 inch drop with 19 inch rims, ya dig?
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 08:09 AM
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I'm dropped on no name springs that my friend gave me but about 3inch in the front and 2.5 in the back. probably a little more but meh. I don't remember what axles I replaced them with... But I've since then just been using some 17x7's and the stock 15's so not too much strain on them
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 08:56 AM
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And how long have you gone with that drop on those struts?
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 02:33 PM
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About 6 months so far
Old Oct 19, 2012 | 05:56 AM
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i actually just installed these on my 96 yesterday and i'm very impressed with them so far. i bought the struts and springs package for $289 w/ free shipping. very easy to install. i think the back sits a little lower then the front but i think after a couple weeks it will even out some. you really cant beat the quality for under $300 and thats struts and springs all the way around.
Old Oct 19, 2012 | 07:20 AM
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can we get a pic, please?
Old Oct 19, 2012 | 09:10 AM
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Haha I bought a set of LoTek coilovers for my 98 and they were horrible. Pops n squeaks but not only that, the spring perches were of such low quality metal that they broke into pieces not once but twice. This was with normal city driving and about a 2in drop. Also the springs/sleeves would move around on bumps throwing off the alignment constantly. I ended up throwing them in the trash and getting BC racing coilovers. Much much better.....I wouldn't buy any LoTek crap, but if its working for you then great!
Old Oct 20, 2012 | 07:31 AM
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I put different springs on mine so the back is a little higher than the front. And as far as the coilovers go.. yeah that doesn't surprise me. These aren't a quality good, but definitely worth the money. If I was going to get coilovers then I'd probably not want to go with LoTek.
Old Oct 21, 2012 | 02:45 PM
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can we get a picture of the setting please?
Old Oct 21, 2012 | 03:46 PM
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Pics please...
Old Oct 22, 2012 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by CallMeThatOneGuy
I'm dropped on no name springs that my friend gave me but about 3inch in the front and 2.5 in the back. probably a little more but meh. I don't remember what axles I replaced them with... But I've since then just been using some 17x7's and the stock 15's so not too much strain on them
3in drop with springs? Yeah right LOL
Old Oct 24, 2012 | 06:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Flava_24/7
3in drop with springs? Yeah right LOL
Whatever you say man.... lol but I'll post pics when I get access to my laptop in the next few days.
Old Oct 24, 2012 | 06:47 AM
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Originally Posted by CallMeThatOneGuy
Whatever you say man.... lol but I'll post pics when I get access to my laptop in the next few days.
No spring will give you that great of a drop, Im betting its closer to a 2" drop or maybe ewen just a tad bit lower.
For a 3' drop you would need coilovers. Your car would be slammed and tucked.
Old Oct 24, 2012 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Flava_24/7
No spring will give you that great of a drop, Im betting its closer to a 2" drop or maybe ewen just a tad bit lower.
For a 3' drop you would need coilovers. Your car would be slammed and tucked.
My car had 3 1/2 inches of wheel gap and now it has 1/2 inch. Ebay springs settle more and that's why I got my friend's springs. I did it all myself so Im not just throwing random figures.. but ill post pics soon
Old Oct 24, 2012 | 09:46 AM
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The stock fender height is about 28" give or take. With springs, like I have, the lowest you should go is about a 2" drop to make the new height slightly over 26". If your fender height is now 25" then you are riding on the strut body with "0" strut travel
Old Oct 24, 2012 | 09:56 AM
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I'll measure it when I get back to my car. The struts are supposedly shortened so you can ride an inch lower than you can with stock. That was my point on creating the thread... not to argue if I'm lowered 2.45 inches or 3 inches. If everyone who is lowered on springs sits HIGHER than I do then there is no reason to bother with measuring and my ride height is irrelevant because that would only mean that the shocks would work better for you.

Last edited by CallMeThatOneGuy; Oct 24, 2012 at 09:58 AM.
Old Oct 27, 2012 | 05:08 AM
  #18  
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just a little update with my lotek setup. i noticed it sat a little higher in the front and with the strut bellow on i couldnt see that the strut was sitting on the stock bump stop(which is pretty long). im going to put the car on the lift today at work and trim it down and see if it sits any lower. with my luck it will probably start to rub.
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 05:29 PM
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Bump i posted pics. I realize it may not be 3" exactly, could be more or could be less. BUT the same point still remains. My car is doing great on these shocks with no squeaks or signs of wear.
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 05:33 PM
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Those look like intrax springs, and that's easily a 2-2.25 drop.
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 06:26 PM
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Looks really good man. Ive been wanting to drop my car but Im undecided if i want springs or coilovers.

IDK about how your ride is in Tennessee but I know for a fact on NYC roads this would be really rough and the struts would blow in record time.
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 06:41 PM
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Be careful with these. An SCM homie recently had a bad experience with these. Ill let him tell the story.
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 07:06 PM
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tennessee roads and interstates are actually not bad at all so that would probably help my case. And yeah I'd like to know the flaws that people know of who got these before I did. and the brand was not on the box or the ad so im nit sure. they're just "purples" lol
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by CallMeThatOneGuy
Bump i posted pics. I realize it may not be 3" exactly, could be more or could be less. BUT the same point still remains. My car is doing great on these shocks with no squeaks or signs of wear.
Where are these pictures?
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Spencer5556
Where are these pictures?
in the initial post. should be 4 pics
Old Oct 31, 2012 | 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by CallMeThatOneGuy
in the initial post. should be 4 pics
Looks good - especially without the spoiler.
Old Oct 31, 2012 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by dtholmanmax
Looks good - especially without the spoiler.
I'm not much of a spoiler person. Unless the car goes over 180mph and one is needed for downforce..... then I enjoy the sleeker look
Old Nov 9, 2012 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by VQ'rInWLA
Be careful with these. An SCM homie recently had a bad experience with these. Ill let him tell the story.
Hey man, I was waiting for said homie's story. If you don't want to post it here will you pm it to me ?
Old Nov 9, 2012 | 08:21 PM
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I want to see this story as well...
Old Nov 11, 2012 | 01:17 PM
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OP, PM me if you still have your stock springs. Mine were cut to lower the car and I'd like to go back
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