How can new shocks raise my car? - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center

Mista Grimm · 10-02-2008, 03:26 AM

I replaced my old stock shocks with KYBs earlier this year, but I can't figure out why my car is higher than before. I've had Eibachs for a few years already. I didn't replace anything else like mounts or anything. I took it all apart trying to figure it out, but nothing's different. I like the comfort of the Eibachs and would hate to try anything else. It's to where other people have noticed too.

Any ideas?

tomwatson · 10-02-2008, 06:37 AM

I know it's possible if you replaced worn out springs that this could happen (due to sagging), but shocks? Not sure.

tachyon_ftl · 10-02-2008, 11:24 AM

Um. Only two things that spring to mind are

1) The distance from the perch to the knuckle (or trailing arm) mounting point is greater on the new ones than on the old; or,

2) The springs are not seated in the perch.

Neither one seems very likely. If you have the KYB's for your year and model, I would think that the length from the bottom to the perch would be the one thing that is identical to stockers. And, to get all four springs twisted so that they're not fully seated in the perches seems unlikely too.

How much of an increase is it?? And does it seem the same at all four corners?

Mista Grimm · 10-02-2008, 11:41 AM

No, I verified everything is seated correctly a few times. Disassembled and everything. It's higher on one side than the other and back to stock ride height. Looks horrible and I'm embarrassed about it.

And I don't have the old ones to compare.

wraith · 10-02-2008, 04:19 PM

Did you get t aligned and drove it around

AudibleSilence · 10-02-2008, 05:51 PM

The shocks on my 93 VR4 were well shot

My car was slammed to the ground right after I added Stechs..since the drop was so extreme I can only guess that it was due to the shocks. The car th S techs originally came off of did not have this issue.

TwIzTeD_3kGt · 10-02-2008, 05:57 PM

Well the shocks do support SOME of the weight of the car, offloading it from the springs. So if your old ones were REALLY worn out, the new ones would offload the springs more. Thereby raising the car.

wraith · 10-02-2008, 06:13 PM

But if you can push the strut back in by hand, how is it doing anything when the spring and assembly will not even let the strut collapse completely. The only way you could change the fully supported height is if the spring has fatigued and lost spring constant or if the car got lighter or heavier. Another issue is how much thread your given on the top of the strut. If there is more thread and the height is the same, you can pre-load the spring more (there is a torque setting but if struts are different design, its apples t oranges). If you have ever done this mod yourself, you would realize the strut cant hold the car up. Its only function is to resist movement. The spring holds the car up. If I can lean on a new strut and push it back in, its not holding up jack. Thats why struts have bump stops.

TwIzTeD_3kGt · 10-02-2008, 07:19 PM

No one said it holds the car up, just some small amount of weight. Just a theory, because there really is no reason changing the struts should ever raise the cars height unless they're completely different struts.

Mista Grimm · 10-03-2008, 12:06 AM

I've had the springs on for years and my shocks weren't bad, even after so many miles. No improvement on the ride. I replaced them cause I had a noise which turned out to be the thrust bushings. But the car was low enough way back when I first installed the springs, I was happy with the height. Now it's ugly as hell.

10-02-2008, 03:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mista Grimm Dope-stoopid yo! Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ft. Worth, TX Drives: 96 3KGT,E39 & 90 ZTT Trader Rating: (10)	How can new shocks raise my car? I replaced my old stock shocks with KYBs earlier this year, but I can't figure out why my car is higher than before. I've had Eibachs for a few years already. I didn't replace anything else like mounts or anything. I took it all apart trying to figure it out, but nothing's different. I like the comfort of the Eibachs and would hate to try anything else. It's to where other people have noticed too. Any ideas? __________________ ----------1996 3000GT ------------------------- 1991 300ZX TT Stage III------------- PRETTY MODS: Philips/Hella HID kit on lows, HID kit on fogs, Active Aero Spoiler,VR4 brake upgrade, Reverse Indiglo Gauges, Custom black leather seats w/ Red inserts, 18x8.5 Antera 143 chrome wheels, Yokohama ES100 265/35-ZR18 tires, Eibach Springs, K&N drop-in filter, Clarion touch deck, Pair of 12" DVC subs, Short Shift Mod, Flowmaster muffler w/ 4" tips, Hidden white neon tube replacing rear license plate lights, Electric trunk release, Illuminated LED passenger door switches, Fog light mod(independent), Switched low/high beam projector lenses

10-02-2008, 06:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
tomwatson Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: St. Louis Drives: 95 RT/TT, 300ZX TT Trader Rating: (2)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? I know it's possible if you replaced worn out springs that this could happen (due to sagging), but shocks? Not sure. __________________ pearl yellow 95 RT/TT 6 spd w/30K miles EVOIII 16G's, FMIC, and support aiming for ~500AWHP at 18PSI on 93 octane charcoal 91 300ZX TT 5 spd w/57K miles 335RWHP/378RWTQ in 104 degree heat 2002 Kawasaki ZX9R, Full Micron exhaust, Ivan's jet kit, K & N, 140RWHP

10-02-2008, 11:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
tachyon_ftl '96 VR4 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Hollis, NH Drives: It's spos'd to move? Trader Rating: (12)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? Um. Only two things that spring to mind are 1) The distance from the perch to the knuckle (or trailing arm) mounting point is greater on the new ones than on the old; or, 2) The springs are not seated in the perch. Neither one seems very likely. If you have the KYB's for your year and model, I would think that the length from the bottom to the perch would be the one thing that is identical to stockers. And, to get all four springs twisted so that they're not fully seated in the perches seems unlikely too. How much of an increase is it?? And does it seem the same at all four corners? __________________ GHOST - "Because it's white and it tends to vanish" K&N FIPK, DSM Sidemounts, Hotwired Walbro, EK2 Fuel Loop & AEM AFPR, "The Only Known Dr. Stupid 3in SS DP in Captivity!", Random Tech 3in Cat, Borla Catback, Greddy TT and EBC, Greddy Boost, Oil Prs and Fuel Prs in Cianci 3 Up Pillar Pod, Tein S-Techs, Bilstein Struts, Maximal Control Arms, Carbotech Rotors/Pads and StopTech SS Brake Lines. In work- 450CC DSM Injectors and SAFC-2

10-02-2008, 11:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mista Grimm Dope-stoopid yo! Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ft. Worth, TX Drives: 96 3KGT,E39 & 90 ZTT Trader Rating: (10)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? No, I verified everything is seated correctly a few times. Disassembled and everything. It's higher on one side than the other and back to stock ride height. Looks horrible and I'm embarrassed about it. And I don't have the old ones to compare.

10-02-2008, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
wraith resident evil Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Oradell New Jersey Trader Rating: (15)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? Did you get t aligned and drove it around

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10-02-2008, 05:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
AudibleSilence Mr. Chocolate... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Brooklyn Zoo Drives: 1997 3000gt VR4 Trader Rating: (47)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? The shocks on my 93 VR4 were well shot My car was slammed to the ground right after I added Stechs..since the drop was so extreme I can only guess that it was due to the shocks. The car th S techs originally came off of did not have this issue. __________________ 1997 Black Top Red Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 - 93k miles and 100% stock Cars Owned: 1992 Dodge Stealth RT (sold) 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 #1 (parted) 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 #2 (sold) 1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 (KIA) 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 (sold) 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT Base - awd/atx (sold)

10-02-2008, 05:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
TwIzTeD_3kGt 2 + 2 is CHICKEN! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Drives: 1997 VR4 / 1994 SL Trader Rating: (11)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? Well the shocks do support SOME of the weight of the car, offloading it from the springs. So if your old ones were REALLY worn out, the new ones would offload the springs more. Thereby raising the car. __________________ Pictures & Videos

10-02-2008, 06:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
wraith resident evil Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Oradell New Jersey Trader Rating: (15)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? But if you can push the strut back in by hand, how is it doing anything when the spring and assembly will not even let the strut collapse completely. The only way you could change the fully supported height is if the spring has fatigued and lost spring constant or if the car got lighter or heavier. Another issue is how much thread your given on the top of the strut. If there is more thread and the height is the same, you can pre-load the spring more (there is a torque setting but if struts are different design, its apples t oranges). If you have ever done this mod yourself, you would realize the strut cant hold the car up. Its only function is to resist movement. The spring holds the car up. If I can lean on a new strut and push it back in, its not holding up jack. Thats why struts have bump stops.

10-02-2008, 07:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
TwIzTeD_3kGt 2 + 2 is CHICKEN! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Drives: 1997 VR4 / 1994 SL Trader Rating: (11)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? No one said it holds the car up, just some small amount of weight. Just a theory, because there really is no reason changing the struts should ever raise the cars height unless they're completely different struts.

10-03-2008, 12:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mista Grimm Dope-stoopid yo! Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ft. Worth, TX Drives: 96 3KGT,E39 & 90 ZTT Trader Rating: (10)	Re: How can new shocks raise my car? I've had the springs on for years and my shocks weren't bad, even after so many miles. No improvement on the ride. I replaced them cause I had a noise which turned out to be the thrust bushings. But the car was low enough way back when I first installed the springs, I was happy with the height. Now it's ugly as hell.