Springs "destroying" shocks?

Amuse370z

I'll admit that I'm not the best with cars but is there any truth to what my friend is telling me?

I was thinking of buying Swift springs because of the great reviews, my friend, who drives an SI says that springs "destroys" shocks and that coilovers are the way to go.

Econ

naive friend is naive

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2014 Triumph Thruxton 900
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth
2009 Nissan 370z

tjlazer

The lower the drop on shocks the more it can wear them out. Swift are not that low and you will be fine. Just don't expect to go 150,000 miles on stock shocks with lowering springs...

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

cheshirecat

Swift spings are engineered to be paired with stock shocks. The lower the spring, the more likely it is that they will compress more than the stock shock is engineered to handle, which can lead to seals breaking and the shock "blowing out".

If you get Swifts, don't worry about it.

Your friend is borderline retarded. I would bring this up to his parents.

cossie1600

it depends on the spring. if the spring rate is high, it would blow out the shock quickly as the stock shock cant keep up with it. your friend is partially correct, no more retarded than some of the responses.

dP3NGU1N

Sounds to me like the friend is generally correct. The only thing is that he doesn't know about swift springs so threw out a blanket statement to possibly save his friend some grief.

@cheshire: I don't see how he's retarded, perhaps people should inform your parents that you're a bigot and jump to conclusions about people from third party hearsay. His friend gave safe-than-sorry advice.

kenchan

very blunt yet

cheshirecat

370zFORme!!

To shed some light on this situation, I have had Eibach, H and R and Swift springs installed on my 370 and my shocks are still fine after almost 20k miles. If the stock shocks can take the "shock", no pun intended of 3 different springs rates/heights, you will be fine. I also had lowering springs on my scoin tc for like 60K miles and my shocks were fine.

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87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

CFZ

You wont blow out a shock from high spring rates. Whether the shock is valved for really stiff springs or really soft springs, they use the same seals and shims. In fact stiffer springs would minimize shock movement, and soft springs would obviously increase it. In other words string rate does not affect the life of shocks.

But what does it bottoming out the shock. Swift has already figured out the useable stroke of the shocks for us when developing these springs. Im sure it wont be a problem.

cheshirecat

I've destroyed stock 350z shocks with Tanabe GF210's, which are considered an "aggressive" (but not extreme) drop. It can happen- just looks like the 370z shocks are more resistant/tolerant, which is nice.

cossie1600

You are kidding right. Why do you think Bilstein charges $60+ for each shock rebuild. They might use the same seals, but the actual amount of gas or oil and the size of orifice are completely differently. If you ever send your shock in for a rebuild, they would ask you everything from wheel/tire weight to spring rate and all the little stuff. When your spring rate goes up 20-30% harder/quicker over what the shocks are designed for, what do you think absorbs the impact along with the spring? The stiffer spring rate effects the compression and the rebound stroke as the shock has to work much harder/quicker to return the shock back to its original position. I have nothing against this particular spring, but it's a fact that you will likely decrease the useful life of the shock simply from doing stuff like that. It could be 1000 miles, it could be 75K miles. You just don't know, but you are shortening the life of this shock by doing it. It's just common sense, the spring is 20-30% stiffer than stock!!!


(STRAIGHT FROM BILSTEIN'S WEBSITE) Interaction between spring and damper
When a car passes over an obstacle, this first has an impact on the spring, which must not be hampered by excessive damping performance on the part of the shock absorber. When a car passes over a bump in the road, for example, the obstacle forces the wheel up into the wheel housing. In the process, the spring is compressed. The shock absorber is now in its compression stage. Once the spring has levelled out the obstacle, the shock absorber has to slow down the movement of the spring as it releases its tension with great force. The shock absorber is now in its rebound stage. Compression stage (compressing of the springs and the damper, e.g. when driving over bumps in the road) = usually approx. 25% of the damping force. Rebound stage (when the spring pulls the damper apart) = usually approx. 75% of the damping force.

Conclusion: A spring with a higher spring rate (sport or lowered spring) will only work at its best in conjunction with the appropriate high-performance or sports shock absorber.

Andy124

i am qurious of something...why my friend bought a Swift Spring and he also bought 25mm spacers and 20mm spacers?is it needed for every aftermarket spring or any other explanation?I need to know before i get anything after i bought

cheshirecat

Spacers aren't needed for the springs. The only time spacers are really needed is if your wheel doesn't clear your brake calipers.

Spacers are mainly just for looks. The performance difference from the wider track is minimal at best.

kenchan

most of the questions have already been asked and answered, i believe. every car forum i go to they ask the same damn questions over and over again.