Questions about daily driving with coil overs.

[d4vech3n]

Hey, I'm currently on GP Sports GR6 set up on my s14 and use my car as a daily driver. I do my best to avoid bumps but the streets around here are horrible. When driving on streets i'm not familair with, I'm running over a bunch of bad bumps and man hole covers. Even on my daily rutine to school, I usually have to run over a few bad bumps because theres just no way to avoid them.

I have my dampering set on the softest setting and was wondering what kind of damage this does to my shocks. The GR6 don't have inverted shocks so, supposidly, they won't last as long but how bad is running over bumps for the shocks? I don't know of anywhere where I can get a rebuild and If there is, I bet they're pretty expensive, especially for somebody like me who has no money. Also, can SPL Shocks be interchanged with the parts I have on my GP Sports set up?

[HyperTek]

i honestly dont worry about that stuff, but you got some better coilovers then me...

No, i dont think spl shocks will work.

[mr_240sx]

you know what, you worry too much about the little things. just go out there and drive! stop worrying about the things you cant control!

[Ian]

if you're poor you shoulda thought about maybe buying some easier to maintain dampers...

why the hell would you get GP sports when a company like Tein has a USA headquarters that will just service any broken parts you have...i mean...if it were a track only car, i'd understand gunning for the best quality stuff. but yours is a street car, what difference will be apparent on the road between something like a Tein HE and the GP sports GR6

[d4vech3n]

My car isn't strictly a street car, it sees track time about twice a month to occassional parking lot sessions. I just simply didn't want the Tein HE setup. While doing my research and reading a bunch of reviews, the Tein HEs seem to have a weaker build up and less quality. It was between Kei Office XRs, GP Sports GR6, or Silkroad AM8. I originally ordered the Kei Office but they were on backorder for months so I got my refund and got the GP Sports. If what they say about the inverted front shocks is true, then I should have chosen Silkroad AM8 or the SPL which I didn't even hear much of when I was shopping for coil overs.

[psychedelicbeats]

if it's that good on the track, then i don't think you need to worry about it on the street.

[papershot]

i think i remember reading someplace on here that autornd is trying to be able to rebuild gp sports coilovers, but i dont really remember.

[mr_240sx]

Originally Posted by papershot

i think i remember reading someplace on here that autornd is trying to be able to rebuild gp sports coilovers, but i dont really remember.

i hope somebody arounhere can rebuild them because im planning on buying a set of gr-6's for my 240!

[Salty_X]

The inverted struts are supposed to increase strength when it comes to sideloads, so as long as you aren't drifting into potholes you'll be fine. Even if you were you'd still be fine. You're fine.

But if you're still paranoid I suppose you could run stock suspension and switch over to coilovers for track sessions...

[CoasTek240]

so is there any useful advice on this thread or is it all reassuring bs psycho babble? i actually had the same question, and was under the impression that its harmful for coilovers...

[mr_240sx]

Originally Posted by CoasTek240

so is there any useful advice on this thread or is it all reassuring bs psycho babble? i actually had the same question, and was under the impression that its harmful for coilovers...

well if you have coil-overs and are afraid of damaging them, well maybe you should stick with stock suspension. Suspensions are made to be used, its common sense that suspension will eventually break/blow, and you deal with it when it happends. You cant go living life always saying "what if?". When things are ment to break, they break, its just how life is! Live life to the fullest!

[S14DB]

I belive coiloevers are stronger than the stock suspensions they replace. So, if you had no problem driving over that crap stock you should have no problem now. No Dukes of Hazzard shit thou.

[d4vech3n]

I was just asking to see how much damage running over bumps does to your shocks. All my friends and I drive as if we're drunk trying to avoid every little bump. Does this help or should I just avoid the huge bumps and pot holes.

[jdm538]

i think if you keep it soft on street roads you should be ok.

[S14DB]

Bottoming out is what really damages shocks in street use. Most coilovers have a longer travel than 240's stock you should be better off. The spring rate will be higher so you will feel it more and it will stress your chasis more. You should already have STB's if you get coilovers to lock it down some more.

[Ian]

i think driving on stiff would be better, protects from breaking a coilover

[98sr20ve]

Originally Posted by d4vech3n

Hey, I'm currently on GP Sports GR6 set up on my s14 and use my car as a daily driver. I do my best to avoid bumps but the streets around here are horrible. When driving on streets i'm not familair with, I'm running over a bunch of bad bumps and man hole covers. Even on my daily rutine to school, I usually have to run over a few bad bumps because theres just no way to avoid them.

A bump should not damage any quality struts if they are not bottoming out. Simple as that. I have beat the crap out of Koni's and never had an issue. They are simple non-inverted struts. I get a kick out of all this talk about inverted struts. Lot's of cars don't use that and they last very well. You do not need an inverted strut to have a strong strut. Thats crazy talk. A poorly designed inverted monotube could easily be weaker then a well designed twin tube setup. To boil stregth down to one design feature is nuts. More to the point of your question. I would be more concerned about setting your struts/shocks up for maximum travel. The double height adjustable struts are often set up with zero preload on the spring. I have seen many cases where this simple does not work well. You need to find out how much travel the setup actually has. It is scarry how little travel the fronts of our cars have. A stock car has about 2.5 inch's (at least my S13 did).

[iMAGE976]

You're in Good Hands with GP-Sports!! I've Seen these Coilovers in person and i must admit that they are pretty BEEFY! compared to other Coilovers ive seen. So don't sweat it and just enjoy your JDM goodness.