Shocks-maryosep! Need your help guys.

[IMm29]

Hi Guys,

Need your help. Have a problem with my '03 Camry's shocks. They've all failed, just yesterday. And this just after I had my H&R lowering springs re-installed (went back to stock for about 6 months). They were still ok when I drove out of my friend's shop, but about a km down Sucat road, I was beginning to feel all the bumps on the road. I had them inspected at another suspension shop nearby and there was no more play in them.

I asked around for shocks. Toyota OEMs would set me back about P32K for a set of 4. I was thinking, with that money, could I get aftermarket shocks with better performance, ride and durability? Any brand suggestions/shops I can contact? Also, any feedbacks/price range on Koni.

Would appreciate any inputs. Thanks.

[mbeige]

Bilstein. May be expensive, but better in all aspects. Some will suggest KYB, and I've tried KYB. They're stiffer than the Bilsteins and hence offer a harder ride. But as with all questions regarding opinions about suspension parts like shock absorbers and/or springs, they will most likely be biased. See if you have friends with the shocks you want for your car that are installed on theirs and see how it rides.

Lowering the car with lowering springs but keeping stock shocks will ruin the shocks because they're not rated for each other.

[wildthing]

KYB is a good cheap OEM type brand.

[orly_andico]

well i just got quoted 45K for bilsteins for the 626. i would suspect the camry is in the same price range.

kung 32K vs 45K for bilsteins, i'd go with the damn Germans

OTOH, KYB shocks for that would only cost perhaps 15K tops. but.. according to the Speedlab person, stock or replacement shocks will suffer shortened life when coupled with lowering springs.

[wildthing]

definitely yes, kasi the load is actually controlled by springs and not the shocks... the shocks actually dampens the return para hindi maging bouncy ung spring actions.

I don't think the KYB is that poor-a-brand... if you can get ones that fit your car and are actually designed for pick-ups maybe mas tatagal din yung kahit na lowered.

Further, isn't lowering springs have the same tensile strength than the normal ones except that it was designed to be shorter (unless of course your lowering springs were actually "CUT" springs)?!?

[niky]

Lowering springs usually have stiffer rates to keep the car from bottoming out. Since there's less travel distance, if they were of stock stiffness, they'd bottom out more easily.

I think your lowering springs have well and truly killed your shocks... that's happened to me, too, on previous vehicles. Some vehicles have very stiff shocks, and can withstand lowering springs (the Focus springs to mind), but Toyota cars often have soft shocks, for comfort, and the Camry's shocks, in particular, feel pretty buttery.

Don't go for OEM replacement, anymore... KYBs aren't bad shocks, but if they're OEM replacement, they're too soft to pair with lowering springs. Get a good set, like Bilsteins or whatever other "sports" shocks are available for your ride.