Rear shocks

[DREAM2]

If I lower my PT 1.5 in the front and 2.0 in the back and want to get new rear shocks, are there different sizes for lowered cars?
I don't want to spend the money on Koni's or Tokico's right now, is there a reasonably priced shock that I could use? I don't want the car to bounce around like some people say they do with the original shocks, but I don't want to pay more for the shocks than I did for the springs either right now.
Just looking for a cheaper alternative to aleviate the issues associated with a lowered car. Any part numbers?

[Mike-in-Orange]

I don't believe that there's anything specific to what you're looking for. If it's a budget consideration and you want the car lower but can't fork over the $$ for shocks at the same time it's really not a problem doing them a couple of months apart. That's what I did. In fact, I really didn't think the ride quality had suffered all that much initially after doing the same drop you're considering. After a month or so, however, I was getting annoyed at the bouncing in the rear end. I had a set of Tokicos put on and it really did make all the difference in the world!

Now, I put on shocks/struts at a price of $265 plus $110 installation. You could buy just the rear shocks and have those put on at the same time as the springs. The part number for the rears is HE2950, fronts are HB3195. You can get the rears at http://www.splittingimagez.com/tokicogasshocks.htm for $37.67 each.

[DREAM2]

I didn't know the Tokico's were that cheap. I guess I can at least do the rears then. Is there a different part number or size difference between a stock height car and a lowered one?

[Mike-in-Orange]

The Tokicos are actually designed for use with lowering springs, the part number I mentioned is the only one they have for the PT. I'm sure the Koni's probably are as well but the front struts require some cutting of the mounting points to get them to work. I didn't want to deal with that.

Yeah, the Tokicos are a great bang for the buck.

[purplept]

I looked into this over a year ago and found that KYB had a set of ajustable rear shocks that were somewhat reasonable. I think they were called "JustA Shock."

[ptgtcb]

I lowerd mine the same amount with the stock shocks and did not experience any bouncing in the rear? Make sure you cut the bump stops or you will bottom on them, cutting them gives you the additional travel you need with the shorter springs. I would highly recommend front and rear swaybars with a spring install, especially if you do not have a rear bar. In fact I would not recommend lowering it without doing the bars at the same time! I used eibach and the difference was night and day compared to springs only. Save your money for the koni's.
As far as the koni install there is no cutting the mounting? What has to be cut is the top of the strut housing, remove the shock internals and replace that with the koni insert. Sounds harder than it is. If I can ever find a set of used GT front struts I'll install mine.

[Mike-in-Orange]

quotetgtcb Posted - 05/11/2004 : 9:49:49 PM
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I lowerd mine the same amount with the stock shocks and did not experience any bouncing in the rear? Make sure you cut the bump stops or you will bottom on them, cutting them gives you the additional travel you need with the shorter springs.

Dude, with my stock shocks my rear end was dancing around all over the place. Tokicos got it behaving like a real car again. I want to add a nice set of anti-sway bars as I know they will greatly improve the handling of the car, but I had more immediate concerns....ride quality. I did not cut the bump stops, and the back end was banging into all sorts of things. Again, the Tokicos took care of it. I mentioned in another post that fast corners (like a freeway transition you can take at 80) with some bumps was almost scary before the Tokicos. Now....NO FEAR. Of course, anti-sway bars would probably get me pushing things back up to a scary speed[}]

[ptgtcb]

quote:Originally posted by Mike-in-Orange

Dude, with my stock shocks my rear end was dancing around all over the place. Tokicos got it behaving like a real car again. I want to add a nice set of anti-sway bars as I know they will greatly improve the handling of the car, but I had more immediate concerns....ride quality. I did not cut the bump stops, and the back end was banging into all sorts of things. Again, the Tokicos took care of it. I mentioned in another post that fast corners (like a freeway transition you can take at 80) with some bumps was almost scary before the Tokicos. Now....NO FEAR. Of course, anti-sway bars would probably get me pushing things back up to a scary speed[}]

Duuude, all I said was that I did not experience any bouncing when I lowered my GT. I would not expect it to be any more bouncy than stock, what springs did you use? Maybe you should have followed the directions and cut the bump stops so the suspension would not bottom out so easy? Mine happen to work out fine, maybe your stock shocks were junk? For me, the scary part was too much roll in the corners and the bars eliminated it. Sorry you took it so personal.[:0]

[Kirby]

Stock (tokicos) shocks definitely are not up to the task when heavier lowering springs are installed. The rear shocks are the cheapest since they are a standard shock(not a strut). I would consider the shocks befor going with the heavy sways....see how it feels. konis and sways can give a little of the go kart feel, and heavier sways will increase wheel lift in tight cornering.

Match HD shocks with HD springs first>[8)]

[Mike-in-Orange]

quotetgtcb Posted - 05/12/2004 : 10:49:33 PM
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Duuude, all I said was that I did not experience any bouncing when I lowered my GT. I would not expect it to be any more bouncy than stock, what springs did you use? Maybe you should have followed the directions and cut the bump stops so the suspension would not bottom out so easy? Mine happen to work out fine, maybe your stock shocks were junk? For me, the scary part was too much roll in the corners and the bars eliminated it. Sorry you took it so personal.

I didn't take it personally, not at all. You said you didn't experience any bouncing and I said I experienced a lot. I have the GoldLine 1.5" front and 2" rear drop. Although you might not expect things to be more bouncy than stock, the stock shocks simply don't have the proper damping and rebound to handle the additional stress of being preloaded by lowering springs. By the way, there was nothing explicit in any instructions saying you must cut the bump stops. They still aren't cut but with the Tokicos I'm no longer bottoming. Or bouncing.