future setup, prokit and possible koni yellows. advice needed

I'm not that familiar with suspension so any advice is greatly appreciated.
I have a stock 2008 SE sedan 2.0L with a ride that's not all that great. I'm also looking to lower a little with eibach prokit and possible koni yellows. I know its a preferred setup for many, but should I install just the prokit springs on a stock setup or with koni yellows as well?

Iv seen used koni yellows but I figure, that if I'm replacing anything it may as well be new and not another used part,

Looking at used prokit from a coworker as long as their 5545.140 I believe for the 05-09. Will the used springs settle the same as new springs?

Also I'll check out jimmy @ SP for the install and follow with alignment. many happy reviews about jimmy

Rims coming next season, thanks for any advice/ suggestion.

prokits on stock shocks are acceptable but will wear them down over time due to the extra suspension travel. koni yellows are designed for lowering springs in mind and will be better suited for your application. The stiffness adjustability on the koni's will also improve ride quality overall and can be adjusted to fit your preferred driving style.

i would say just lower it with the koni's and get it over with. no regretting that you didnt get the koni's later down the road LOL

Something to keep in mind, jimmy charges the same to replace both shocks and springs as he would just to replace just shocks or just springs so you're better off replacing both at the same time

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Originally Posted by loki

Something to keep in mind, jimmy charges the same to replace both shocks and springs as he would just to replace just shocks or just springs so you're better off replacing both at the same time

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thats what i was leaning towards. he charges the same? good man. the shocks are shot anywyas so its a good time to replace. thanks.

Try PMing our sponsors. I got mine from Alphamotorsports at a good price. I have koni yellow and prokit combo installed by Street Performance. I think you can also get a discount by buying Alpha and getting them done at SP if you ask Alpha first.

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Originally Posted by Jackal

Try PMing our sponsors. I got mine from Alphamotorsports at a good price. I have koni yellow and prokit combo installed by Street Performance. I think you can also get a discount by buying Alpha and getting them done at SP if you ask Alpha first.

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thanks ill look into alpha. hows your ride feel with this setup?

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Originally Posted by silverstarmazda

prokits on stock shocks are acceptable but will wear them down over time due to the reduced suspension travel. koni yellows are designed for lowering springs in mind and will be better suited for your application. The stiffness adjustability on the koni's will also improve ride quality overall and can be adjusted to fit your preferred driving style.

i would say just lower it with the koni's and get it over with. no regretting that you didnt get the koni's later down the road LOL

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FTFY

Shorter springs = less suspension travel. Never really thought about this before, just always went along with the internet propagated 'knowledge'. Why would stock shocks last less time with shorter springs? Off the top of my head, there is really no reason for them to last less long unless they are bottoming out regularly in which case yes, you will ruin them. If you're not driving in quebec through craters every day and you're not so low as to be bottoming your shocks, they will last just as long as ever (which may not be very long if they are already old lol)

So, if the shocks aren't old, you're not driving on crap roads etc, there is no issue for the shocks, although the ride quality might not be as good because the shocks were carefully tuned to work with longer springs and using shorter springs will result in a harsher ride.

-edit-
That said, I am very happy with my prokit and yellows :P

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Originally Posted by Cab0oze

FTFY

Shorter springs = less suspension travel. Never really thought about this before, just always went along with the internet propagated 'knowledge'. Why would stock shocks last less time with shorter springs? Off the top of my head, there is really no reason for them to last less long unless they are bottoming out regularly in which case yes, you will ruin them. If you're not driving in quebec through craters every day and you're not so low as to be bottoming your shocks, they will last just as long as ever (which may not be very long if they are already old lol)

So, if the shocks aren't old, you're not driving on crap roads etc, there is no issue for the shocks, although the ride quality might not be as good because the shocks were carefully tuned to work with longer springs and using shorter springs will result in a harsher ride.

-edit-
That said, I am very happy with my prokit and yellows :P

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@Kiewan Ride quality is good for a daily driver and my wife and baby are fine with it too.

Good points @Cab0oze about how it's driven. I've heard of shocks and struts lasting a long time after someone installed prokits. Depends on how slowly and carefully you take/avoid those bumps and potholes.

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Originally Posted by Cab0oze

FTFY

Shorter springs = less suspension travel. Never really thought about this before, just always went along with the internet propagated 'knowledge'. Why would stock shocks last less time with shorter springs? Off the top of my head, there is really no reason for them to last less long unless they are bottoming out regularly in which case yes, you will ruin them. If you're not driving in quebec through craters every day and you're not so low as to be bottoming your shocks, they will last just as long as ever (which may not be very long if they are already old lol)

So, if the shocks aren't old, you're not driving on crap roads etc, there is no issue for the shocks, although the ride quality might not be as good because the shocks were carefully tuned to work with longer springs and using shorter springs will result in a harsher ride.

-edit-
That said, I am very happy with my prokit and yellows :P

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extra travel because the shocks would move much higher than before. wear might have created a difference in thickness of the shaft (giggity). the change in diameter over the length of the shaft might be enough to stretch out the seal of the shock, eventually causing a leak and failure. it doesnt take much to ruin the seal. once they start leaking at a good rate, it wont be long before the valves give up too. stock shocks are designed to operate within the tolerance of stock springs+travel. contrary to many beliefs. bump stops are not there to protect the shocks, but to protect the rest of you suspension equipment from traveling too far into the chassis.

when i said "acceptable" in my previous post. i meant if PROKITS are install on stock shocks, they should last for 1-2 years with moderate driving. if you lower the car with SPORTLINES on stock shocks, expect them to fail within a year.

im very happy with my sportlines and konis yellow too lol

i absolutely %100 with you on the driving portion. roads here are nucking futs and repairs take forever to get processed. sometimes these sinkholes are just not avoidable at any speeds and you really take a hit and pray that everything is still in one piece. a lot of these roads are so broken its just no longer an option to drive on them anymore, and the new roads put up 2 years ago are starting to crack and split already

Shocks all need replacing and I drive on dirt a lot up north.
I'll be switching to prokits with konis. Also, if jimmy charges the same amount on the instal for both or just spring, I'll definitely take that deal
Emailed alpha performance.

+ 1 Montreal roads hurt my spine

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Originally Posted by silverstarmazda

extra travel because the shocks would move much higher than before. wear might have created a difference in thickness of the shaft (giggity). the change in diameter over the length of the shaft might be enough to stretch out the seal of the shock, eventually causing a leak and failure. it doesnt take much to ruin the seal. once they start leaking at a good rate, it wont be long before the valves give up too. stock shocks are designed to operate within the tolerance of stock springs+travel. contrary to many beliefs. bump stops are not there to protect the shocks, but to protect the rest of you suspension equipment from traveling too far into the chassis.

when i said "acceptable" in my previous post. i meant if PROKITS are install on stock shocks, they should last for 1-2 years with moderate driving. if you lower the car with SPORTLINES on stock shocks, expect them to fail within a year.

im very happy with my sportlines and konis yellow too lol

i absolutely %100 with you on the driving portion. roads here are nucking futs and repairs take forever to get processed. sometimes these sinkholes are just not avoidable at any speeds and you really take a hit and pray that everything is still in one piece. a lot of these roads are so broken its just no longer an option to drive on them anymore, and the new roads put up 2 years ago are starting to crack and split already

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Oh, I see where you were coming from. Just wasn't clear because of the wording. Less travel means if you're driving along and hit a huge bump there is less distance for the shock to go before it bottoms (that IS the definition of travel). You're saying that if you hit a bump with shorter springs, the shaft will be deeper (giggity :P ) inside the shock. Interesting point but realistically I don't think that would cause any problems. You pointed out change in diameter over the length of the shaft but realistically speaking based on how it is machined there should be no variation over the whole length so you SHOULD be safe to travel all the way to the bumpstop or whatever.

And yeah, if we all drove on mirror smooth roads, we could lower our cars to the ground on stock shocks and there would be zero issues with longevity so it comes down 100% to how and where you drive.

Just wanted to point all that out because people tend to blindly spread 1000th hand information around the internet without actually thinking of whether it is still relevant/true in someones particular situation. I'm sure I'm guilty of the same thing, but hey, at least I'm putting some thought in whenever I have a bit of experience regarding the topic.

/Sorry for going into a debate here, glad you made your decision. I recommend checking ebay, I've seen new mz3 prokits/yellows on there before (in ontario) for dirt cheap.

taking into consideration my limited budget, i am leaning towards koni oranges. they are a newer shock, so the reviews are a little more limmited. i know yellows and prokit are a good setup, how about orange and prokit?

im not worried about performance and could use a softer ride for my family in this daily driver

any suggestions or even reviews? thanks for the responses so far, really helpful

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Originally Posted by Kiewan

taking into consideration my limited budget, i am leaning towards koni oranges. they are a newer shock, so the reviews are a little more limmited. i know yellows and prokit are a good setup, how about orange and prokit?

im not worried about performance and could use a softer ride for my family in this daily driver

any suggestions or even reviews? thanks for the responses so far, really helpful

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I've heard koni oranges are good. Feels like stock or slightly stiffer so not a harsh ride and good for a dd. Again they are not adjustable but go well with konis. Probably similar to KYB.

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Originally Posted by Jackal

I've heard koni oranges are good. Feels like stock or slightly stiffer so not a harsh ride and good for a dd. Again they are not adjustable but go well with konis. Probably similar to KYB.

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there are not many people on oranges so ill review them if i end up with them. will be paired with eibach prokits anyways.

im on the fence. yellow or orange?
mostly interested in the value for both products at their respective prices.
if the yellows are that much better, then i can wait a little longer

someone on the classifieds was selling the koni yellows for a good price. they got to miles on them though and the paint is peeling (which all koni's do)

I'm on koni orange with a 2" drop and they feel amazing i have a pic on this forum about s tech and koni orange.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kiewan

taking into consideration my limited budget, i am leaning towards koni oranges. they are a newer shock, so the reviews are a little more limmited. i know yellows and prokit are a good setup, how about orange and prokit?

im not worried about performance and could use a softer ride for my family in this daily driver

any suggestions or even reviews? thanks for the responses so far, really helpful

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Originally Posted by kankerface

I'm on koni orange with a 2" drop and they feel amazing i have a pic on this forum about s tech and koni orange.

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The pic looks amazing. I actually picked up the oranges for a good price, just waiting on the prokits now. Can't wait.

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Originally Posted by kankerface

I'm on koni orange with a 2" drop and they feel amazing i have a pic on this forum about s tech and koni orange.

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Stop fondling your suspension components. :P

lol nice one!