# opinion on OEM shocks with aftermarket springs **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 12, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358 "2009-03-12T09:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![micah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/micah/32/7257_2.png) [@micah](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/micah)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/1 "2009-03-12T09:29:27Z")
my TL has 60K miles on it now… i would love to drop it like, an inch to 1.5 inches… somewhat mild im asking on TL forums as well but seeing if the shock life will drop dramatically if i am riding a little bit lower… are aftermarket shocks actually better though, then OEM acura shocks? do u think my OEM shocks will handle it fine? or am i better off getting the Tein coilover system for a grand or so… even coilovers, do they lower the life of any other parts when those are in place of OEM springs and shocks? ---
**Author:** ![Pass\_McGass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pass_mcgass/32/7616_2.png) [@Pass\_McGass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pass_McGass)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/2 "2009-03-12T11:33:20Z")
Lowering your car on stock struts will most likely blow them out after a while, and the ride quality might suck. If you’re not super worried about tracking the piss out of the car and you just want a nice smooth ride, grab some kyb adjustable struts. ---
**Author:** ![micah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/micah/32/7257_2.png) [@micah](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/micah)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/3 "2009-03-12T11:34:27Z")
ya i want a smooth ride, just an inch or so lower ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/4 "2009-03-12T11:34:46Z")
Struts and springs will ride better than cheap ($1K) coilovers. I would not use stock struts with lowering springs… ---
**Author:** ![fbrendan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@fbrendan](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fbrendan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/5 "2009-03-12T11:37:58Z")
I wouldn’t do it even if you baby it and don’t care about ride quality. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/6 "2009-03-12T11:45:49Z")
the big issue is that even if the stock struts don’t blow with springs, they are valved completely wrong. if you can get tein basics, or KW v1, or some other package for about $1000, then do it… you just don’t get all kinds of adjustability, but you do get a properly matched setup that should last a long time and ride better. besides, 60k it 2/3rds through the life of your stock struts on WNY roads as is. ---
**Author:** ![upstateclipse](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/upstateclipse/32/7348_2.png) [@upstateclipse](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/upstateclipse)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/7 "2009-03-12T11:47:41Z")
Tein h techs and eibach prokits are designed to be used with stock style struts but I wouldn’t suggest them with 60k mile used struts ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/8 "2009-03-12T11:48:04Z")
does koni make a yellow? shock for your car, if so they can be matched up with your stock springs and you will get the look you want and have a great “comfy” ride ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/9 "2009-03-12T11:48:21Z")
Tein sucks IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/10 "2009-03-12T11:52:54Z")
never mind, I see they dont have adjustable perches for your style suspension i would go with koni yellows and a nice spring such as eibach, it will ride better than the tein and still be cheaper ---
**Author:** ![micah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/micah/32/7257_2.png) [@micah](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/micah)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/11 "2009-03-12T11:55:20Z")
yea koni yellows and eibach is something i might do… i can always reverse it if need BE… i just dont wanna F anything else on the car up ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/12 "2009-03-12T11:58:28Z")
both are quality parts, if you wanted to you could talk to the people at koni and ask them what they recommend for spring rates to try and match them up with ground controls or something (made by eibach) ---
**Author:** ![Boomin99GT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boomin99gt/32/7306_2.png) [@Boomin99GT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boomin99GT)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/13 "2009-03-12T11:58:52Z")
The stock struts may work just fine for a while but if they don’t your going to have to pay to do the install twice if you’re not doing it yourself. If you are doing it yourself it’s just going to be that much more of a PITA plus extra alignments. Do it right the first time. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/14 "2009-03-12T12:12:33Z")
I guess I just cant see the logic of matching something like koni yellows with various springs at a cost of like $800 when for just a little bit more you can have a true coilover that has be matched and tested. install is easier also since you don’t need to compress springs etc with the new ones. ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/15 "2009-03-12T12:15:23Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > I guess I just cant see the logic of matching something like koni yellows with various springs at a cost of like $800 when for just a little bit more you can have a true coilover that has be matched and tested. install is easier also since you don’t need to compress springs etc with the new ones. Just because it’s a true coilover doesn’t mean it’s good. Tein, Megan, etc etc $900-1100 coilovers are almost all shit. I’d choose a set of Koni yellows with brand XXX springs over cheap coilovers every day. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/16 "2009-03-12T12:23:27Z")
then we’ll have to agree to disagree… I’ve been in an evo with tein basics - they were great, just not adjustable or firm enough for autox etc, but did their intended job very well. ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/17 "2009-03-12T12:38:42Z")
> [@brent\_strong](#): > > Just because it’s a true coilover doesn’t mean it’s good. Tein, Megan, etc etc $900-1100 coilovers are almost all shit. I’d choose a set of Koni yellows with brand XXX springs over cheap coilovers every day. i agree 100% ive road in or owned pretty much any of the cheap sub 1000 dollar “full” coilover kits and a correctly setup koni gc combo will own it everyday as far as reliability and performance, not to mentions koni’s lifetime warranty as well as eibachs lifetime warranty on their springs ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/18 "2009-03-12T12:45:58Z")
In order to obtain the adjustability to lower a car 3", the springrate usually has to be pretty high to avoid bottoming out. Coilovers are typically geared toward aggressive driving. High springrate without VERY good damping will always feel like crap. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/19 "2009-03-12T12:48:59Z")
…and you don’t need a high spring rate when the strut is shorter and correctly matched. ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358/20 "2009-03-12T12:51:32Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > …and you don’t need a high spring rate when the strut is shorter and correctly matched. who told you that? if anything is lowered 3" depending on the vehicle it will need to be a high spring rate or else it will bottom out or ride the bumpstops [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opinion-on-oem-shocks-with-aftermarket-springs/64358.md?page=2)