Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum because my magna is my daily so haven't done any mods to it lol. I had a quick search so sorry if its been covered but basically the previous owner has lowered the springs and it looks the shock were never upgraded so its too low and soft and bottoms out and now its ****ed so I would like to get it fixed up :)

Don't want it as low as it is cause its a pain in the arse for a daily. Something around standard height or a touch lower thats nice and comfortable on shitter roads.
I figure my options are somthing similar to below:
1) Replace with brand new springs and shocks and get the exact height and feel i want
2) Find some 2nd hand good condition suspension and replace everything.
3) buy new parts from Mitsubishi (least favoured as im assuming this would be the least cost effective?)

So can someone gimme an idea of what they think would be the best option and approx how much they have spent? Just looking to get some more info before I go and get ripped off somewhere and end up with something i didn't want lol.

My car is a 1998 sedan.

Thanks guys :)

i had my car lowered recently and spent about $1100, including king low springs, pedders shocks and labour.. i thought it was a lot at the time.. I'm about to remove all these as i'm selling car and have original springs.. just need to find some shocks to replace the new ones with..

You might be surprised at your last option, I re-did all the springs and shocks in a Series 1 Elante, using the Elante Springs and Shocks from Mitsubishi (yes they are lower and stiffer) the cost in total was $640 front & back for the parts only. Also when I was getting my sponsored VR-X's from a dealer at one stage, a complete kit went under my TL VR-X from Pedders, this included lowered but compliant springs (-45mm) and HD tuned shockers as well as camber pins all installed and wheel aligned for $1450, looked great and rode really well.

regards

John E.

i was gonna change over the springs and shocks to my current car, but i don't want it riding that low.. old car kissed the floor all the time with lowered springs even though they were legal height.

i had my car lowered recently and spent about $1100, including king low springs, pedders shocks and labour.. i thought it was a lot at the time.. I'm about to remove all these as i'm selling car and have original springs.. just need to find some shocks to rehttp://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1190160place the new ones with..

Thanks Nix. That's not too bad for getting everything done. Was that at a custom suspension place or a pedders shop? Would pedders be one of cheaper brands?

Any suggestions from people in Sydney for a good reliable suspension place?


You might be surprised at your last option, I re-did all the springs and shocks in a Series 1 Elante, using the Elante Springs and Shocks from Mitsubishi (yes they are lower and stiffer) the cost in total was $640 front & back for the parts only.

I agree that is suprising for the price. Do I just ring up Mitsubishi or best to get pricing for a mechanic or shop?

Thanks for all the info guys :)

First of all forget Pedders, there are many threads here which will show you that in a short search

If you want to drop a little, try King SP, they are about 30mm, given you have an old car on stock springs it will most likely drop 20mm as you would have some sag by now

Remember it is the springs that set height, not dampers, although your dampers after 12 years will be past due for replacement

Have a bit of a search in here, or maybe PM member "Life" - I am pretty sure he once mentioned a suspension parts place somewhere like Lidcombe/Auburn..... but I think its supply of parts only, doesn't do the install. (I may be wrong about this, maybe I am thinking of driveshafts).

There is a SA-based sponsor in these Forums called Phillcom Rally, who is well-regarded and praised by several members - he must be doing something right, and has sent stuff interstate many times!

Popular "upgrade" shocks seem to be KYB or Boge, without going all-out for super-exxy gear (Bilstein may fit that niche?).
Debate seems to rage about Springs - Kings Springs have their admirers and detractors. I got a set of Kings Springs under a TJ - but the car was bought from a repo auction, and I had to get rid of the "angle-grinder" lowering and basically non-functioning shocks as quickly as I could.

Only problem with search of this topic is the zillions of threads!! More opinions about shocks/springs than at a convention of economists!

I agree with Madmagna, a set of King Low SP springs would be your best bet. Even though Low SPs are 30mm lower than stock, it certainly isn't a 'low' height - you'll probably still sit higher than a lot stock-standard cars :P It should ride well too - I'm on the slightly lower King Low springs and it basically never bottoms out.

KYB or Boge shocks are often recommended when lowering. They're a step up from the Monroes (about $150 extra), but aren't quite in the same league as Konis. Even if you put stock height springs in, I would recommend these shocks - I've found my car to ride better after lowering, and I'm putting it down to better shocks (I have KYBs).

I'm not in Sydney, but I paid $1200 for King Lows / KYBs / fitting / alignment.

Thanks again guy :) By the sounds the King SP springs would be the way to go for me with some kyb's. I was hoping i could get it done for around $1000 or under but I was probably kidding myself. $1200 isn't too bad though. I'll have a search on here to try and find some good sydney places.

This is how low much car currently is. It was lowered and im assuming has sunk as well since then. As long as it's higher than this and can get over gutters which is currently doesn't I'll be happy lol.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8650/img1157z.jpg

Just looking at that, I'd guess you to currently have a set of Superlow springs that have sagged a little. King Low SPs would probably raise it around 30-40mm.

Awesome. That would be exactly the sort of height I would be looking for :)
Another quick question, if my suspension has been bottoming out for sometime could there be anything else that might be damaged or need replacing? like bumpstops? or bushes? (I think thats what they are called ...)

There are bumpstops on the shaft of the shocks, at the top. If the car is bottoming-out, it may be mincing the existing bumpstops - or they may be haddit through age/heat etc.

We recently put after-market kit of Bumpstops into new front struts of my niece's TR and cost was about $85- the front pair (this was for a bump-stop and also a concertina rubber dust boot designed to keep dust and mud off the shaft). I thought that was quite pricey, but my brother had the car apart and I was driving thru a town with only one parts shop and just bought 'em so the job could get done.

Rear shocks will have new bushes in the replacement shocks you buy.

There are other parts involved which may or may not need replacing - spring insulators, top-plates/bearings etc. With these, I'd just wait and see if they are recommended to replace or not. But your suspicion about bumpstops maybe well-founded!!

Thanks Elwyn.

It sounds clunky at the moment but I figure I'll just get it all fixed and hopefully the noises are just from worn out springs and shocks lol.

Kings SP's and monroe GT gas are a good oem replacment.
Good comfort ride but handle well at the same time.

I highly reccomend King Lows and KYB Excel-G shocks. Thats what I run and I find it comfortable enough on any sydney road and improves handling well over stock. Also the King Lows are a bit lower than SP's but certainly not rediculous.

Did you get your done in Sydney Cybermonkey?

I might check the price out for both options.

Cheers

Yes, a guy down in the shire did mine, in Taren Point to be exact.

http://www.tarenpoint.com.au/listing/car-accessories-retail/robs-specialised-steering-suspenion-services/195873/

His name is Rob and is a really decent guy and good quotation for fitting. I highly suggest buying the parts from Philcomm Rally off here and getting them sent straight to Rob. if you do call him, ask him if he remembers the pom with the black magna from 9 months ago hehe

Also, can i suggest you get yourself a rear sway bar as this will make a world of difference to the handling.

Also, can i suggest you get yourself a rear sway bar as this will make a world of difference to the handling.

Suggest away hehe :) How much are they worth? Not sure it's money I can justify cause i just wanna fix whats broken and not spend anymore than necessary lol.

Thanks for the contact details too. I'll look around for something a bit closer but if not I'm much happier going to someone thats recommended over someone I have no idea about.

Cheers.