First a disclosure. I am by no means a suspension guy. I was asking a TON of questions about suspension systems prior to deciding to take the plunge with DGR. I knew I wanted to be able to adjust the stiffness of my shocks, and I wanted to be able to dial in the ride height.

Prior to the install on 4/9, I had been riding on stock shocks and springs for 45k miles from the showroom floor, and for the last year I was on stock shocks but Tien springs (for another 15k miles or so). In fact, I drove cross country and back on the Tiens, and at times it was a bone jarring ride. So I bought a set of DGR Street coil overs.

As you may have seen already, the shocks came packaged quite nicely.



The shocks themselves were wrapped individually in bubble wrap, with the shock towers given a pillow of packing peanuts to save them from any side to side impacts.




After getting the car up on the magic jackstand...

A fairly even garage floor...


I grabbed a few pictures of the stock shocks with Tiens on them for reference.


fronts


rears


Here's the fronts minus any suspension.




So with the suspension off, it was time to put the new goodness on. Russ, the DGR guy was on hand to help out with this part, and dialed my shocks into a stock height. These things started off completely slammed (to make it easier to ship), and looked like you could make the shocks taller than stock (if you wanted). Russ dialed in my shocks to close to stock. The plan was to ride around at this height for the first 300 miles to properly break the shocks in, then lower the car down to where I want it.




With relatively little effort, the shocks went in.




Before bolting it in...




Here's what they actually looked like (rears)




We tossed the wheels back on, and sat her down. Now I'm sitting at stock height.




I can't post this without whining about my busted knuckles. Though gigdy (Chip) on the boards here did the lion's share of the install, my little contribution to this was working in this he11 hole.


The rear driver side shock top area is not meant for big hands.



The only picture I wish I grabbed for you guys is what the top hats look like in the engine bay. The shocks come with a nice orange anodized stiffness adjustment knob. It adds a little bit of color to the shock tops and looks nice.


How does they ride? That's a harder question for me to answer. Considering this is the break in period, and considering they are on the softest setting for the next 195miles (I already put just over 100 miles on em), I like em.

There is a noticeable difference in the car with these shocks on. I used to cringe at hitting some large bumps when at speed. Now, I still cringe, but the impact is almost completely deadened by the DGR shocks. I still feel the road, but I feel like I'm gliding over the rough stuff. This setting is much easier on your lower back to say the least. I also took the car out for a spirited run through some back country roads and found that while the bumps were deadened, I still had decent grip in the corners (there is a grip difference, but again, I'm on the softest setting).

Overall I can't be happier with this suspension. They look nice, they have done everything they said they could do (softer, adjustable), and Russ the sales guy is top notch. Now I just have to keep putting miles on them so I can 1) adjust the height and 2) adjust the stiffness to compare and contrast the ride feel.


A+++ would recommend


MrMophandle

 

Thanks for the review. I wasn't aware that coilovers needed to be broken in. Any claims to this?

 

I've never heard of a damper having a break in period. It's always a good idea to make sure everything is working correctly after changing an assembly, but dampers are ready for use once they've been assembled and charged.

Just my 2 cents...

 

Dude, next time just unbolt the fuel filler tube and swing it out of the way. Spend 2 minutes and save yourself 30 minutes.

 

i loosened the fuel filler tube, but didn't swing is out of the way.

Also, perhaps the word 'break in' was the wrong choice of words. I was told that the car will finish settling after 300 miles or so, so I can properly adjust the ride height. I dunno, again, I'm not a suspension guy.

 

honestly i didn't understand how those are ride.
are they softer? stiffer?
body movements better absorbed than stock?

what is th mileage your stock shocks did?
what are the spring rates of DGR?

thx!

 

Great review!!

If possible can you get some more level profile pics to show your wheel to fender clearance before you lower it? Could also measure your wheel center to fender and post those. That would help me for sure.

Thanks!!

 

your link is wrong.

 

These look just like ksports....

 

if it would be 1 year ago i would love to read about NC staff - although i really loved Mazdaspeed shocks+springs+sways combination