Ok,

Please forgive me if this sounds like a stupid question:

With coilovers (like the PSS9), when the shock absorbers are shot, do you replace the whole coilover (e.g., buy a set of new PSS9's) or is the shock absorber only replaced?

When the PSS9's were installed on my car, the OEM springs/shocks that came off the car looked the basically the same as the PSS9's to me (save for ride height adjustment) - would these be considered coilovers as well?

Thanks!

 

Usually with a stock coilover setup, the shock is replaced. But aftermarket piece such as the PSS9s, you can send the shock back to Bilstein for a rebuild. I think it costs about $65 per corner, altho I wouldn't worry about a Bilstien going out anytime soon. They are very sturdy shocks.

I read somewhere awhile back that a 100k Bilstien factory shock on the Mazda Miatas had only lost about 8% of its damping rate over its life-cycle. Amazing stuff.

Coilovers refer to an assembly where the spring wraps around the shock, such as our stock setup, and the PSS9s.

 

PilotSi,

Thanks for the great answer - that is exactly what I was looking for.