Quick question and i'm sure i know the answer but i'd like to check anyway.

My suspension is looking pretty tired and i suspect one or both of the rear shocks is either sagging or leaking. I've checked tyre pressures etc and there is definitely more wallow on bumps than there should be, also undulations in the road make it feel a bit more unsettled than I remember.

So i've done some searching and found a full set of 'AP2' shocks and springs for a shade over £200 delivered with less than 25k miles on them.

I don't want coilvovers as they're too expensive and I like the OEM ride quality and handling.

I assume that due to them simply bolting and unbolting that a full Geo adjustment won't be required but that a basic alignment check should be carried out post fitting?

Is there anything else that you think should be replaced at the same time, topmounts etc anything like that?

 

It is a fairly straight forward job, a geo check would be a good idea as stiffer/newer springs will be exerting more force so change the way the car behaves, a bit like corner weighting a lowered car.
I can't think of anything else that will need replacing.

 

Cheers Lloyd - that's what I needed someone to confirm. I'm fairly sure I can do this myself as I won't need to seperate springs from shock as it will be a direct swap?

 

I've just bought some new springs for mine and will be fitting them shortly. While the suspension is off i'm going to replace the topmounts, may as well and my car being 12 years old they're probably worn...

When were you looking to do yours? I was thinking of a doing photo guide for on here (unless there is already one on here) when I do mine.

Will give everything a good check whilst i'm under there and grease all that needs to be greased

 

While you are at it, why not slap on a set of Eibach springs ?

I have had mine for a few weeks now, and the ride quality difference is barely noticeable. Looks and feels alot better to drive.

Just a tip from doing mine, make sure you have a decent sized power bar / torque wrench !! I did one side with a little one, and it was exhausting.

 

Well ive had the car up on ramps today and my chap has inspected the suspension, basically since the last time he saw it ( before christmas) he says it's settled and looks and feels far better. We did find that one of the tyres was a little low on air and we both suspect that combined with the winter tyres is what has made it feel a little soft and wallowy.

Anyway after all of that it looks like my clutch is on the way out so i need to spend some money either way

 

When I fitted my coilovers (which reused the OEM top mounts), what I really wished I'd done was bought new top mounts. Because then I could have assembled the coilovers with the new mounts off the car, wouldn't have needed to dismantle the old struts, and swapping them over would have probably been a half hour job.

 

oem ARE coilovers.

 

I mean i have no desire to adjust anything and the OEM stuff works for what i need

 

No idea why you guys are on about worn top mounts.
They are only rubber cups, they dont rotate or have bearings like struts.