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YOUR RESEARCHrow m030 on the way
Leading reported evidence
Install springs and wheel spacers
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The PO installed springs and wheel spacers because he though they looked better.
Leading evidence: 'Install springs and wheel spacers' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'but i don't want' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check any visual oil residue' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suspected cause · Original poster
Nothing to suspect but I don't want to the the jb and alignment twice.
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Suggestion
Also check for any visual oil residue on the sides of the shocks from leaks from the shock pistons.
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Suggestion
check your swaybar endlinks for play or you can just replace them for one less thing to worry about as they are relatively cheap item.
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Replace shocks wih bilstein hd as the valving would work
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Suggestion
If you like the ride height tghen I would probably replace the shocks wih Bilstein HD as the valving would work with your springs and are softer then the sport.
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Thank you for all recommendations and input for my suspension choice. I recently bought my car with HR springs and OEM shocks. After much debate and reading, I decided on the row m030 kit from Gert at Carnewal. It should be here in three to four weeks. My car is DD and HRs lowered the car too much for Denver driving. It handled great with the HRs though. Hopefully the on ramps and mountain drives will continue to be fun. I will post before and after pictures.
Should I change the front struts hats? the car has 57k miles. Nothing to suspect but I don't want to the the jb and alignment twice.
thank you
Pete may be absolutely correct.
However, I changed mine out when I went to the M030 RoW. No reason to do it twice. But it would be best to inspect them and then decide.
I came from the same suspension you have and went to the same suspension you chose. I have been VERY happy.
Your posts on my other thread helped me with the final decision, thank you.
Gert will basically send four shocks and springs correct? What other little parts should I have in hand to minimize install? Should I replace the rubber spring pads?
Is the top strut nut a one time use deal? Should I reuse?
I heard something that the lower strut carriage bolt should be replaced wih a new one, is that correct?
thank you
Not to hijack this thread, but I have a similar issue. I am not happy with the H&R springs on my '99 996. The PO installed springs and wheel spacers because he though they looked better. Yes, they look cool, but the ride sucks. The ride is bouncy. It's just a fact of life that the roads in CA are horrible and full of potholes. I don't track my car, nor do I plan to, so the performance aspect of the springs is not relevant to me.
So, the question is, if I go back to the stock setup, is it better for our crappy roads??
MrToro,
My kit came with 4 springs, two pairs of shocks/struts, two anti-sway bars, and a whole plastic bag full of new rubber bushings and all manner of nuts, bolts, washers, etc. It is a very complete kit.
I CHOSE to go ahead and do the shock tower mounts (one side was getting worn so I did them both), and I CHOSE to do new factory stock Drop Links front and rear with all new bushings. They already have all of this apart anyway, so new rubber top and bottom is just a few more parts and finishes the job completely. It also included a full 4-wheel alignment.
I did not do the installation myself. I had my dealer do it all. I completely trust their very competent and experienced mechanics who work on my car, and have for some time. I enjoy a very nice relationship with my dealer. I get a discount on everything I buy through them, and on their labor. I am not a mechanic. I have a very good working knowledge of my car, how things should work and how they should be done, but there is a major "Drop Synch" between my brain and my hands when it comes to the execution phase. I save a ton of money by NOT doing it myself. LOL!
Sometimes they actually invite me in to watch, and don't charge me extra for that. LOL!
If your ride is bouncy, you either have worn shocks or the shocks don't have enough dampening to match your increased spring rate of your H&R springs.
If you're happy with the ride height, I would just get some aftermarket Bilstein Sport shocks or if you really looking for comfort, maybe the Koni FSD's. The Bilstein Sports definitely have more agressive dampening to match the H&R's.
Personally I prefer the Bilstein Sports over the FSD's as I recently rode in a car with FSD's and seemed a bit "muted" for my tastes.
Sorry, bouncy was not the right word. I don't get a non damped ride.
It rides like a truck, it's a more of a jarring ride that shakes the whole car. It doesn't help that it's a convertible either.
Do you know how old or how many miles are on the shocks? It sounds like worn out shocks first and foremost. Also keep in mind that a rough ride is subjective and although H&R's have increased spring rates and rides a bit stiffer than stock, it certainly isn't objectionable and jarring in any way with good working matched shocks.
Also check for any visual oil residue on the sides of the shocks from leaks from the shock pistons.
What are your priorities you're looking for(comfort, ride height, stock ride,etc)?
My car is a '99 and it has 63k miles. I am sure the shocks are OE. I suppose my biggest priority is a decent ride. I am sure I would drive it more often if it was less jarring over road irregularities. As we all know these are amazingly fun cars, so that's a shame.
Like I said, the public roads are horrible these days and I just want to get around without feeling like the car is being bashed around. It is a cabriolet, which does aggravate the vibration. Shocks are clean and dry. My usual experience with shocks when they fail is to cause a car to float or bounce/rebound excessively after a bump. The damping which slows the body down on the upward stroke is lost, and the car just bounces up and down. Mine does not do that at all.
Ans it
If you like the ride height tghen I would probably replace the shocks wih Bilstein HD as the valving would work with your springs and are softer then the sport. Koni yellow adjustable would work great also. The shocks would cost about $800-900 without labor. Also your rough ride could be due to the fact that the car is hitting the bumpstops on the shocks. I would cut about 10 mm off the bumpstops.; The ROW M030 is a great package as they work together great for street and canyon driving. I think it is how the car should have been setup at the factory. I love it, but I have been doing more DE these days and decide to go with a more track set up. The spring rate of the M030 is a little less then the H&R and I think it rides better because it is about 1/2 inch higher which means it has more travel for comfort. The handling is about the same as a H&R bilstein combo maybe better because the new sway bars helps keep it flat. FWIW I will be selling my M030 in about two weeks after my new setup is installed.
This seems to be a common misconception and one that's been debated several times over the years. The Bilstein HD and Sports have the exact same valving. The one major difference being the piston length of the Sports to accomodate and work with shorter springs. I've heard it from the horses's mouth(Bilstein Rep).
Sounds like you could benefit from a complete US spec OEM set of springs/shocks/sway bars etc.
I have a set off of my 03 coupe. Not sure if they fit the 99. Many on the forum have switched to ROW M030 suspension and love it, me included.
What you're describing are shocks on it's last leg. Remember that shocks wear very progressively and aren't noticed right off the bat like other wear items. Before the symptoms you described, jarring rides are pretty common to worn shocks.
One of the marketing points of Bilsteins mono inverted tube shocks are that they maintain the same level of dampening over longer period of time without progressivley trailing off in their dampening quallities like other brands.
It is this progressive drop off level of dampening over time that can also lend to jarring rides, compounded more with firmer aftermarket springs.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
