Installed new KYB Shocks ...

[cfg83]

Hello -

At 166K miles, my mechanic told me that my OEM shocks were worn out. The proof was a dark oil leak coming out of my front driver's side shock.



I also considered getting new lowered springs at that point, but instead just went with a new set of KYB shocks (shocks are not springs). After the new shocks were installed, I realized that my car was now riding *higher*. I hadn't measured my ride height before installing the shocks, but I did have pictures of the before and after (tires were also rotated and aligned, that's why one is covered with aluminum tape and one is not) :





From these pictures, I extrapolated the ride height to be about 3/4" higher with the new shocks. Therefore, I have been driving a "lowered car" for who knows how many miles. My mechanic showed me that he could push in my old shocks with his thumb and they wouldn't return to their old position. Basically, I've been riding on my springs. .

Now I have an increased frontal area, maybe :

3/4" * ~8" (tire width I think) * 2 tires = 12 square inches

Because I don't have a belly pan or an air dam, I expect my new shocks to lower my MPG.

One reason I didn't consider lowering my car in the past was that I was paranoid that my "one size up" tires might rub the interior wheel-well. Now I know I was driving an already-lowered car. Therefore, I am 85% sure that I have the option of lowering the car in the future ( Here are some Eibachs on ebay ).

CarloSW2

[trebuchet03]

I'm interested in seeing your next few tanks

[TestDrive]

Originally Posted by cfg83

I extrapolated the ride height to be about 3/4" higher with the new shocks. Therefore, I have been driving a "lowered car" for who knows how many miles. My mechanic showed me that he could push in my old shocks with his thumb and they wouldn't return to their old position. Basically, I've been riding on my springs. .

I'd guess that the lower spring mount (part of the shock - nicely circled in you're picture of the oil leak) is positioned about 3/4" higher on the new (after-market) shock - designed that way to account for typical cumulative sag in the coil springs after 150K or so.

You're still riding on the springs. It's the fact that he could just push with his thumb to move them that was important. The shock should provide SERIOUS RESISTANCE TO MOTION either in or out.

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by cfg83

One reason I didn't consider lowering my car in the past was that I was paranoid that my "one size up" tires might rub the interior wheel-well. Now I know I was driving an already-lowered car. Therefore, I am 85% sure that I have the option of lowering the car in the future...

I really don't know about Saturns, but I imagine the fender wells are similar to a CiViC.

You got a nose-bleeder there, bud, pretty much like a stock 6Gen CiViC ('96-'00).

My ride is lowered 1.75" in the front and 1.5" in the back, which is fairly common.

I could go lower - 2"-3" front/rear - but I don't feel like rolling my fenders, et cetera.

Anyway, IMHO, you could go 1"-1.5" with no problem...

EDIT

OMG!!!

I just looked at that eBay link - 1.3" front 1.1" rear...

That would be perfect!

Guess I wasn't too far off, eh what?

[cfg83]

BlackDeuceCoupe -

Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe

I really don't know about Saturns, but I imagine the fender wells are similar to a CiViC.

You got a nose-bleeder there, bud, pretty much like a stock 6Gen CiViC ('96-'00).

My ride is lowered 1.75" in the front and 1.5" in the back, which is fairly common.

I could go lower - 2"-3" front/rear - but I don't feel like rolling my fenders, et cetera.

Anyway, IMHO, you could go 1"-1.5" with no problem...

EDIT

OMG!!!

I just looked at that eBay link - 1.3" front 1.1" rear...

That would be perfect!

Guess I wasn't too far off, eh what?

Yup, you got it. I know I am well within the (or my mental) "safety range", so the option is there. I like to get "presents" for my car, so this may be another one down the line. The saturnfans swear by the Eibach brand because they say the ride isn't compromised, so that would make the wifey happy.

trebuchet03 -

My tanks are already going to the dogs, but I think it is because of the weather change and unhappy traffic circumstances. It will be hard to make conclusions with the transition from summer to fall getting in the way.

CarloSW2

[MetroMPG]

Bummer on the "lift kit" anti-ecomod.

But glad it put your mind to rest on possibly diving into actually lowering the car. It's still on my to-do list as well.

[metromizer]

KYB's are moderately nitrogen pressurized, every car I have installed them on netted and increase in ride height.

They are fantastic shocks for the money, the nitrogen back fill keeps air bubbles to a minimum and a better ride for a longer period of time is the result. The better shops will inform the customer first, and sell him-her a 4 wheel alignment at the same time (rather than come up with some story about worn springs, it needed an alignment anyway, blah, blah, blah...).

[Blue Bomber Man]

I theorize you might get an increase in FE despite the increase in frontal area.

I think this because your car was riding on very soft springs before that probably would lose more energy to hysterisis then the new shocks will.

Some shocks have a small amount of adjustibility in ride height but if you lower them they will feel stiffer then they currently do.