I lowered my car with Gold-line springs 2inches a few months ago back in October and recently my ride has gotten worse and worse. i have 16x7's +40 offset. so no prob there but it feels like my struts have just given up...when i hit bumps my wheel feels like it just falls down...i think what might be happening is the stock strut wasn't made for the shorter spring...which leads me to my question, i went to a performance shop and they said the only thing i could do would be to get Tein Basics Coilovers for 1000 bucks....no before spending this cash is this my only option?...are there just struts out there i can buy? i know that i need to replace all 4, but i just was curious as to if anyone else has encountered this with stock struts and drop springs. p.s. i drive a lot everyday...i live 5 min from work.. yet i have 22000 miles on my 1 yr old car......i just drive too much Also if anyone knows how the ride is with Tein Basics because my ride right now is horrible it feels like i have no suspension.

Thanks for any and all help

Bubbaxb

 

You can consider Koni shocks as one of your options. www.tirerack.com is one of the places that sells them. I think they're around $550 with shipping.

 

thanks, i'll check it out..really appreciate it!

Bubbaxb

 

If you need some stock ones to help you get through holler at me mine got 3000 miles and there just lying in the garage floor

 

some people are using the monroe sensatracs for the echo, they are much cheaper than the koni's. You might want to try that.

 

Describe what you mean by "falls down" r u getting rattles or what? did you check all your bolts and nuts. do you have oil leaking out of your struts or rear shocks? It would be hard to "blow out" your struts and not have some physical evidence (oil). Have you ever bottomed out your suspension? did you do the goldline install yourself if so did you put the bumpers back? before you go and spend 1K on new stuff do some investigating yourself. I know most shops are "good" but ya know I was a "professional" mechanic for a long time and if someone complains about something, and I hate to say it, sometimes you come up with the most expensive solution first, then back track.

Now as far as the Tein coilovers I have them they are great! I started like most everyone with just springs. S. Techs to be exact. I wanted to go lower so I did the coilovers. The ride is 1000% better, its stiffer but in a very controlled way not a harsh way. If you've got the money you should get coilovers Tein's are not the only one's out there either you should shop around. I got the Teins because I've used them in several other applications and have never had a problem, also $1000 bucks for those is a bit high. You can get them for $800 bucks shipped, and installation shouldn't be more than $75.00 -$100.00. If you can do it yourself , all the better. If you want to know where to get them let me know I'll hook u up.

If you have any other Q's you can always PM me.

Peace!
A

 

I agree with Pitman. Make sure and check over every nut and bolt yourself before you go dropping a grand on a set of coil-overs you may not need. There are tons of people out there running the same drop as you that have never had trouble with their stock shocks and struts.

As was mentioned above, you may want to look into getting a set of sens-a-tracs to replace your stock shocks and struts. Besides being a bit smoother, the strut provides an additional 1/2" of drop up front. So keep that in mind.

Also, if you do get serious about coil-overs shop around. As was mentioned above search for better pricing. And also research all of the different options out there. If you are looking to save as much money as possible, look into Progress Tech coil-overs. Partshippers sells them for $699.00 plus shipping.

 

I would try Sensatracs first, like $170 for the whole set. I use em with Teins and they are great.

 

i have the same problem as you and i have almost 25k miles on my goldlines.my question though about those monroes is,are they okay on a 2inch drop such as ours?how long would it last?i really want to smoothen out the rear ride

 

Do they "provide" and extra 1/2 drop by being adjustable to do so, or is it automatically given with them?
It's difficult enough driving around with only 3.5" of clearance, and I've been planning on getting them...

 

I just installed Sensatracs on the rear, but not the front. They do help the ride on my Hotchkis (which are much lower than advertised, btw)

It's worth the cost of the Monroe struts, which should fix the problem, before spending a grand on coilovers.

 

Hey everyone i really really appreciate all the help with this issue. I'm considering the sensatracs, so if i inquire about it at a shop i ask for the sensatracs that fit the 05 echo's? 2nd question goes along with what jjambox asked, with goldlines how long is the monroes excpected to last, opposed to the tein basics? You guys are the best and thank you so much again. It's been hard to take the wheels off to inspect the strut because we've had 4 inches of rain here in Hawaii recently.

Bubbaxb

 

Do a search on here for Sensatracs, you'll see alot of info and reviews of them, plus part #'s and install pix. People are running them on anything from stock height to 2" and they really do work. Plus you'll save over $600 There are certain bragging rights to having coilovers but I'd rather spend the cash on other mods...

If you have the OEM struts and shocks next to the Sensatracs the OEM ones are noticably longer, which makes me think the Monroes were designed for some degree of drop in mind.

 

thanks a bunch boxer_rebellion...i'm going to go check it out tomorrow

Bubbaxb

 

Yeah if someone would be nice and post the part numbers and a good place to buy them that would be cool I'm interested in purchasing them to go along with my RS*R springs and we all know what happends once those settle!

 

Monroe Sensa-Tracks: '00+ Echo

Front - #71575
Rear - #5987

Your local NAPA store carries them and may even have them in-stock.

Another source is www.shockwarehouse.com. They were out of stock on the rears as of a week ago. So you might want to call them and make sure.

 

No they are not adjustable. The Monroe front struts are just a bit shorter than the stockers. Must be due to some small variations in dimensions between the Box and Echo.

 

hey guys just an update, no one here in Hawaii could get a hold of the sensatracs for me..had to special order and with freight shipping it would be insane..so i'm thinking about Tokico high performance shocks i got quoted 650 installed...they are supposedly made to go with lowering springs so will last a bit longer than stock replacements or the sensatracs. the price is kinda close to the tein basics that i found cheaper here so i'm still in limbo..go with the tokico gas shocks or tein basic coilovers for a couple hundred more......hmmmm


Bubbaxb

 

$650 installed for shocks/struts?

Thats crazy. For one, install them yourself. Super easy.

Two: If you are paying that much, you SHOULD go coilovers.

 

first of all Happy Birthday Max! 2nd, how hard is it to install?..is there a write up? do i need special tools? how do i jack up my car, it's kinda low....

3rdly.....well thats all i guess ahhaa....and yes i am considering the coilovers

Bubbaxb