Rear shock mount

Author
Discussion

Klajoklis

Original Poster:

29 posts

61 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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Hey guys,

So, I was putting h&r lowering springs on my audi a3 8l and on top of that I changed front strunt mounts and rear spring mounts. Now, to make it even more refreshed Im thinking to change rear SHOCK mounts, but as I was reading around, people were saying I shouldnt change it if don't change the shock. Anyways, should I ? Im sure the part is still oem and the car has 190k km.
Thank you !

E-bmw

9,199 posts

152 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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There is no reason why you "shouldn't" if you feel the need/it is showing wear change it.

RobXjcoupe

3,168 posts

91 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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The damper will be well past it’s best with the mileage. Seems a pointless job to just change the mount rather than the whole unit. Each to their own though

E-bmw

9,199 posts

152 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Can't disagree with that, but as the question was asked coming the other way round I answered like I did. wink

A suspension refresh only really works if you do everything that can wear/deteriorate.

Klajoklis

Original Poster:

29 posts

61 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Yeah, you guys are right, I know.. :/ All what I have done for now makes a good difference too, car is stiffer where it has to be stiffer and it takes some bumps even softer than before. Anyways, shocks would be most expensive, that is why im thinking going around them and changing everything what holds them..

RobXjcoupe

3,168 posts

91 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Lowered uprated springs with original dampers on your mileage isn’t really the thing to do. At least fit new standard dampers. Honestly changing a bush on a 190k Miles damper really isn’t going to sharpen up anything. If you were wanting to freshen up the suspension you really need to change the bushes on the wishbone components. Then you are starting to get it back to a new car ride, ready to lower it with new springs and dampers.

GreenV8S

30,186 posts

284 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Do you care about how it drives, or only how it looks in the car park?

Lowering it will require stiffer springs which will make it less forgiving of imperfections in the road surface. Fine for a race track or when it is parked, but possibly a backward step in terms of performance and handling. Lowering it will also impact the suspension geometry, probably not for the better.

Stiffer springs mean the damping requirements will change. If the existing dampers aren't adjustable, they won't be ideal for the new springs. If they're old and tired, they'll be even less ideal.

If you're after performance / handling improvements then I'd suggest starting with geometry, better dampers, change spring rates as a package (including the A/R bars in the design), don't lower it much. New dampers always use new bushes, replace other bushes if worn, stiffen them up if the springs are being stiffened a lot.

On the other hand if it's looks you're after, usually the lower and wider the better.

Klajoklis

Original Poster:

29 posts

61 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Thanks for all those replies !

Okay, maybe I did go all the way around when I shouldn't. Maybe I had to start with all the bushings and then think about lowering it. Point is, I'm kind of experimenting, car is old, 19 year old to be exact. H&R springs didn't really lower it too much, there are still big enough gaps between wheel and arches. Like I mentioned before, the ride quality is better, so I'm happy with this upgrade. Of course, buying some new shocks would be wonderful and to be honest I want to start saving some money for those. The old ones are holding, not bouncing around, so still good to go for some time..Maybe ?

To be honest, lowered the car for better looks and for a bit sportier feeling when driving, at the same time, I want to change all the bushing in the suspension area so parts could keep up with this upgrade. I won't achieve this immediately tho :/ So yeah, gonna change some bushing here and there over time.

The main reason I asked about shock mounts, because people were saying "oh you can reuse the old ones" like they are not something that wears out or makes any difference when changed.

RobXjcoupe

3,168 posts

91 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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The damper mounts on boggo cars are just rubber with a metal tube or a couple of cup washers with a rubber doughnut or two between them. Both just stop any vibration and or metal to metal knocking. As mentioned before, generally new bushes come with new dampers. No point pushing new into old dampers or fitting poly versions. Unless the original dampers mounts have totally perished giving a rattling/loose fitment then just leave be until you replace the whole unit.