Are KYB AGXs really short stroke?

[BoroFabulous]

Wow my first thread here on Zilvia. I am recently a new convert to the S-chasis, I migrated over from a 90' BMW e30 325i when i decided that i wanted a somewhat more nimble car and an end to the excessive body roll that plagues even modded e30's. Now Ive got my 89' coupe. It came with Eibach sportline springs GR-2s. The body roll is non-existant compared to what I had to deal with when I was rolling the Bimmer. The only problem is that now my car bottoms out like crazy due to the lack of suspension travel. I am trying to solve this problem for around $500. I was wondering if buying KYB AGXs would provide enough travel to stop this from happening. Ive read all kinds of opinions about them in the forums and no one seems to agree on wether or not AGXs have a short enough stoke to accomidate the combination of a ~2.5 inch drop and the lowish spring rates that the sportlines put out. Can someone please set the record straight on this one.

[hookedup240]

hey, welcome to the 240 world.

Anyway yea if there are gr-2's on your car with sportlines, they are most likely blown, because gr-2's are not much better shocks than oem. Check to see if there blown first i guess.

Do you mean bottoming out as in hitting the ground?

If that's what you want to stop happening i would say get some agx's then, because i have that setup and i rarely bottom out.

[NinjaGaiden]

I have KYB AGX shocks, and the instructions does not recommend lowering more than 1.5inches

[rednerd]

Hey welcome to the board. I've been looking for a short strut as well. 240's are know for having very little suspension travel in the front end. I was told by pdm racing (pdm-racing.com) that the AGX struts are not shortened but were designed specifically for eibach spring (I can't remember which ones).

Do you still have your e30? I was never really impressed with mine, I like the dash layout and the neutral weight bias but it just isn't the car that the e36 is. Did you ever break sway bar mounts or shackles, i did :)

[hookedup240]

Originally posted by NinjaGaiden
I have KYB AGX shocks, and the instructions does not recommend lowering more than 1.5inches

hmmm...i've never seen this, i've been runing the sportlines 2.2" drop with the agx's for about 2 years and have had no problems.

[NinjaGaiden]

its in their warranty. It states if the springs lowers teh car further than 1.5inches, then it voids the 12months warranty.

Hmmmmm, if it works maybe i'll get sportlines to drop the car more. I don't care so much for the warranty if it worked for others fine.

[BlankFlip]

does anyone know where you can buy just the rear kyb agx's for an s14 at a good price? i've seen that for the tokicos, but i want to try something different and don't need the front ones right now.

[Chew Slice]

Another factor for how long struts last before they blow is the road conditions where you live. I live i Vancouver, BC and the roads here arent too bad but places like seattle are HORRIBLE!

[mbmbmb23]

Originally posted by BlankFlip
does anyone know where you can buy just the rear kyb agx's for an s14 at a good price? i've seen that for the tokicos, but i want to try something different and don't need the front ones right now.

Try www.tirerack.com , they sell individual struts.


-m

[masta]

KYB makes a short stroke version of the AGX called Buzz Spec. I heard they are basically the same as the AGX with the exception of being short stroke. I do not know much about it other than that. Was this what you were looking for?

Personally I do not like a low drop because I always scrap the ground. If I can, I would only lower it as much as a I need to for the center of gravity benefits. Anything beyond that is not my thing.

[CoasTek240]

the sportlines arent the greatest springs to have on if ur looking for performance anyways. dont get me wrong. they're still nice.

i had sportlines and agx's as do plenty of other people on this forum.
personally i would get rid of the agx's and see if you cant get ur self a set of RSR's or teins,..
teins are going for bout $150 on ebay. great 1.5" drop
nice springs


p.s. does anyone know where to get the buzz specs? they are only made in japan, correct?

[97DubTruck]

i have agx's with intrax springs in the front and whiteline springs in the back.

front struts are set on 2 and the back ones are set on 6.

i really like this setup alot and the springs give a pretty big drop.

the reason i have whiteline in the rear though is because the intrax springs in the rear blew ass. the rear of my car would sag.

but 2.5 drop is a little too much for agx's even.

[andrave]

tein s tech, kyb agx on all four corners, polyurethane bushings, good BFG tires. my car handles like its on rails.

[CoasTek240]

Originally posted by andrave
tein s tech, kyb agx on all four corners, polyurethane bushings, good BFG tires. my car handles like its on rails.
like i said orginally..
man go with that setup.. sounds like bunches of fun. get rid of the sportlines.

[mav1178]

AGX are stock-replacement shocks; just like stock shocks if you excessively lower the car it will blow them out. Unlike stock shocks they are gas charged, so when you "blow" the shocks the shocks tend to hold together longer.

If you lower the car more than 1.75" or so (Sportline or lower) you should consider a true short-stroke shock like the JDM-only KYB Buzz Spec. The shorter stroke is specifically designed for lowered cars and the shock piston will remain in the middle of the cartridge for optimum dampening.

Anyone that says the AGX doesn't let you bottom out is lying because on the 240SX there simply isn't enough suspension travel in the front to prevent the bumpstops from hitting unless you are running a crazy race-spec spring rate.

-alex

[BoroFabulous]

Ok, ive been looking into the buzz tech shocks, apparently they are just AGXs with stiffer valving and a 1 inch shorter piston rod. So it would seem that given the fact that the shock body is still the same as any other kyb, that these will not provide any more travel than a plain old AGX, GR2 or whatever. Not only is there that problem, importing a set of them costs roughly the same as getting a set of coni yellows, which come with the added bonus of having American support. It seems there is just no solution to this problem other than getting real coilovers or getting taller springs. If i am wrong about any of this, someone please correct me.

[mav1178]

You don't get it.

With a short stroke shock the real benefit is that you can use lowering springs and the shock dampening is optimum. Short stroke shocks are designed for moderately lowered cars; stock replacement shocks are designed to be an "upgrade" for cars with stock springs or mild lowering.

If you are concerned about bottoming out or have problems with it you are 1) lowering the car too much, or 2) using too soft of a spring rate, at which time you should get coilover setups.

-alex

[steedsta]

Have any of you ever used sheepdog springs? I got Gab struts and sheepdog springs on my car right now, only on the front though. In the rear i have stock struts with sportlines. I bought the struts and springs from venus-auto for 50 dollars the front struts are good and the rear were bad. How much are the sheepdog springs going for?

[h3x11]

check with www.groupbuycenter.com they have deals on agx often

[mbmbmb23]

The cheapest I've ever found AGX for the S13 is on ebay. There is a place that sells them (power_garage I think)...for $370+$30 shipping and handling. That beats most places that list for $420+shipping. They also have the GR2 for $200 buy it now which is tempting, but probably wouldnt hold up long with my sportlines I plan on using.




-m

[goodjuan]

Anyone use whiteline springs with the agx's?

[CoasTek240]

so where do u get those kyb buzz specs.. those seem perfect. unlike the konis they actualyl have a shorter body by about 1", combined with being adj dampening that would be perfect for our cars with a 2" drop from the sportlines. does anyone know where to find the buzz specs?

[BoroFabulous]

Are you sure the shock body is actually shorter? What source did you get this information from? I'll bet chances are that importing them would cost more than its worth though.

[citizen]

DIE E30 DIE!

[Silverbullet]

personally i would go with the AGX and S-tech. It's a popular combination and its not too rough on the wallet, but provides god like handling.

[Bliss]

Originally posted by Silverbullet
but provides god like handling.

I hardly doubt that. Although I am sure it is a good setup (quality on both pieces), a quality, properly tuned set of coilovers wins this one.

[Silverbullet]

well ya, i was exaggerating, but since the shocks are adjustable, i think that is an advantage because u can adjust it so that its best for cornering and what not.

[CoasTek240]

so no one knows where to buy those buzz specs, ehhh?

[steedsta]

ask jspec.com to order you a set

[steedsta]

ask jspec.com to order you a set