i have got a gmax kit on my si i dont no how many miles they have done but they have been on there for a few years but on my rs1800 it has had new monroe shocks end of last year so should i use springs off the gmax and clean the shocks and spray them up again or just use the new monroe items and just change the springs and obviously give the springs a coat of satin black so it looks standard still as it would have original shocks and black springs

use gmax, standard shocks arent designed to be used with lowering springs, the piston in the gmax ones will be shorter to cope with lowering. plus i expect the gmax ones will have smaller valves to stiffen up damping. but you can use lowering springs on standard shocks though, just not too low i wouldnt recommend it though personally even though i done it once, soon found out it wasnt the best idea with the shock bottoming out everyone once in a while!

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cheers danny i thought i have read that before but was thinking if my standard shocks are nearly new why not use them but i see the point they will be built better but only going to drop it 35 or 40mm will that be to much on standards but i might aswell spray the gmax black and whack them on as my old si handled 20 times better than my rs as the rs feels like a boat it is so shit around corners my 1.4 kills it for handling

I had spax -40mm springs and shocks on my old car, then just the springs on standard shocks on my Si, it bottomed out. So I wouldn't recommend it personally, I felt it bottom out a few times.

Personally I would respray the gmax and put them on there

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how low do u think u have gone i no u got coilovers but roughly compared to the 40mm as i doubt i could go that low due to loads of speed humps in my area cheers

Speed bumps are fun, go over them diagonally lol. My splitter scrapes on everything though... saying that, I aviod speed bumps like the plague, I havent been over one since ive had coilovers.. actually, no i lied! Diagonal and very slow is how I went over a couple and still got a slight scrape, found out what it was though! Exhaust clamp! So when I hear it scraping I know im pushing it to the limit

Ermmm I would say down 60mm now, easily on the back, the back is always higher than the front due to the weight, and there is no gap at all there now lol. The fronts I would say ive put down another 20mm max... Shame I didnt measure the hight of the car before and after.

Personally, I think 40mm is more than enough on uprated shocks and springs, I mean, yeah you can get 60mm springs for them, but unless the shocks have been designed to take the lowered high then I wouldnt do it more than 40mm. Thats why you should buy shocks and springs together - because they have been made and suited to one another.

With coilovers, they have shortened bodies and pistons, plus adjustable damping, so you can go as low as you want without any hassle, because they are designed to go that low.

Im sure you get my drift lol. Simple answer just got long!

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so gmax with 35 or 40mm drop and 15" wheels i shouldnt have much troubles then as it is impossible fo me to avoid speed humps as they bloody everywhere around here sorry for all questions but dont want to do it then spoil the fun of the car but it defo needs to be lowered

Dont worry about the questions

Yeah 35-40mm on 15's will look good and should be fine Thats how I had my current before the coilovers Si and my old Si replica

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cheers danny

No worries mate

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took the gmax of my old car yesterday and found out 1 of the back shocks does not rebound at all so is fuked
so i will be putting the springs on the monroe shocks for now

tbh i don't rate the gmax shocks my 2 front ones failed at the same time, and the back ones are on there last legs now, i bought 2 brand new LIP/QH si/xr2i 16v shockS off ebay for £5 each just before xmas, they retail at £51 at the motor factors with trade discount,

aslong as your shocks are a good make and in good condition it doesn't really matter that much tbh

i have got monroe shocks all round but went to change the backs the other night and got the drivers side done and then couldnt change the passenger side as i couldnt get bottom bolt undone and it got dark so gave up then went to do it the next day and my keys had been washed so now my alarm fob does not work so cant get into the car untill i get another fob and it programmed to my alarm plus dont no how to put it into valet mode so pretty fucked for now

also do you need the spring clamps to take front springs of the shocks as i would like to check the front legs before they go on or i will just use the monroes thanks

Yep, will have to use spring clamps, depending on how low your springs are you can sometimes push them down with one hand then get the top mount and bolt on with the other

if your brassed and cant afford gmax (even though i think there made of cheese) Euro car parts do Boge shocks these in my oppinion are awsome sauce and are very resonable!

even with the lowered springs on, have outlasted my GAY-max !

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Rolling a 2.0lt Si, Cams, Stainless Manifold, Ported head and HO, Custom exhaust, Lack of Cat, CRAPPY GMAX suspenstion.. Powerflexed front wishbones, Cossie brakes