KYB strut assemblies

[gofanu]

I just fit a pair of KYB Strut-Plus complete rear assemblies to daughter's 323, same as the ones I put in front last year. Figured that buying the assembly was about the same as buying all the pieces and putting it all together. They are also progressive wound springs, with cushions on the close coils,and they work a treat. Car seems to sit a bit lower unladen, but notably stiffer on the road. Like all the listings I find, all BG are listed as the same - I was a little worried if they would be OK for the heavier cars, but I think they will do.

From http://www.importrp.com/ rears cost $246 incl shipping, and I ordered them at 2am Tuesday - they were in my driveway at 10am Thursday. Fronts last year were $278

Took some pics before I put them in this time:


FRM

[Wtfracing]

hmm how does it handle with the Strut plus? (OEM or more sporty) as i still haven't installed my Excel G's. I'm waiting till my sway bar and other parts are all here and i'm going to knock it out in one day

[Mazda_Powered]

Just an FYI, the Strut Plus uses Excel G struts lol

[Mazda_Powered]

Impressive they come with progressive rear springs though! It's a shame KYB never made any "lowering" springs for the BG chassis as they could probably match the valving quite well to their strut line up. Good post, thanks for sharing!!

[Wtfracing]

Just an FYI, the Strut Plus uses Excel G struts lol

[ATTACH=CONFIG]60503[/ATTACH]

Figured as much lol But I also have megan springs going over my KYB's. Just trying to compare if i should just sell what i have to my buddy who has an EGT and get these.

[FE3-323]

very cool to see the spring differences from a prepackaged setup like that!!!

[gofanu]

As MP says, the struts (assemblies) use the "same" shocks you get as plain "struts". But, it would not be unexpected that they optimize the valving for their own springs, as opposed to some compromise for "other" springs, OE or aftermarket. Like all of us here, I am generally inclined to replace the least $$ in parts, but if you add up all the prices and the hassle of finding stuff like the isolaters for the springs, it comes out that you pretty well get the springs for free, and you don't have to even fuss with spring compressors etc.

The springs are really why I posted it, and the fronts are also progressive. Note that in the ad pic, they do not show the urethane cushions wrapped around the close coils. I find it very aggravating how difficult it is to get anybody to tell you what exactly they are selling; here, the springs are not really explained, and I think they are missing an opportunity. Will try to get a pic of the fronts as installed.

The ride with an empty car is excellent, and when you push, it is extremely well controlled, kind of a top end performance/special handling OE feel. AKA, "tied to the road". Now all I need is a few more sets for my other cars!

FRM

[Mazda_Powered]

Progressive fronts? Damn that's some impressive stuff KYB, would be great for someone who doesn't want to lower their car or do a bit of rallying lol

[gofanu]

I can't lower, because I have a lot of dirt roads and whoopdedoos, especially in the spring, and I hate to slow down for road issues. Also, cars get used for serious hauling, like when I bought the EGT entire powertrain from the air cleaner to the axle nuts, and a lot more, and put it in my Pro, or when daughter takes 4 of her friends camping in FLA from Mass. (in the 323).

Pics are the fronts, jacked up - can't get the camera under for loaded pic. Put on a year/12,000 ago - they might could use better paint! (funny, you can't tell they are that rusty by eye, but the camera sure shows it)

At unladen, there is 1/8" between the cushioned coil and the spring tail, and 1/2" above to the next coil. On the ground, it sits on the spring tail and there is 1/4" above to next. The OE springs have 3 active coils of .520" dia wire, and the KYB have 4 coils active at .590". But, with a bit more compression, the 4th coil closes up, and you get 3 coils at .590 - a BIG stiffness increase = about 25% over OE.

[Mazda_Powered]

Impressive!

[cat34evr]

My DX soooo needs new struts on all four corners! This may be an option in the not too distant future...

[gofanu]

Well, I can tell you this: 21 May I changed the wheels on the 323 and saw the rear struts were leaking, were OK at Thanksgiving, but the thing still handled passably. Then daughter loaded it full of all her stuff and drove to NYC from Mass, 1 June, all of about 250 miles total. The car then refused to start, so I made a 400 mile road call, and it started right up. I changed the distributor as a known issue causing that behavior, but a week later it would not start again, so I went back. Got it running, but decided to leave her my Pro and bring the 323 home for a good work-over. Seems that the heavy load had pumped all the oil out of the RHR strut, and LHR close behind; this gave the spookiest handling I ever have experienced - one little bump resulted in a vicious twitch, and a little patch of rough pavement on a faint LH curve lost ALL rear grip and I was 45 to the road at 80mph in heavy traffic on I80. Certain types of pavement waves also made the thing bob up and down like a rowboat in a storm; I think the front being anchored made it worse. All extremely dangerous, so I suggest changing them sooner rather than after you get a really nasty surprise. The place I linked above is super deal.

FRM

[gogoprotege]

Why didn't you change all 4 struts at the same time? Those nice KYBs look sexy though.

[gofanu]

Why didn't you change all 4 struts at the same time? Those nice KYBs look sexy though.

Because the rears were OK when I did the fronts, as described. And I do not have a money tree!

FRM

[cat34evr]

I just did all four corners on my 94 today. So far so good - but I just took a quick spin around the neighborhood. My old ones were totally shot...