jporky99

what's the advantage of replacing perfectly good oem struts with aftermarket struts?

Identity_X

Better handling

mazdaspeedwest

1. Your wife/GF bitches at you for spending even more money on your car

2. You get to spend even more money for installation

OR

2a. You get to spend the dy (or weekend) cramped up under your car and getting real dirtty

3. You can't find that damn 14mm socket, so inturn you bust a knuckle using the open end wrench.

4. There's always a bolt that just won't break loose until you've thrown EVERYTHING at it (i.e. big hammers)



oh wait, you said advantages....doh, my bad

As said, you get a better handling car, aftermarket struts are more suited to the stiffer lowering springs, where the stock strut is not valved as stiff and will fail pre-maturely with stiffer springs.

Davard

Are those the original '94 struts? If they are, even less expensive struts (like KYB GR-2s) will make a dramatic improvement in ride and handling. If you've had your car for a while, you might not notice that they have slowly degraded over time, and if you are just using to commute, you probably don't notice that much, but if you throw the car around (or autocross or do track days), you will really notice the difference.

That said, my friend has a totally stock '92 LX with 150k miles and the stock struts, and it still rides fine. He doesn't autocross it, but he does drive quickly on mountain roads. For him and his uses, I don't think he needs new struts just yet.

jporky99

well my struts are new because merchants convinced me to change them when i had a bearing replaced in my right front wheel. thx for the info guys.

Liquid_Ag

lol, yeah, there is always one bolt that wont come loose...i was stuck in the shop for 2 hours cuz a nut on the rear struts got stuck...i had to use a drill, cut a chunk out of it, and then beat it out with a hammer and a chisel...sucked nutz