can someone tell a newbie (me) what to buy?

Hello - I have an 06 Aveo. I've been reading these forums for awhile, but I'm not a car mechanic and have almost 0 knowledge of cars.

Can someone tell me what parts to buy to improve my suspension and lower my ride?

So far, I know I need to buy HR lowering springs part 50701.

KYB makes front and rear struts, are these also known as shocks?

I don't really know what else I would need, I don't really even know what a strut is. Can someone please enlighten me?

I can dedicate about 1000 to suspension, then I need to do exhaust, nice wheels, etc.

Thanks

yes the shocks and struts are basically the same thing, at least the guy at the parts counter will interchange their names. Only real difference: a strut is a shock that also holds the spring and typically acts as the upper control arm

I think you'll spend about $240 shipped on springs, KYB shocks "should" be around $300. its less than $100 for rears i couldn't find fronts listed online. so you would have $500 left to pay for install, which should run no more than $200 anyhow.

thanks for the response, do you know of any vendors online that sell the front kyb struts? I sent an email to tirerack.com to see if they can get hold of the parts.....I've visited numerous sites that only stock the rear struts. also is it just recommended or required to get the strut mounts?

i've located some brace bars at sgcarstyling.net , it's on this page.... http://sgcarstyling.net/products.aspx?shopid=45 ...... how do these mount onto the car?

Unfortunately, the parts offered at sgcarsstyling.net are only available in singapore, if you want to get them over here, expect to pay heavy shipping and customs charges

Shipping is not that ex. I can check it out for you if you interested. I am from singapore.

I've been in touch with the guy who runs sgcarstyling, I'm waiting for a response from him about how much the shipping would be for the upper front brace, lower brace, front lower brace.

BTW, can anyone tell me where on the car these parts mount? I know one part goes in just under the hood, but the other two parts i'm confused on. One looks like a trapezoid piece of metal, the other similar to the hood bar.

See here

http://www.aveoclub.net/phpBB3/viewt...p=28941#p28941

the guy from sgcarstyling said the shipping charges would be 70 singapore dollars, which comes out to 48 us dollars, not too bad. that was for all 3 parts (1 upper hood brace, 2 lower brace parts)

As far as the kyb's go, they are supposed to be an OEM replacement, meaning they perform like the originals so your probably not going to see any improvement with them but if yours are worn out then they would be cheaper then replacing them with OEM ones. Also, changing strut mounts is recommended but usually no one does until they start popping.

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Originally Posted by xdmitrix420

the guy from sgcarstyling said the shipping charges would be 70 singapore dollars, which comes out to 48 us dollars, not too bad. that was for all 3 parts (1 upper hood brace, 2 lower brace parts)

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does that include customs fees?

i would like to know that as well, because that makes buying those coilovers feasible.

ok, talked to the sgcarstyling person again, i don't think english is his first language so he's a little unclear on things, so now it seems the shipping for only ONE part is $48, if i get all 3 brace parts he said it's going to be a lot more, and that doesn't cover custom charges (whatever that may be). my guess is $100-200 USD range just to get this stuff to my door if i get all 3.

if i were to get just one brace part, do you think it would be best to just get the hood brace? that seems to be the weakest point.

if the kyb parts are the same as the OEM, do you think it's ok if i just go with H&R springs? my car is at 30,000 on the odometer. some people in other posts seemed to be concerned that the lowered springs might cause excessive wear on the struts/shocks, is this true?

sorry to bother y'all with so many questions, you've been very helpful :)

I don't see a problem with using the OEM struts/shocks with lowering springs. KYB just put these parts out so i'm guessing everyone who lowered their Aveo already did so with the stock suspension.

what i would do is try finding a universal cross brace on ebay that looks close to the one the you know fits, and then modify it to fit. that shouldn't be too hard. and you would probably spend half the money for the same handling gains. but depending on the ability of who does it looks might be partially sacrificed.

as for the kyb vs oem for wear. lowering springs do cause premature wear for both. however this premature wear means the shock will only last 40000 miles instead of 50000 for example. because shock life is also determined on how you drive, road conditions, etc. the KYB GR2 which is what is supposed to be available is supposed to have a 15-20% stiffer dampening over stock for the whole line. regardless of what model car you are buying for. They are also supposedly tested and approved with higher spring rates, but i have never seen a spec on what spring rates those are, but since the lowering springs tend to increase the rate a little, that is another consideration.

But for a car as light as the aveo, and how much drop you will actually see with just springs, OEM shock will probably be fine, you might just have to replace them a few months earlier.

I think i'm going to go with the KBY struts, I figured i'll change it all out at the same time while i'm taking stuff apart... I called tirerack.com today, told them they don't have the front struts listed, and they are going to be adding them within the next few days.

what is the price of the struts from them? if i can ask.

i'll let you know, they are getting back to me tomorrow with a quote

im running h&r's on stock shocks and they are fine....the amount of money you would have to pay for bracing from over seas is not worth it....i really need to look into fabricating these braces because they are not hard....i have a front tower brace

i will be fabricating my own braces also. do you do that line of work for a living?

after i am done i will post up my results. maybe i can build some for on the boards here.

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

i will be fabricating my own braces also. do you do that line of work for a living?

after i am done i will post up my results. maybe i can build some for on the boards here.

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no but its not rocket science...especially the under braces summit sells. the tower brace takes more planning

hey guys, if you end up fabricating some braces, i'll definitely pay for some, and i'm serious about that. (not just trying to make you feel good about yourselves or something lol).