I'm finally getting some Comptech springs installed on my 03' CLS. I've got 22K on her and the stock struts are still working fine. My question to the group is, should I get new struts? I know that the install charge will be about the same for spings alone or for springs and struts but should I spend the extra money on struts now? And, performance wise, do new struts help the handling?

If your answer is yes, which ones would you suggest?

 

Being someone who previously put lowering springs and left the stock shocks in my car (2000 Taurus), I strongly suggest putting the shocks in at the same time. Spend a little now or spend alot later. Even with the Comptech springs the stock struts will wear out faster, you cant get around that. And the springs are supposedly only 10% stiffer than stock, so its still gonna have the same amount of floatiness on large bumps, even worse as the shocks wear out.

You can get Tokico HP's for about $300 or KYB GR2's for abut $200 if money is an issue. I'd suggest the HP's, Tokico makes very nice stuff.

 

Yes, if you can get improved shocks, Koni, Tokico etc. save yourself the cost of labor now, for you will find - if your roads have the well-traveled (potholed) surfaces around cities - that at times the shocks don't have the control needed from the lowered "set" of the new springs to react in time...... and you will feel the car "bottom out"... This doesn't happen every time, but when it does ---ouch! You may have to decrease tire pressure slightly - even with the shocks on "soft" setting to get the ride quality you're used to now. Tires are also a major factor in overall handling, so OE set will be under more stress from improved suspension components. Good Luck!

 

I agree with the above.

When it was time to put the CT Spring on I also went with the Koni Yellows. Saved on a double installation considering i knew i was going to swap out my struts later on.

This is a great combo to use.

 

yeah it will be cheaper in the long run the,car will ride better, tein coilover would be around the same price and you will have the adjustability

 

I changed them at the same time. Why pay for labor 2 times?

 

Thanks guys. I hate the throw out the old ones while they are still good but I guess it will save me money in the long run. I think I'll go with the Tokico HP ($290 shipped off ebay). Sounds like everyone who when with this setup is pretty happy. Once that's done, all I need is to replace those crappy OEM tires, add comptech sways, maybe a new exhaust, and so on, and so on ... man, this car is getting expensive! If I could only live with the stock crap!