New Droop Travel Spacers for AST's

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

With 15k (unverified) miles, as a second owner, on a 3-4 year old strut, they probably won't warranty it. These were my second set of front struts, 4 months old and less than 2k miles...

[m3f_ClarkeBurns]

Hmm rethinking my plan to get AST 4100s...seems like they're an unproven design.

I'd like my car to be about an inch lower, and get just a little bit of tuck going on, but the OEM suspension is so good (and so paid for) that I might just roll with it.

Bad pun. Not intended. Long night.

[m3f_Roland H]

Hmm rethinking my plan to get AST 4100s...seems like they're an unproven design.

I'd like my car to be about an inch lower, and get just a little bit of tuck going on, but the OEM suspension is so good (and so paid for) that I might just roll with it.

Bad pun. Not intended. Long night.

FWIW, I've had my 4200s for almost two years, and they were among some of the first sets sold. Never had an issue. My friend Chris had another one of the early sets, put 40,000+ miles on them before they needed a rebuild.



But, OEM suspension is pretty sweet too. Just get some camber plates and track the hell out of that thing.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Hmm rethinking my plan to get AST 4100s...seems like they're an unproven design.

I'd like my car to be about an inch lower, and get just a little bit of tuck going on, but the OEM suspension is so good (and so paid for) that I might just roll with it.

Bad pun. Not intended. Long night.

They are definitely NOT an unproven design. They're still some of the best affordable monotubes on the market and trust me, they make a HUGE difference in how the car is setup. They handle stiffer spring rates great and are very comfortable. Do what makes you happy, but don't not yet AST's because I had an issue with running them too high - in the realm of things, that's a very very small issue with a very easy fix.

[m3f_M^Cubed]

I really want to like AST, Brian is a very nice guy. But it seems they are just engineering on the fly and using retail customers as beta testers.

I'm learning this the hard way... and not happy at all. NON E36 application 5100 setup.

[m3f_epj3]

I really want to like AST, Brian is a very nice guy. But it seems they are just engineering on the fly and using retail customers as beta testers.

Kind of how I feel... and it sucks that I don't have the time to deal with my issues (like how the tab to hold the brake line/abs wire in place on the drivers side directly interferes with the sway link - the fix was to bend it out of the way and have my brake line not be held in place, putting stress on the fittings into the caliper.



Not to mention the AST's are due for a rebuild, not sure I'm going to go through with it. I may go back to stock Awesome product, but I don't have time to have my only car be out of commission.

[m3f_cracky]

nice cracks in the rotors..

[m3f_OahuMPower]

nice cracks in the rotors..

those are just surface cracks, and are completely ok

[m3f_MPRESV]

Rather than increasing stack up, why didn't you just get taller springs? 9.5" wheel clearance?


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[m3f_epj3]

Rather than increasing stack up, why didn't you just get taller springs? 9.5" wheel clearance?





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He would likely have to run bigger wheel spacers then.

[m3f_MPRESV]

He would likely have to run bigger wheel spacers then.

That's what I was guessing. My 8.5" wheels are close as it is with my AST's and a small H&R spacer. I really don't see how I could ever get the springs out of the way of the wheel/tire no matter how short of a spring was in there. I just went with an 8" Hyperco to move said perch collar down the threaded body as an alternative solution to the OP's issue of topping out the perch.


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[m3f_epj3]

That's what I was guessing. My 8.5" wheels are close as it is with my AST's and a small H&R spacer. I really don't see how I could ever get the springs out of the way of the wheel/tire no matter how short of a spring was in there. I just went with an 8" Hyperco to move said perch collar down the threaded body as an alternative solution to the OP's issue of topping out the perch.





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Yea, with 5mm spacers, my 17x8.5's are about 1/8" away from the spring perch.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Even with taller springs, I don't think it would have fully solved my problem; not to mention then I'd definitely run into issues with my 9.5" wheels (there is no room on either side of the wheel/tire for extra clearance - I run a 12mm spacer now... I'd rub the strut with a 10 and I'd rub the fender with a 15mm). Also, this solution was $30 whereas new springs are $200+, and this gives me the ability to run a higher ride height with extra stack height.

[m3f_jph28]

nice cracks in the rotors..

those are just surface cracks, and are completely ok

Those were replaced before the next event [some were on the edge and not exactly just in the 'surface"]

[m3f_EricSMG]

Rather than increasing stack up, why didn't you just get taller springs? 9.5" wheel clearance?





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That doesn't solve the issue, which is the shock maxing out internally (full droop) under normal conditions due to a "higher-than-designed-for-ride-height".



Terry has made it very clear that ASTs are intended for LOW ride heights. As such, cars that are driven heavily on the street (moderate drop) might not be best suited for ASTs, unless of course the droop spacer completely mitigates the issue.