Are strut boots necessary?

[mrbean]

Well, are they?

About to upgrade to agx/pro-kit combo on my daily driver s13. Stock boots cracked and shredded. Are new boots worth the $50+?

If so, where can I get'em cheap? I know tirerack has em for $48 + shipping. Any place lower than that?

[rico05]

Keeps harmful dirt and abrasives out of all the cracks and crevices. If I was going to get shocks, I would get the boots.

[mrbean]

Hmm... With the boots, I'm approaching the $700 mark.... Just $100 more for Tein Basic Coilovers... Which would be a better choice?

I'd like to keep my options open (in terms of street or track use), so I guess the adjustable dampening of agx's are better than the adjustable height of the teins...

[Dori Dori]

Just so you know, the bumpstop is part of the boot so if you decide to not run boots, it would be a good idea to cut off the bump stops and use them (they are the thick, hard rubber part on the top of the boot).

I don't run boots on my setup b/c they won't fit behind the Ground Controls. I suspect that the lifespan will be reduced, but by how much, who knows? If you are tight on money, I'd say to stick with the KYB's and purchase the boots so the struts last longer. Maybe even go to a junk yard and try to find some boots in good condition.

[Megaseth]

are you talking about the boots or the little covers over the strut piston. cause the "hat" the strut fits on is $48, but the boots that go over the piston are like $20.

[rico05]

I would get the Teins over AGX/Prokit. Hands down.

[Dori Dori]

Explain.

[mrbean]

Quote »Just so you know, the bumpstop is part of the boot so if you decide to not run boots, it would be a good idea to cut off the bump stops and use them (they are the thick, hard rubber part on the top of the boot).[/quote]Dori, you're talking about off the stock struts I'd be replacing, right?

Also, in the same spirit of being a jack-of-all-trades, keep-my-options-open, most-bang-for-the-buck approach, should I go with the pro-kit or sportlines, or something else altogether?

Priority in a spring would be:1) Price - I'm cheap... 2) Performance - ...but I'll pay for quality3) Comfort - Daily driveable4) Lowering - Reducing ugly fender gap is preferable, but performance comes first...

Based the above, I chose pro-kit, because its a tested and proven combo with the AGX's, I get decent performance and lowering while retaining comfort, and I shouldn't have to adjust camber (I hope)

Are there any alternatives? Am I correct in my assumptions?

My plan is to make my car fun for now, maybe try a little autox or drifting, find something I like. If in the future I get serious enough to buy coilovers, I'd get zeal b6's or other high end ones...

Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Or am I just blowin money I could be saving for the zeals :drooling ...mmmm.... zeeeeaaaals...

[APEXi240]

Yeah, they are necessary...especially if you live in an area that gets a decent amount of snow and rain.

No strut boots killed my shocks.

If it were a year ago I would have told you to get the Tein Basic. But my vote is for springs and shocks. AGX's have adjustability that the Tein's don't, and you can always get a slightly stiffer spring if you feel the prokit isn't enough. There is also the ease of replacing parts. Waiting on Tein to rebuild a damper will not be fun for you, especially if your 240 is your only car.

[SmithSR]

Keep in mind that these boots also act as a catch for water, dirt, debris. On a rainy day while driving, nothing will remain 100% clean and spotless and free from dirt. Shocks are basically a wear item(brakes, tires, etc).. their useful life cycle is 40k or less.

[SmithSR]

No strut boots killed my shocks.

?

Please elaborate...

[D1SR240]

can u use any boots on the agx's or do they have to be the KYB ones?

[Megaseth]

i think theyre universal

[D1SR240]

well i ordered the KYB ones for the AGX's, they were only 48 bux, and if it will help the life of the strut then it was worth it.