Dear Scoobynetters
I have a 2001 WRX - Dutch Import - UK spec. No suspension mods until early last year when the car received Powerflex ARB bushes and recently Droplinks (new alloy style) - In the last two months I have had the car lowered using the MY01 specific Eibachs (Falkland - supplied all bushes, links and springs ,but only fitted springs).
All seemed well until I was doing some post winter re-sealing of the arches, when I noticed the rear offside damper leaking. Realising that lowering often has an adverse affect on shock life due to bottoming, sealing problems etc. I decided to use my contact at Town & County in Perth and purchase two replacements. I removed the leaking shock first and on stripping the assembly down was absolutely disgusted at the state of the shaft, there were eight 5p sized areas of corrosion to a depth of 0.015" average and 4 to a depth of 0.025" deep. I have never seen such damage even on cars of 150K plus mileage but not on 40K - the nearside rear was in a state but not leaking - Subaru I am unimpressed - But the real thing that pi$$es me off is the fact that Falkland never made me aware that there may be a problem in the near future....
Has anyone else had a similar experience ?
Shocked....EwanS
Ps the car is so much better now !

I wouldn't be impressed either! :( Sounds like a dodgy shock to me...

I recently (6 months or so ago) replaced the front dampers on my MY96, and they weren't in anything like that bad a state - only one had a slight leak & neither had any corrosion. This was after being slammed on -35mm PI springs for a while!

As you say, the car is much better with new dampers :)

Dont lower your car with springs!

I didn't - the previous owner did, and I unlowered it! (I did get the car knowing that new dampers were a possibility...)

I meant Ewan :)

Lots of people blow their shocks when using lowering springs.

Claudius,
If you read the article you will realise that I am aware of the risks of lowering without using shorter shafted shocks, however the arguement over the failure moved from the springs to the corrosion. That was point. In the first instance I was angry at the fact that one had blown APPARENTLY due to lowering. But on inspection it was actually down to POOR QUALITY of the component. Don't jump the gun - READ and UNDERSTAND first
EwanS

Hi EwanS

I do understand what you are saying :)

The standard shocks are obviously bad quality, I guess everybody more or less knows this. That's why lowering and putting more strain on them makes them blow. I suppose the corrosion was a subsequent problem. I didnt mean to say you're dumb or anything. If that's what you thought, sorry.

Anyway, good luck with your car

Take care :)