I bought an extended waranty for my 2010 fit. I was thinking about putting lowering springs on it. I know that this will shorten the life of the shocks and struts, and will probably void that waranty on those shocks and struts if they give out early due to the springs. How much do you think this will cost me over the course of 70,000 miles, since I will probably have to pay to replace them myself?

Thanks

 

I don't think the shocks and struts are a warranty item, its a wear item like tires, brakes, and oil. The only thing I've been concerned with when lowering mine on a set of DF210s is if it prematurely wears out something else in the suspension system that would normally be seen as replaced under warranty. But I don't think there is anything to worry about. Besides there is always the ability to argue the fact they have to prove what was done caused a failure.

But yeah, I wouldn't worry about warranty on the struts, you are just gonna wanna replace them down the road with better ones anyway, stocks aren't really meant to last long when lowered.

 

not all lowerings springs are the same. from what i've heard on this forum swift springs are the only springs that don't destroy the stock shocks so I would go with those and don't worry about it

Swift Springs Sport Mach - Honda Fit 09+: Evasive Motorsports | PH: 626.336.3400 Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm PST

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...read-pics.html

hope this helps

 

so how much quicker % wise will my shocks and struts wear down than with my stock springs. also are there any other issues that will be caused?

 

Are you sure this is a wear and tear issue...not a bumper to bumper coverage thing?

 

It's a wear and tear part.

For my friend's Toyota Corolla and my sister's Nissan Pathfinder the shocks/struts are replaced at roughly 50k miles with the springs at 100k miles.

 

pretty sure no one will be able to give you a solid answer to the question. Driving habits are different as well as road conditions. My Sportlines will probably run down my shocks/struts here in Chicago as opposed to some one using them where the roads don't look like swiss cheese due to potholes. You'll get an idea of what people have run in to, but not a definitive answer. Just my 2 cents.

 

I mean some oem shock spring combos start leaking at 50k it all depends

 

did you buy the honda warranty, or some 3rd party warranty that is worthless anyway?

The honda one would be less troublesome, but with springs, I think you're risking your warranty on:
axles, cv joints, cv boots
struts
steering parts, including rack and joints
radiator/a/c condenser/etc if you slam the underside of front body

 

I don't think you would be hurting anything on your car if you don't springs that drop your car so low that you severely limit the suspension travel .. The only springs I know of that have adequate travel, actually improve the ride quality and handling even on rough roads are the Swift Sport Mach springs. https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...read-pics.html https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...mparision.html https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...cs-thread.html Here are three threads that may be of help to you in making a decision... There is a website on the first thread about the Swift springs that explains why they work bnetter than others that are used primarily for cosmetic purposes.

 

Just to clarify...I have a Honda certified warranty for 7 years or 70,000 miles.

So oem shocks and struts start going out at around 50k what about with these swift springs? What mileage decrease can one expect before the shocks and struts go out?

Also what does everyone else think about risking my warranty on:

"axles, cv joints, cv boots
struts
steering parts, including rack and joints
radiator/a/c condenser/etc if you slam the underside of front body "

I basically don't want to regret putting these springs in down the road. I don't mind if they cause a little extra wear on the shocks and struts, I just don't want to mess up other things that would be covered by warranty.

 

The Swift springs have a lesser amount of increase in spring pressure and much more travel than any other springs on the market.. Your shocks and struts should last at least as long as they would with stock springs if not longer since they don't have as much rebound pressure to control... Even though my car's front lip is 1.4" lower I don't find that it scrapes but slightly more often than when stock... The front lip on my car looked like hell before I installed the springs... I had 195-45-16" tires with 38mm offset for awhile and had to go back to my 15"X7"41mm offset wheels with the 195-55-15" tires after wearing the front tires out and found that the smaller diameter tires and wider offset wheels caused more of a road clearance issue than the springs do.

 

"The cost of a thing is the amount of life required to be exchanged for it."

 

I felt the same way and swore I wouldn't drop a car again based on my horrible experience with Eibach springs on a VW Pickup in the 1980s... I don't have much over 10000 miles on the Swift springs I have on my Fit and they are truthfully far and above better than I would have ever expected.. If my CV joints break it won't be due to the springs and the consistency of the spring rate over 4" of travel requires much less dampening from the shocks and struts so they place less of strain on the suspension than the stock springs.

 

Best thing I did was to cancel that damn wty and get the $1000 back. It will go a long way to replacing shocks whenever that may happen. I am on Swifts. I do not drive the crap outta my Fit and avoid potholes etc.

 

I need some clarification: can someone confirm that swifts put less of a strain on struts than oe springs.

 

This is the best I can do......Swift Springs USA - Comparison Chart...

 

shocks/struts ARE covered under the bumper to bumper warranty. if you have an extended bumper to bumper, than yes, they are covered. if all you have is basic b to b and the extended powertrain than the warrant on them will run out with your basic 3/36. if you go into a honda dealership with lowering springs and have any kind of driveability problem, the springs will basically void it.

 

URRGGGG!

I think you're probably right. So if anything I would consider the Swift springs. It seems like they have the least risk of messing oem parts up, and are more oriented towards quality over cosmetics.

This brings me back to my 2 original questions:

1) How much extra $ would I end up spending on replacing oem parts that the Swift springs damage over the next 7 years?

2) Would the springs cause significant wear and tear to any other oem parts other than the shocks and struts?

Thanks!

p.s. If I do get the springs, and encounter a major driveablility problem that would normally be covered under warranty, couldn't I just take them out before bringing the car in?

 

ANY lowering spring is going to have an increased spring rate, which will wear out your dampers (shocks/struts) more quickly than the oem springs. The dampers weren't designed for a higher spring rate nor a lower stance. Bushing, CV joints, and ball joints will wear more quickly as well.

Now, all if this depends on the amount of lowering and increase in spring rate, but you can't get away from some sort of trade off.

Will lowering your car void your warranty? Depends on the dealer...some may be cool with it, some may give you a hassle every time.

So you need to ask yourself: Am I willing to deal with all of this to get a better look and better handling?

I and many others say it is worth it, but it IS a trade off. Just be well informed.

You may just want to take a service manager aside and ask if lowering your car modestly will effect the warranty, if that will help you make your decision.