When should shocks have to be replaced on a lower MINI Cooper?

[Chilipeppa03]

Hey guys, I have a 2003 MINI Cooper that has been lowered on Alta springs in May 2005. At the time the car only had like 36,000 miles on it. Now till this day, the car has 50,000 miles on it. My question is, when should I have to replace my shocks? How do I know it is time to? Will the ride become really bouncy and the steering not that sharp? Also the car has been driven hard with 5 autocrosses and two acciedents. If I do get the shocks replaced, which ones should I go with? Aftermarket or stock?

Thanks!!

[xtremepsionic]

I would go with aftermarket, since you have lowering springs, the stock shocks aren't designed to work well with them.

Regarding on when you should change shocks, it sounds like about the right time, I guess you're so used to your own car's ride its hard to make a judgement call on when the shocks are worn out. Go take a test drive in a new MINI and feel the difference in ride.

[Tonyt3]

Good question. I've been running eibachs and standard shocks for about a year. I've just notice that when the car has more than 2 adults in (rare) the rear tyres start rubbing the wheel arches when the springs compress (when the car bottoms out for instance).

I've a feeling the shocks aren't doing their job very well, and that the springs have compressed a little.

I run 18" wheels with 35 profile tyres.

Anyone else noticed this behaviour...???

Time for new shocks perhaps???

[snid]

Since the dampers (shoks) will degrade slowly, you won't notice it that much. The best bet is to take a ride in another MINI and compare that way... preferably with the same size wheels / tires.

Stock replacement struts / shocks / dampers / whatevers are very expensive, aftermarket will be cheaper.

[Chilipeppa03]

Thanks guys, Its just sometimes the car feels like the suspension is not working to the best of its ability. The cars steering is not as sharp and it seems to wollow a little bit on smooth roads. I dont think its the tires because I am running 205/50/15 falken 512's which is a pretty stiff tire. The ride is still stiff but as stiff as it should be. How much are aftermarket shocks?

[snid]

The ballpark seems to be around $600-$700 for all four corners. Plus installation.

[pocketrocketowner]

The standard test (rule of thumb kind of) for your shocks is to press down hard (all your weight) on the corner you are testing and if it does anything more than come up to its original level ONCE, the shock is NFG.......
I bought KONIS from Tire Rack for less than 500 bucks, installed them mahself.......