A friend and I lowered my car a few months back on Corksport springs and Bilstein shocks. Followed Corksport directions to a T.
After about 5000 miles, it was great! But... the rear end always felt oddly firm. I asked others with the same setup on their car about it, and they didn't seem to have any issues. Also, from others' pictures with the same setup the rear-end was always notably higher than what's shown on the CS site, and others who've posted pictures using the CS springs with stock shocks. I assumed the height and firmness was probably the combination of the stiffer Bilstein shocks and stiffer springs in the rear.
It still was really firm and seemed like it was riding on the bump stops, especially over speed bumps and driveway entrances (even though they were cut to Corksports spec). the short compression was followed by a somewhat firm stop and squeak.
I even went to a loading dock ramp to see how much the suspension articulated. While the front tires compressed up into the fender (probably 2.5 to 3" of travel from resting height), the rears only compressed about a half inch. Something was definitely limiting the suspension travel.
We took the rear suspension out last weekend, to investigate and saw the (potential) cause.
The Bilstein shock tubes and shafts are about an inch longer than the stock ones.
The difference was enough to make us confirm the model number of the shocks to make sure they were for the CX-5 (they are). My guess is that Bilstein was probably thinking that owners would be lifting these, not lowering them.
We also confirmed the travel of the shock wasn't internally limited, its not.
We cut the bump stops to the green line. note that this is the last rib that the dust cover (painstakingly) attaches to.
The ride is much much better now, and feels like it should. Also the rear end lowered to where it looks like it's supposed to be.
Not sure if anyone at @CorkSport is on this forum, or not. But it may be good for them to include this in their instructions.
After about 5000 miles, it was great! But... the rear end always felt oddly firm. I asked others with the same setup on their car about it, and they didn't seem to have any issues. Also, from others' pictures with the same setup the rear-end was always notably higher than what's shown on the CS site, and others who've posted pictures using the CS springs with stock shocks. I assumed the height and firmness was probably the combination of the stiffer Bilstein shocks and stiffer springs in the rear.
It still was really firm and seemed like it was riding on the bump stops, especially over speed bumps and driveway entrances (even though they were cut to Corksports spec). the short compression was followed by a somewhat firm stop and squeak.
I even went to a loading dock ramp to see how much the suspension articulated. While the front tires compressed up into the fender (probably 2.5 to 3" of travel from resting height), the rears only compressed about a half inch. Something was definitely limiting the suspension travel.
We took the rear suspension out last weekend, to investigate and saw the (potential) cause.
The Bilstein shock tubes and shafts are about an inch longer than the stock ones.
The difference was enough to make us confirm the model number of the shocks to make sure they were for the CX-5 (they are). My guess is that Bilstein was probably thinking that owners would be lifting these, not lowering them.
We also confirmed the travel of the shock wasn't internally limited, its not.
We cut the bump stops to the green line. note that this is the last rib that the dust cover (painstakingly) attaches to.
The ride is much much better now, and feels like it should. Also the rear end lowered to where it looks like it's supposed to be.
Not sure if anyone at @CorkSport is on this forum, or not. But it may be good for them to include this in their instructions.
