AST Coilovers - Worth Refurbishing?
#1
AST Coilovers - Worth Refurbishing?
My AST Coilovers are now 6 years and 30k miles old.
They look pretty bad for it too - springs totally rusty, seals all broken, oil leaking out.
Question: is it still worth getting them re-furbed or should I just get new ones?
They look pretty bad for it too - springs totally rusty, seals all broken, oil leaking out.
Question: is it still worth getting them re-furbed or should I just get new ones?
#2
I ended up just giving mine away and replacing with BCs.
DIY job needing a jack and a few sockets plus a little muscle.
#3
You gave your AST's away?
AST have quoted me €85 per corner for refurbishment, plus any broken parts. Seems very good value, but they look so bad I can't imagine them being made like new again...
AST have quoted me €85 per corner for refurbishment, plus any broken parts. Seems very good value, but they look so bad I can't imagine them being made like new again...
#4
Yeah, I gave them to Jura.
The problem was I dont live near Tewksbury (AST) and I was sick of having the car off the road for a week plus each time one wanted rebuilding, which was about every six months.
The BCs cost 800 quid, and at that price, I am prepared to consider them as disposable items in much the same way as I would spend 450 notes on tyres and so on. So if I get 30K miles trouble free, I will be happy with anything beyond that.
Where are you based - near an AST supplier?
The problem was I dont live near Tewksbury (AST) and I was sick of having the car off the road for a week plus each time one wanted rebuilding, which was about every six months.
The BCs cost 800 quid, and at that price, I am prepared to consider them as disposable items in much the same way as I would spend 450 notes on tyres and so on. So if I get 30K miles trouble free, I will be happy with anything beyond that.
Where are you based - near an AST supplier?
Last edited by cster; 12 November 2012 at 10:19 AM.
#5
no, I'm in Switzerland so I will have to remove the coilovers from the car and send them direct to AST HQ in the Netherlands.
How much did it cost to get them re-built? Did they do a good job?
How much did it cost to get them re-built? Did they do a good job?
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#9
TBH - I don't really notice the difference on road or track.
I think it used to cost about 160 a corner when all was said and done.
If I could drive in and get them all done at once every so often, I would have kept them, but having it off the road, labour costs, postage and packaging, then needing an alignment done every tme.
I just got pissed off with them - it was embarrassing
#15
contact details for AST Netherlands: +31 402074620
I just spoke to them by phone. It's €85 per corner for the basic service (seals etc), plus the cost of any extra parts you need (Springs, etc etc).
You can send them straight to AST.
I just spoke to them by phone. It's €85 per corner for the basic service (seals etc), plus the cost of any extra parts you need (Springs, etc etc).
You can send them straight to AST.
#16
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I had all four rebuilt by AST in Tewkesbury in April and, including new springs all round, it cost £645. If I'd wanted the uprated internals that were offered, it went from £75 to £135 per shock, plus VAT, plus the springs of course.
That didn't include cosmetic refurbishment, but a few days in a bucket of Bilt Hamber Deox-C solution and a bit of black smoothrite, and they look pretty good now.
That didn't include cosmetic refurbishment, but a few days in a bucket of Bilt Hamber Deox-C solution and a bit of black smoothrite, and they look pretty good now.
#22
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Not impressed with AST. In 30K miles had the front 2 seviced due to leaks at 10k miles and another front leak at about 30K miles.
The cost of servicing them is not the whole cost. I paid Iain Litchfield to remove/refit them + the realignment, so a hefty bill each time.
For so called "top" suspension, such a short service interval with mainly motorway driving and maybe 30% local roads I was not at all impressed.
I'm sure there are other equally good suspension units out there with a longer service interval.
The cost of servicing them is not the whole cost. I paid Iain Litchfield to remove/refit them + the realignment, so a hefty bill each time.
For so called "top" suspension, such a short service interval with mainly motorway driving and maybe 30% local roads I was not at all impressed.
I'm sure there are other equally good suspension units out there with a longer service interval.
#25
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I had both my fronts and rears re-furbed by Curtis of AST (including uprated rear springs) within the Powerstation building at Tewksebury- 01684 275000 / 07951 269 927
Curtis recommends a refurb at 40k miles or so .. but mine were at 60 and 70k before I had mine done. Cant remember the cost tbh, but didn't think it unreasonable
Curtis recommends a refurb at 40k miles or so .. but mine were at 60 and 70k before I had mine done. Cant remember the cost tbh, but didn't think it unreasonable
#27
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I had one done after a pot hole cost £65 took no time at all, didn't even have to book it in as I was at Powerstation anyway and such a short job they done it there and then.
#28
I had all four rebuilt by AST in Tewkesbury in April and, including new springs all round, it cost £645. If I'd wanted the uprated internals that were offered, it went from £75 to £135 per shock, plus VAT, plus the springs of course.
That didn't include cosmetic refurbishment, but a few days in a bucket of Bilt Hamber Deox-C solution and a bit of black smoothrite, and they look pretty good now.
That didn't include cosmetic refurbishment, but a few days in a bucket of Bilt Hamber Deox-C solution and a bit of black smoothrite, and they look pretty good now.
#29
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One of my rear ASTs started leaking after about 25k miles.
Even before the leak I was never happy with the rebound on pot holed roads.
The car was like a go kart on smooth tarmac but how often do you drive on such roads in real life?
I had them all rebuilt with new pistons etc. but they became even worse, felt like being in a shaker bottle.
Took them off a couple of days later (on the plus side Curtis refunded me the money spent on refurbishing), fitted standard shocks with STi pink springs and all has been well since then (touches wood).
Having spoken to other Subaru owners with coilovers, unless you are prepared to rebuild them every 25-50k miles (max) stay with fixed perch struts.
Horses for courses.
Even before the leak I was never happy with the rebound on pot holed roads.
The car was like a go kart on smooth tarmac but how often do you drive on such roads in real life?
I had them all rebuilt with new pistons etc. but they became even worse, felt like being in a shaker bottle.
Took them off a couple of days later (on the plus side Curtis refunded me the money spent on refurbishing), fitted standard shocks with STi pink springs and all has been well since then (touches wood).
Having spoken to other Subaru owners with coilovers, unless you are prepared to rebuild them every 25-50k miles (max) stay with fixed perch struts.
Horses for courses.
#30
They are a little firm for bumpy roads, but they are ideal for the use my car sees: smooth Swiss mountain passes and trackdays.
Besides, the OE rear dampers don't last much longer...
Besides, the OE rear dampers don't last much longer...