Had my Pilot out last Sunday...first chance to try the Works shocks. Well the ride didn't last long....The front handling was really impressive. THe combination of the +2 arms and the Works shocks up front worked really well. High speed through rough stuff was smooth and steering was predictable and precise.
Now the rear end was a different story. I need a lesson in what terminology is used to describe what in suspension. This is what I observed. The rear suspension seemed softer than stock when pushing down by hand on the rear bumper. But on jumps it would kick the rear end up. The shorter and steeper the ramp (the more compression the rear would experience) the more it would kick up once the rear left the jump. On long, gentle sloped ramps/jumps the front would still lnad first but it soaked it up SO nice compared to stock....(+2 arms and aftermarket shocks are a must have now in my books if you're going to do any jumping). But the shorter the jump the worse the rear repsonded. I hit one short, steep jump...too fast :shock: I wnet up, and then changed directions, the nose went from pointing 45? up to straight down, and that's how I intially hit! :x One front wheel took all the impact of the Pilot's weight and momentum. The shock had no chance to ease the impact as I was pointed straight up and down (or very close to it, not enough to flip me over ass over tea kettle, thankfully).
So without any suspension help, theings went crack, smash...boom.
Bent the tie rod, snapped the tie rod end (broke the shoulder cup that houses the ball joint), snapped the lower ball joint, bent one heim joint, snapped the other on the lower A-arm, and snapped the lower mount off the shock rod....
The rears, needless to say, have gone back to get re-tuned, and one front one to get repaired...
I have sent some shocks to another shock manufacturer to get a set made from them to try out as well. These will be more exspensive, but will feature: triple or quadruple rate springs, high and low speed compression adjustability, rebound adjustability, 5/8" shaft, pre-load, and shim stack valving. Will see if it's worth the price as they claim. If so, my Works will be for sale :wink: