Lowering Springs?

[okieGT]

I've got some paypal bucks left from the sale of an attic item or two. I've been giving serious thought to buying a set of aftermarket springs in Ebay to improve the looks and ride of my 03 GT. Do you guys have any suggestions on springs. Also, are springs alone OK or do I have to replace the shocks too? Any idea on how much it costs to have a set of these installed? Thanx in advance guys!

[MichaelDay]

Most like whatever brand of springs they installed on their car. Do a search on Mike-In-Orange for some discussions on springs and shocks. Some seem to find the stock shocks OK as long as the drop is moderate while others find that the stock shocks don't make it with even a moderate drop.

The safest (but most expensive) alternative is replacing the springs and the shocks. Matched sets are really nice, especially if you are dropping the car significantly.

[ptgtcb]

The biggest improvement you will realize is with the addition of front and rear swaybars, at minimum the missing rear bar. I would save my money and go the whole route and replace the bars, shocks and springs all at the same time. If you decide to do springs do the shocks at the same time, it will save you time and money in the long run. I will tell you, that as soon as you do the shocks and springs your going to want those bars.

[Mike-in-Orange]

Everybody has their own taste as to what's acceptable and what isn't with regard to ride quality once you've added lowering springs. I have GoldLine springs on my car (1.5" drop front, 2" drop rear) and after a month with the factory shocks I just couldn't handle (no pun intended) the rear end bounce. I picked up a set of Tokico shocks & struts and everything is fine in the world again.

Now, I've had a lot of people personally tell me that they had the exact same experience, and that the Tokicos did the trick for them with lowering springs. I started noticing, however, that people who used Eibach springs to lower their car didn't seem to have the problem I described. It would seem, although I have no hard evidence to support this, that the spring rate of the Eibach lowering springs is very similar to the spring rate of the factory springs. This would explain why the factory shocks work well with them. Basically the shocks are there to control the rebound of the coil springs. If the springs want to rebound too much or too quickly, and the shocks can't control that rebound, you get the dreaded bounce. Just because the springs are lower than factory, or are "progressive", doesn't tell you if they have similar compression and rebound characteristics to the factory units.

I'm no engineer, but I have been paying very close attention to this subject here and on several other forums. Also, just because the Eibach springs are, apparently, of a similar rate to the factory units that doesn't mean they are any better or worse than any other aftermarket springs. It just means that you may not have to upgrade your shocks/struts right away.

ptgtcb is right about anti sway bars giving the best handling improvement, but they will do nothing for lowering your car, removing the "rake" or any other appearance issue you're looking to deal with.

Almost forgot - cost to install varies, obviously. I got quotes of $225 - $275 to install the springs at various tire/suspension shops. I had a local independant auto repair shop do it for $110 in about an hour while I waited. Fronts require a spring compressor to get them in/out, but the rears a very easy to do if you want to do it yourself.

[ptgtcb]

Sorry [B)], I mentioned bars because when he mentioned ride I thought of handling. Not sure what he means by ride [:I], but I do know that a cushy ride is not what you get when you lower and add a performance suspension.

[SteelBlueGT]

If ride quality is important to you these might be worth looking at Vogtland Sport Springs
: http://www.pure-motorsport.com/produ...73/CA=233/PA=7

[eliminator]

In my opinion, the stock shocks and struts are barely adequate for the stock springs. My GT has 20,000 miles, and the rear shocks have a definite lack of rebound control, resulting in an exaggerated bobbing motion over bumps. IMHO, the first suspension upgrade should be a good set of shocks and struts. I just ordered a set of Konis for my GT.

BTW, I've noticed several newer cars lately that have OEM shocks that are completely shot by 20-30K miles. My PT is one of them. A Dodge and VW were the others. This is another area where manufacturers apparently like to cut costs.

[Cal Cruzer]

quote:Originally posted by eliminator


In my opinion, the stock shocks and struts are barely adequate for the stock springs. My GT has 20,000 miles, and the rear shocks have a definite lack of rebound control, resulting in an exaggerated bobbing motion over bumps. IMHO, the first suspension upgrade should be a good set of shocks and struts. I just ordered a set of Konis for my GT.

BTW, I've noticed several newer cars lately that have OEM shocks that are completely shot by 20-30K miles. My PT is one of them. A Dodge and VW were the others. This is another area where manufacturers apparently like to cut costs.

Ditto. I am at 20K now and can't go much further with the rears at least. Front struts seem a little better.