Well, I was wondering, I know that the Eibachs are for lowering the car, but I am more into making the car firmer in the turns. I like to take turns with some speed, and I am looking to increase my absolute cornering ability a bit. With sways, the car will be flatter, but it does this by putting more pressure on the outside tire, which is not the best thing for absolute cornering ability. But I do like the fact that the sways would make the handling flatter, which makes the car feel more stable.

With stiffer springs, you are really hitting the main source to make roll stiffness increase, although I don't know if the Eibachs do a good job of this. Also, I am concerned with the drop, as I really didn't want to drop my car. Now, with the 19s on my car, I know the Eibachs would look sweet, but I am a bit nervous over the effect the drop will have on my everyday driving.

Eventually, I know a new coilover system would best do what I want, although I don't want to kill my ride and I don't want to wait for forever for my stock ones to wear out (don't really know how long the stocks should last, anyone know?).

So what should I do now for what I want, Eibach springs or Nismo sways????

 

Come on guys, give me some love!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Although I thought I wanted coilovers, I decided not to go with them but other mods instead. I was wondering the same too since I decided not to go with coilovers. I ended up going with RS*R springs for a few reasons.
1. Less than an inch drop. My driveway won't allow it.

2. They're not progressive like the Eibachs.

3. Was less expensive than Eibach

4. Nothing against Eibach, I know they make a great product. However RS*R has more experience with the Z & other JDMs.

These w/Cusco sways are a nice combo for me. When Koni or another good company come out with adjustable shocks, I'll probably end up with those as well. Still saving money over a full quality coilover setup.

 

Get both.

The springs improve the ride and the looks, I think, but they really help in the cornering and keeping the car flat.

The sways improve steering response tremendously, the wheels turn with the slightest of input.

 

Interesting, you guys did help my thinking a bit. In what you said westpak, really, I would be looking for what the springs do more than what the sways would do. I want the car to be flatter in turning, and I don't want to "cheat" with only sways.

Now the RS-R springs have really peaked my interest. I don't want much of a drop, the Eibachs drop too much for me. But those RS-Rs seem to be about right. How does the springs feel in the twisties??? And maybe I am a bit confused, does getting these springs replace a coilover kit??

 

rs-r's and cuscos are what I am leaning towards. I want some mods that make a REAL difference for auto-x, since I can overpower my tires/suspension in stock form.

found the cusco's for $400 here:
http://www.bulletproofautomotive.com...ail.php?ID=955

RS*R for $223 here:
http://www.rollhard.com/rsrsprings.htm

 

I totally agree with the Cusco's. But the RSR springs aren't going to make a REAL difference for anything other than lowering ride height and what ever gains come alone with a mild lowering of the center of gravity. What am I getting at, compair the specs for the stock springs and the RSR specs.

Stock spring rates
350Z: 347/419

RSR spring rates
345/417

Not exactly living up to their own spin are they. "the Down springs were engineered with a 30 to 50 % spring rate increase and efficient lowering stance".

Only thing I can think of, they accidently published the stock rates? +30% would mean 449/542. And if that's what they are, the stock struts will be underdampened, and we know what that means.

BTW, http://www.gruppe-s.com/ has the Cusco's for $395 and free shipping.

 

I have the Eibachs and the NISMO sways. Get both. Gruppe S has the springs for 240 shipped and I got the NISMO sways for 385 from my dealer. The installed and aligned all of it for 150 dollars. Get both.

 

Thanks for pointing out the spring rates. The thing swaying me from the eibachs are my offsets on my wheels. My tires are right at the edge and I dont want to rub.

 

With the way your talking, I don't understand why you don't know how progressive springs compromise peformance to deliver greater ride comfort. You go on to say how you know coilovers would be better, but frankly you've already shut the down any real reason to go with eibachs. Their are several posts that comment that the Tein flex system can be dialed in to ride as good as stock or better. And the spring rates Eibach choose certainly don't do any measure to out perform the stock springs other than offer the benefits of a lower center of gravity and a token 10% stiffer front spring rate. Remember with a progressive spring a certain portion of your suspension travel is done on a much lower spring rate, that is not performace speak. Just compair the specs

stock spring rates
350Z: 347/419

350Z 1"front 1"rear 6364.14 296/384 front 316/421 rear

Notice how the front peak rate is only 10% stiffer than the stock linear rate, rear peak rate is of course the same.

If I were you I'd find a coilover system that allows you to have little to no drop to cure your fears of driving in the real world with a lowered car.

Also I'll front the arguement that Cusco bars are stiffer than the nismo's. Nismo front bar is 36mm hollow, rear is 22mm hollow. Cusco's are solid, not hollow 35mm and 22mm. Plus when you compair their weight, the Cusco's are heavier, more mass = greater resistance to bending. That is why Nismo will not publish any stiffness specs, they don't want you to figure that out.

So my recommendation would be to get the Tein flex coilovers.

 

The thing I don't like about the Eibachs is that I have heard that you need the camber kit. That doubles the price of the Eibachs. Anyone know if the RS-R springs need a camber kit???

I would like to get both, but I am asking which one for cost purposes. If the RS-Rs have the same rate, but are shorter, I have to wonder if that would be stiffer than stock. Of course, if the RS-Rs are the same feel as stock, they don't help me any, lol.

I really was interested in the Nismo sways cause they are hollow, and in my crazy thinking, those might be lighter. Haven't really checked out the Cuscos, might have to.

 

Hadn't seen your post before my last post. Thanks for the additional info, I really am not as experienced in suspension upgrades as in other areas, so any info is much appreciated.

I am looking for a low cost solution, and at like $1600 the Teins are not it. I just want something that has a little more roll stiffness and I really don't care if it drops the car at all. Maybe I should just wait to see what else comes out, don't know.

Now, maybe I just need to save up for the Tein, cause they are that much of a better upgrade. Right now, I am in the info stage, I do want to upgrade my suspension, but don't want to (can't) spend an arm and a leg. I am looking for a little upgrade, cause I don't dislike the stock suspension that much. I don't want anything that makes the ride that much worse, just a minor tweak in roll stiffness. I have read that the best way to do it is with springs, although the sways still interest me. Still want to know if I need camber adjustment for the RS-R springs though.

 

This is a good thread for me, too, as I'm getting ready to upgrade the suspension on mine. I would like to point out, though, that most of the "work" performed by anti-sway bars (materials in torsion) occurs in the outer section of the material, i.e., the closer to the center of mass you get, the less effective the material is. Which is why a hollow, lighter bar can be as stiff as a solid one of similar cross-section. I don't know the ratio (how much larger the hollow bar must be to match it's solid counterpart, but it isn't much. But the Cusco adjustability probably makes them more desirable than the lighter Nismo bars.

BTW, does anyone know what the rates are for the stock swaybars?

 

The stock rates were listed above, 347 front 419 rear. I will go with the lighter ones if I do, also I have heard the Cuscos make noise I believe. I figure if I bought some, I don't want any sqeaking noise when going around corners, and if I have some sqeaking, I will worry the dealership to death with the Nismos.

 

Does anyone use H&R Springs with their 1.5" drop? Thats a lil low but Im looking for improved performance 1st and foremost. Sounding like eibachs and RSR's value looks and height over performance. ehh...

 

A couple of questions you are asking are the same ones I have an they have not been answered.

1 if you do get eibachs I hear they can ruin your struts with out the rear camber kit hence it is better to go with coilovers

Here is the thing coilovers are about 1500-1800 eibachs and rear camber is about 600-700. That is a pretty big difference.

2 if i would get eibachs and sways would that be sufficient and could i skip the coilovers?

i am pretty much in the same situation. I want to get some 19s lower an 1" and still maintain good driving performance. If not even add some stiffness to the car.

 

I wonder if anyone has had any luck in finding some springs that would make the ride firmer, which would lessen body roll. Don't really need or care about dropping the car, just want the performance upgrade without having to worry about a camber kit. We are just talking springs here.................anyone??? Vendors, there is money to be made, heh.