Im looking for a improvement in ride. The spring will give me adjustablity of height and some more of a solid ride. However, someone told me if i just get springs my car's stock shocks will blow. Any truth in it? What is your guys .02. Should i just get springs and worry about coilovers later or can i just live with springs? Thanks

 

If you are looking for adjustablity of ride height go with COILOVERS. And no you will not blow your stock shocks if you change to aftermarket springs.

 

If you get a set of springs that lower your car a lot, then eventually your shocks will blow, and you'll be bouncing down the road. If you want a better ride and adjustability get the HKS coilovers.

 

i juust want to kill the wheel gap. Not more than a 1" drop. DOesnt springs give me aa more solid ride?

 

Springs will not give adjustable ride height. They simply drop your car some fixed amount. The problem here is that in lowering the car on stock shocks, you've reduced the amount of shock travel. This could lead to hitting bump stops, but probably only if you lower the car by a significant amount. The plus side of springs is that they do not require adjustment. It's a one-time install, and you're done. Good springs will improve the ride (i.e. fix the "bounce") and increase performance at the same time.

Coilovers yield adjustable ride height, but this comes at a price -- they require corner-weighting. If you do not corner-weight your coilover system, you run the risk of spending $1800+ and having a car with worse handling and ride characteristics. Expect to have to play with the coilover adjustments in order to achieve a ride quality that you're happy with. Furthermore, some of the coilovers out there (i.e. JIC FLT-A2, etc) come with very stiff springs, and will yield a more stiff ride that you probably won't be happy with.

In this case, since ride quality is your primary concern, I would suggest a good set of springs with a minimal drop.

 

Coils, nuff said.

 

well if u want a good recommendation on springs i would recommend the RS*Rs! I have them and love them. Slightly better ride quality and improved haneling. Its a small drop (.6) so it shouldnt wear out your shocks faster (hopefully)

 

so would it be okay to just get springs more now... I was thinking about the ebachis or tein CS and now rsr? I want a more improved handling for my car.... feels kinda sloppy when hanging a turn... sometime i get much bodyroll.

 

The JICs Linear Setup is the stiff one, they also offer a Progressive setup that is a lot more forgiving. I have the linear setup and it is pretty stiff. I currently have the dampening set to about half(7 out of 15) but I am going to set it to it's softest setting and see what happens. I would not combine lowering springs w/stock struts...just my .02

 

i bought the Tanabe lowering springs, and the ride is a bit stiffer, but the bounce is gone, and it lowered it 1.5 inches, and quite frankly i think looks perfect Heres a wheel well shot with my springs.
Before

After

 

If you are looking for better cornering, make sure you get linear springs. The Eibachs are NOT linear, and your turn in will be a little sloppy, but then they get stiff. They will improve ride quality though. I am going to be looking for some linear springs in the near future after I get my 19"s awwwn.

 

Eric,

I currently face the same dilemma. I had eibach pro kit springs on my last car, that weighed the same as my Z, and had no problems getting around on these crappy L.A. freeways for 47,000+ miles with the minimal 1 inch drop. I'm not buying into the "stock shocks can't handle the higher spring rate" sales scheme, based on that.

If you can afford it, coilover is obviously better. I'm currently shopping for some springs myself.

Anyone have any feedback on the Espelir springs? Or recommendations on others??

 

There was a post on Espelir springs down below somewhere. Whenever I called Espelir up, the guy I talked to said the springs were linear, from looking at pictures, both front and rear seem to be progressive. Performance-wise, definitely look into linear springs. The only linear springs you can find are those that come with coilovers. However, the Tein STechs and the RSR SUS Down springs have linear springs in the rear while the front is progressive. Both of these sets will improve your ride AND performance...based from a lot of reading and research. I just purchased a set of Tein STechs but I may not install them because I am thinking about getting coilovers.

If you're interested, PM me.

 

I have Eibachs

And I love the ride... The bounciness has gone away on most surfaces. Except one highly travelled by semis...

But the Progressive springs make the daily driving bearable.

As for shock wear, using after market springs it will wear the shock faster than the stock spring. But you have to weigh the consequences.

For you SoCal folks you are interested I will be more than willing to take you for a drive in my car with Eibachs and I can refer you to a place that will properly take care of your car for install of the Eibachs.

 

bobowah,

Can you pm me with the name of the place where you installed, and what they charge, etc?