I am interested in lowering my Z and have been reading some posts on this forum. Why are some suspension kits $2000 (Tein, NISMO etc...) and others are only a couple of hundred bucks. I called Stillen and they told me the Eibach Pro Kit is $200. They said that it will lower the car .8"-1.2". That is what I would like to lower it. Does anyone have experience with this Eibach Pro Kit - advantages/diadvantages of using it compared to the other high dollar ones? I don't want to sacrifice the ride or get that bouncy feel. I just want it to handle a little better. Thanks guys/girls....

 

I had the Eibach Pro Kit on my Audi A4. I ran it with the stock Audi sport suspension shocks and it was a very good ride.

After 8 months, I replaced the Audi OEM shocks with Bilstein shocks. The ride was slightly improved. I liked the more sure-footed handling with the Eibach/Bilstein set up.

The Audi was my daily driver. But, I also took it to the track at least once a month. With the addition of an adjustable rear swaybar, I was able to make the A4 handle very neutral, instead of with all the oversteer inherent to the Audi quattro cars.

On the Z, I suspect the ride will remain as stiff as it already is. I doubt Eibach has increased the spring rates too much beyond the OEM rates. The lower stance will make the car handle just a tad better.. lower center of gravity. I also doubt that adding springs only will remove much of the understeer.

There are no disadvantages to using them compared to the more expensive setups. In fact, I try to encourage people to avoid buying the multi-adjustable coilover suspensions. Very few people ever take the time to properly set up an adjustable suspension. Most are driving around with a setup that is far worse than the OEM suspension, having not taken the time to adjust everything properly.

Does not make sense to spend $2k or more if all you do is drive around town. If you are a competetive racer and you need to set up the suspension for different road racing circuits, then by all means get an adjsutable coilover suspension.

If you want a slightly lower ride and a little better handling on the street, and for the infrequent driving event, then get the Eibachs.


Hope that helps.

PeteH

 

That helps alot. I mainly do city/Hwy driving. The car is my daily driver and I never will take it to the track. How difficult is it to install the Pro-Kit. I am a 6-7 on a scale of 1-10 in regards to being mechanically inclined. Will I need special tools I.E. Spring compressors etc... ? Thanks for the input..

 

I'm not sure I can say. I have only had my Z for two weeks and I have not had a chance to get under it and look around.

From the pictures I have seen, the rear looks pretty easy. The shocks are separate from the springs, so I think the springs are pretty easy to get other.

In the front I think you have to remove the shock and the spring. I've done it on an Audi and it was not too difficult.

You will almost certainly need a spring compressor. I've seen a few auto parts stores that rent them. Other than that, everything is bacis hand tools. Compressed air and air tools will make the job a lot easier.

Also, when you are finished you should get an alignment. When you lower the suspension, you change a few of the specs from their OWM setting. An alignment will get everything back to where it belongs.


PeteH

 

Cool.... Thanks for the info..

 

Silver- This is something I am trying to figure out as well. Other Z32 owners I know that track their cars a fair amount have started w/ eibachs and later added Koni shocks. They are very happy with the way it changed their suspension. I might do the same. For the 2k you would spend on the whole adjustable set up, I would rather lower the car with the Pro kit, ket some Koni's, some sway bars, and a new set of tires.

 

I agree 100%. i won't spend $2000 to lower my car.