Best lowering combination?

[sethsho]

The car is a '94. The rear sags a little already.
I had thought of installing front springs only, just to even it out. but would I also need to replace the struts? And how low could I go?
I would appreciate opinions from any one who's lowered theirs. shrug

 

[PAracer]

You'll regret just lowering the front. The change in spring rate wil make your car handle like poo. I would suggest Itrax/Tokico all the way around. If you can afford it go with TPR bushings and the 28mm rear sway bar as well.

 

[94shoboy]

it depends on how much money you have and what kind of ride quality you want. if you have the money, get a coil over kit from IPT (if hes still making them) and you can get whatever rate springs you want, so you can tell him if you want it to ride plush or like a race car and how low you want to go with them. if you want to get the lowest from just springs, there is a cheap sping made for the car, but i forget who makes it. its i think 1 1/2" in front and 1 1/4" in back. ive never seen anyone use them though (i dont come on this forum much anymore) so i dont know how that are. the intrax will get the next lowest ride, but have a stiffer spring rate. the tallest if the lowering springs are eibachs. they ride close to stock and a little bit of a drop. you should replace the struts if you're replacing the springs because the stock struts suck when they get old. the best struts for aggresive driving are konis, but not cheap. after that there are a LOT of other choices, i never got cheap ones so i dont know what they are though. if you post how much you want to spend on the suspension and how you want it to ride, people will tell you exactly what to get. have a nice day

 

[thebigjimsho]

I've been running Eibach/Konis for years now. If you really want to lower it, get the Intrax or find some SHOShop linears. But IPT coilovers are definitely the way to go, if you can get them. The Koni inserts are the best, period. boink

 

[sethsho]

Thanks to all who've responded. I'll need to research all the brands mentioned. Ultimately, price will be the major factor.
Anybody else care to comment?

 

[K-BL]

Intrax gives the best looking drop on a Gen 2. You can get them delivered with KYB struts for around $450 from www.summitracing.com. Alot of people don't like KYB because they only last 2 years or so, but in my opinion, if you buy another set eventualy and switch them out, the struts have a lifetime warrenty. So, send em off, they send you new ones, and then you have an extra set laying around for when those go out. so in the long run. You save money(sorta). Intrax/KYB is a harsher ride, but the reason is more in the drop and not the springs/struts. for the money you save and the berformance you gain, Intrax/KYB is an excellent combo.

K-BL

<small>[ December 06, 2002, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: K-BL ]</small>

 

[SHOSIG]

I have KYB/INTRAX in my 92 and it does not look "slammed" but "just right" according to some friends of mine. As for ride...it gets a little harsh when you hit some uneven spots in the road, it gives you a jolt. But for normal roads and the "smoother" bumps, I don't think it is bad at all.

 

[RI-SHO]

For ride comfort the SS springs arent it but for the "slammed" look(look below ) they are the best springs around, too bad they werent made right and now are discontinued.

2.5" front and 1.75" rear

 

[SHO Shop]

I cannot stress this enough, stay away from the KYBs, you'll be replacing them within 6 months. The springs rates are way too strong in the SHOs (especially aftermarket SHO springs at that). My ideal setups for suspension are the following:

Easy Street/Mild Performance - Eibach/Tokico
Performance Driving/Autocross - Koni/Intrax

Ideally, I prefer the ride of the Eibach/Tokico setup. No suspension or alignment problems, you still get the agressive ride height and best of all - you get the LIFETIME warranty on the struts! If you buy struts for any reason, buy it for that warranty. If you've even changed struts yourself, you can see how important this is. It's also something to think about if you plan on keeping your SHO for a while.

Koni also offers the same warranty, I do like the 5-way adjustability, but 90% of SHO-owners forget the **** is even there after about a couple of weeks. As for installation ease, the Tokicos are the way to go. Konis force you to hollow out your stock strut housings in order to install the inserts, while Tokicos just simply bolt right in.

As for coilovers, I haven't experienced the IPT setup, but I have felt the Ground Controls we have in our Race '89. Great for a race car, but not for the street. These coilovers were so stiff, if you run over a dime, you'd be able to tell if it was heads or tails.

Just some food for thought. thumbs_u

<small>[ December 09, 2002, 12:16 AM: Message edited by: SHO Shop ]</small>

 

[1fastsho]

the coilovers aren't too bad....but it is an aggressive set up....if you remove the hood of your car and drive it around...and you look at the top of the strut coming through the strut tower...it moves around sooo much. the coilovers have a rigid upper mounting plate with a teflon lined spherical bearing...it doesn't move up and down and around.

We will be making our next run of coilovers it looks like in Janurary

I really liked my Sho SHop linears..and if I had not wanted the tightest handling possible..becasue I am an extremist it seems wink I would have kept them. aside from the coilovers I think that is the best option..but they aren't made anymore.

I would say intrax/koni......

and Tokico told us they were no longer making the Taurus SHO strut..so?

 

[NoSloSHO]

What did an entire set (Everything you would need for a complete set-up) of the ground controls cost?

 

[SHO Shop]

I can't recall. These were custom built for us long before they were available to the public.

 

[SHO Shop]

1fastsho:
and Tokico told us they were no longer making the Taurus SHO strut..so?

I called my supply house to confirm this rumor, it's simply not true.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Tom,
what is your take on eibach/koni?

 

[SHO Shop]

I'm not too happy with the Eibach/Koni setup, I used to run it on the Konis are just too much for the Eibachs to handle properly - giving the "pogo" effect we're trying to avoid in the first place. It's best to go with the Intrax springs if deciding to go with Konis. After riding in just about every configuration available for the SHOs (even the KYBs people are still buying for who knows what reason) I believe these are the best choices.

As always, your opinions may vary.

 

[1fastsho]

Wow that is what the tokico rep told us. Oh well.

the Pogo effect thing doesn';t make sense though...usually you would get the pogo effect if the rebound was not high enough. if you set the koni's to firm on the eibachs it rides like a lowrider yes... but it is possible we have two different ideas of pogo...but it really is all in your taste. Best thing to do is try to find soem people around with the diff combinations and try them out.

 

[JaySHOguy]

SHO Shop:
(even the KYBs people are still buying for who knows what reason)

People, like myself, who cannot afford to buy Tokico's or Koni's, are the ones buying the KYB's.

SOME of our cars suspensions are so worn out, that anything new would be an immense help.
****, I didn't even have the money to buy the KYB's myself. My mother bought them for me for Christmas(no, i don't live at home )

I had to put spring spacers in the back of the '89 to keep the ass end from dragging on the ground...And talk about bounce! I don't think my struts are doing anything, except holding the spring in place.

<small>[ December 10, 2002, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: Jay97SHO ]</small>

 

[SilverSleeper]

tokikos discontinued?

i got a set from cincy sho about 4 months ago, but havent had the cash for the springs... or anything else, just recently switched from pizza delivery to selling shtuff at radshack.

now im a bit skittish about putting the tok's in, id rather get used to a setup that will be around for a while... would an intrax/tokiko combo be any good? or the eibachs ideal for them?

i was also thinking about the 24 front and 29 rear sways, both of which SS has for sale, opinions?

~Jeff

 

[Dave Ladely]

I have the Eibachs with Tokico, with Energy Suspension poly bushings and also ES spring isolators at the bottom of the springs to replace the factory rubbery isolators. I can find no fault with the set up and it instills confidence, very stable, turns flat like on rails, tight, so much better than stock yet still comfortable.

 

[gosho89]

I've had tokicos/eibach/ 225 55 16 Bridgestone RE730 on the wife's Gen 2 and Koni/eibach 225 55 16 Bridgestone RE730 on my Gen 1. Both were acceptable ride comfort and handling but there was noticable differance in the ride. After driving my Gen 1 all day for work I would jump in the Gen 2, the ride was noticable harsher, feeling bumps and expansion joints that my konis would absorb. The adjustable koni struts also come in handy for setting the suspension for different driving conditions, cruise, sport, or full out aggresive. My Gen 1 is like driving a slot car, never any problem with pogo or having to much rebound. I know the KONIS were worth the extra time and money, thats my opinion and very happy with my choice.