Best Strut/Spring Package?

[keny_kimmel]

I'm ready to upgrade my stock struts and springs to something better. I've been wondering about a Koni strut insert and Eibach spring set up. Will this set up drop the car too much? I've heard about a drop putting too much angle in the CV's. Also that the Konis and Eibachs make the car bottem out too much? I just need something that will get rid of almost all of the gap in the wheel weels and not be too stiff that it rattles the car apart and ruins a 2 hour drive somewhere on the freeway. I dont want to cut any springs or anything like that. I understand that the Koni's go into the stock housing? What exactly do you have to do to install the Koni's? Also I'd be adding a strut tower brace for the front and back.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

eibachs will not lower your car much, if any. More than likely, your stock springs have settled and sagged so much, that fresh eibachs will actually raise the car a bit. Especially the rear.

They are nice coils though

 

[yamahaSHO]

eibachs will not lower your car much, if any. More than likely, your stock springs have settled and sagged so much, that fresh eibachs will actually raise the car a bit. Especially the rear.

They are nice coils though

Do you remember my '92 Kenny? It sits on Eibach's and it sits just as low as my red car ;-) It actually set lower than the red car on Intrax without a cut coil (Intrax).

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

yep

And my old and busted Red SHO (the project) sits much lower than my modified MOOG daily driver.

 

[shomesomesho]

.. and not be too stiff that it rattles the car apart and ruins a 2 hour drive somewhere on the freeway.

Hey.. I actually like that kind of ride..keeps me awake behind the wheel..

 

[SASHO91]

I have always been a fan of Koni inserts, and cut Intrax....

i dont think i would go with Eibach though...

Either MOOG or Intrax....

Now Struts...
well i would like the adjustability with the Koni, but the Tokicos, are a dollar well spent.

Not unless you go over the car, and silcon, and refasten the doors and panels, you are going to have some rattling with a firm suspension...
**** mine abit stiffer than stock, well alittle more than a bit.... and i still get some rattling... but nothing alittle silcon cant fix... allthough that dam sunroof ****** me off.... dam 93's....

my .02

 

[Rockledge]

eibachs will not lower your car much, if any. More than likely, your stock springs have settled and sagged so much, that fresh eibachs will actually raise the car a bit. Especially the rear.

I recently installed Eibachs/Tokicos all around and the rear of my SHO did come up a little bit. The front looks to be about the same.

 

[keny_kimmel]

I want a good package that will lower the car is what im primarily looking for and that will add some better handling.

I looked at Midwest SHO and they want $1119 for the whole kit with the selection of Intrax springs and Koni inserts. Thats not even counting shipping, strut tower braces, or a prop rod for the hood, or alignment if needed.

Do you remember my '92 Kenny? It sits on Eibach's and it sits just as low as my red car ;-) It actually set lower than the red car on Intrax without a cut coil (Intrax).

So....If I run Eibachs the car will ride low enough to get rid of the wheel gap. but if I want to use Intrax I have to cut a coil? Midwest SHO says that the Intrax already have a 1.5" lowering and the Eibachs have a 1" drop.

 

[yamahaSHO]

That's all dependent on the bearings you use. I also don't know if the Eibach's have been modified as I bought the car with them. Another common practice is to lower the strut in the knuckle. Chris did this on his '92 when he owned it and the car sat very nice with Eibach and Koni. He also cut a coil (or a coil and a half, I can't remember).

 

[SolidState]

if I had to do it all again, I would still use the moog cargos....I have never had them bottom out.

However, I would NOT cut the rear spring. I did this, and cut a little too much from the wrong end , so I had the RAISE the strut in the knuckle just to get the car to sit properly....

 

[91greensho+]

Im running the koni/eibach set up on my green car. I replaced the suspension at about 120k so the springs were well worn and saggy. When I first installed them the car sat alittle higher, then once the springs settled the car sat about an inch or so lower than stock. I did not cut any coils or lower the strut in the knuckle. The only thing I do not like about it is the unpredictability in the car, but thats expected with any progressive rate spring. The ride on the highway is quite smooth as long as there are no harsh bumps.

 

[keny_kimmel]

Do you remember my '92 Kenny? It sits on Eibach's and it sits just as low as my red car ;-) It actually set lower than the red car on Intrax without a cut coil (Intrax).

From what I'm understanding Yamaha says that the Eibach/Intrax rides low, and from the pictures eliminates wheel gap WITHOUT cutting the springs OR adjusting the knuckle?

If that is true then I will go with that setup. Now for the biggest concern, I want to run stock slicers with my 225/60/16 size tires. I was concerned about rubbing when I bought them, what about after I lower the car. Should I go get some Dremel bits and start grinding down my wheel wells?

 

[shomesomesho]

This is with Moog CC's 2 coils cut in front, 1 1/4 coil cut in the rear. Is this how low you want to go?

Tires are 225/45 16's. With higher profile 50's or 55's, there would be no wheel gap in front and they would probably rub the fender.

The subframe clears 4'' off the ground in front.

Also with Koni's / full length SFC's / ASFB's / front-rear strut tower braces.

The car is a blast to drive.. handles like a lowered mini-cooper Naughty. Ride is very stiff. Say goodbye to roll. Say hello to yer bruised ass.

I used to run Intrax same ride height and the front would bottom out very easily. Not so with the beefy Moogs.

 

[SHO_Driver]

Hmm, that drop looks ideal Shomesomesho. I've got one and half coils cut on the front Moogs and its still has gap. I didn't wanna risk cutting 2 coils but since you and Solidstate don't bottom out at all it should be fine. Unfortunately I've only got sensetracs all around so I hope won't bounce on freeway bumps.

 

[keny_kimmel]

Hmmmm

Hmmm....Well now it looks like the selection may be diffrent. I duno, remember I want to run the 225/60/16 size. So it needs to drop at least 1 inch in the front. I dont want rubbing issues and I just bought the tires not even 2,000 miles ago. Er, OK...If I were to get Eibach's with Moogs with a coil taken out then what is the situation? Is anyone running 55 or 60 size tires on a lowered car?

 

[keny_kimmel]

Ok. With the strut selection as Koni's (unless anyone can recomend otherwise) What springs do I need to use if I'm going to run the tires that are on the car now? MidwestSHO states 1.5" drop for the Intrax, 1" drop for the Eibach, and .5" drop with the Moogs ONLY if they are cut, which unless a shop will do for me I wont be getting those. I measured and it seemed like the front can handle a 1" drop safely without rubbing, 1.5" is pushing it.

 

[shomesomesho]

Ok. With the strut selection as Koni's (unless anyone can recomend otherwise) What springs do I need to use if I'm going to run the tires that are on the car now?

This might help.. a pic of my former '94 ATX (on the day it was sold, nonetheless) with Moogs, 1 spring cut in front, 1 spring cut in the rear. The tires are 225-55 16's. Note the wheelgap. With your higher profile 225-60's, the wheelgap would be even less.

 

[shomesomesho]

And this is why I'm such a big fan of Moog CC's.

Left is Eibach, middle is Intrax, right is Moog CC. Each had been cut enough to achieve about a 2.25" drop.

The Moog has more coils and the coils are BEEFIER (by ~ 1mm). Makes for a stiffer ride and more resistant to bottoming out.

My "objective" test:
5" speed bumps at the grocery parking lot. Driving over them at ~5mph, the Intrax would always bottom out, the Eibachs would 3/4 the time. The Moogs have not bottomed out yet.

Not to mention the Moogs go for less than 1/2 the price of either Eibach or Intrax.

Cutting the coils is not big deal.. 30 seconds with a grinder + cutting disc. 5 minutes with a dremel.

 

[Sh03d]

So do you cut the coils at the top or on the bottom?

 

[SolidState]

depends. On the front springs, you cut the top. On the rear, you cut the bottom.