Thoughts on aftermarket suspension?

[studs]

Hi everybody,
I'm a DSM guy but the old man has a SHO, he lets me drive it once in awhile and there isn't anything quite like that yamaha singing as it heads for the redline thumbs_u but i'm not telling you guys anything you don't already know. Anyways to get to the point the springs are shot on the car, it's a `94 auto 3.2L. We're in the suspension market and i've read the posts on here but still had some questions for you guys. Here lies the problem he wants to have a smooth ride (I told ya he was getting old) but i'm trying to keep him from buying the motorcraft and I want to take advantage of the improved handling of the Eibach. I suggested the Eibach / Tokico combo (with fries) and when I showed him how much I thinked he pooped, so next thought was the KYB because of their lower price. Has anyone did the install of the KYB cartridges? Also does the 1" drop from the Eibach's throw the alignment out? Any suggestions, or thoughts about your setup would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the help guys.
-studs

 

[PROPHET]

hi and welcome to the forum.

Ive got KYBs and intrax springs.

If i had to do over i would have waited and gone for the more expensive strut.

They are fine on on good to moderate roads but if roads get bad then they suck. frown

 

[Mr Anonymous]

For a conventional sedan-type ride, the Eibach/KYB combo should be just fine. The Tokicos would probably be too harsh, and the Konis, while they can be adjusted to a soft ride, usually cost more than the Tokicos.

The Eibach's shouldn't effect the alignment at all. While technically lowering springs, most people find that their original springs have sagged so much that the Eibachs actually RAISE the car a bit! eek! You could do the Eibach/KYB combo for probably under $400 in parts plus labor. The KYB's are a full strut replacement. The Konis are the inserts that are installed into the OEM strut housings.

Here's a place to try for some of the best prices online: http://www.shox.com They also sell Sachs brand struts, which are rumored to be the OEM manufacturer of the original SHO struts, although I don't know if that has ever been confirmed.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I believe Monroe was the original manufacturer, since the recall to install those broken spring guards also worked at monroe shock dealers...

 

[Hubes]

i've got the kyb/eibach set up. good price for the setup. i think my ride is ok, a little harsh over some bumps which causes some stuff to rattle, but i can live with it

 

[kaoticSHO]

Why not get the Koni shocks, then you can have the best of both worlds the "old man" can set them softer and when you go for a romp you can turn them to a firmer setting.

I like Koni/Eibach, but for a nice soft ride with options you could just go with Koni and stock springs.

I've had the Tokico setup with stock and non-stock springs but I like the Koni setup better due to the ability to change settings on the fly.

 

[sho_dwn]

kaoticSHO:
Why not get the Koni shocks, then you can have the best of both worlds the "old man" can set them softer and when you go for a romp you can turn them to a firmer setting.

I like Koni/Eibach, but for a nice soft ride with options you could just go with Koni and stock springs.

I've had the Tokico setup with stock and non-stock springs but I like the Koni setup better due to the ability to change settings on the fly.

He said his old man already crapped when he saw the price of the Tokico/ Eibach setup, let alone Konis.

 

[89 Gary]

Tell your old man that after market springs and struts are cheaper than if he gets thru the dealer.Second,Eibachs give a more comfortable ride than stock unless you get on it where it then becomes stiffer and safer than stock. Third,get the Koni's and set to full soft.

 

[kaoticSHO]

sho_dwn:

kaoticSHO:
Why not get the Koni shocks, then you can have the best of both worlds the "old man" can set them softer and when you go for a romp you can turn them to a firmer setting.

I like Koni/Eibach, but for a nice soft ride with options you could just go with Koni and stock springs.

I've had the Tokico setup with stock and non-stock springs but I like the Koni setup better due to the ability to change settings on the fly.

He said his old man already crapped when he saw the price of the Tokico/ Eibach setup, let alone Konis.

Hmm...last time I checked Koni's and stock springs were less money than Tokico's and
Eibachs.

89 Gary:
Tell your old man that after market springs and struts are cheaper than if he gets thru the dealer.Second,Eibachs give a more comfortable ride than stock unless you get on it where it then becomes stiffer and safer than stock. Third,get the Koni's and set to full soft.

Eibach's are more comfortable than stock? I don't think so. And safer?? Since when is going with an aftermarket lowering spring...safer? We aren't talking about SUV's here.

<small>[ March 10, 2003, 03:01 AM: Message edited by: kaoticSHO ]</small>

 

[89 Gary]

89 Gary:
Tell your old man that after market springs and struts are cheaper than if he gets thru the dealer.Second,Eibachs give a more comfortable ride than stock unless you get on it where it then becomes stiffer and safer than stock. Third,get the Koni's and set to full soft.

Eibach's are more comfortable than stock? I don't think so. And safer?? Since when is going with an aftermarket lowering spring...safer? We aren't talking about SUV's here. [/QB][/QUOTE]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`Eibach's are non linear which means the spring rate for the first part of suspension travel is (in this case) softer than stock which is linear! Hence-and I can say this as far as my experience-a softer ride when tooling along at normal speeds.It then quickly tightens up for great handling and it is SAFER because any performance spring/suspension is safer than a non performance set up-this isn't even questionable. Your car will handle better and stop sooner,under better control! And yes-I just got lowering springs/etc. for my expedition and this is safer because of lowering-as you have already identified.

 

[ShoGuy93]

Intrax/Tokico, And loving them every day!! I would get them, awesome set up.....

<small>[ March 11, 2003, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: ShoGuy93 ]</small>