Eibachs coming.... then what?

[Petrograde]

ok,.. My new Eibachs will be on their way to me sometime this week! :cuke: If memory serves, you have to have an alignment after installing the new springs. Is there anything else I should be aware of??

Some of y'all have been running these for almost a year. I'd like to hear how they are holding up.

I know there is a few of you out there that don't like the Eibachs, but I was able to get them for $140,.. so if I don't like them, I won't be out a lot of $$$. I figured,... what the hell??

[Zack]

Hope you have good luck with them, I sure didnt.

[Donny Carlson]

ok,.. My new Eibachs will be on their way to me sometime this week! :cuke: If memory serves, you have to have an alignment after installing the new springs. Is there anything else I should be aware of??

Some of y'all have been running these for almost a year. I'd like to hear how they are holding up.

I know there is a few of you out there that don't like the Eibachs, but I was able to get them for $140,.. so if I don't like them, I won't be out a lot of $$$. I figured,... what the hell??
Unlike Zac, Logan and some others, I have had good service out of my Eibachs which were installed in March. Mine have been on a bit less than Zac had his on, iirc, but longer than some of the others kept theirs on.

I went back and looked at Zac's original post as well as Logan's, and they complained about conditions under throttle at higher speeds. I don't race my car and don't often go WOT over 80, so perhaps the conditions I drive aren't the same as they had, so, as they say, my results may have varied.

Anyway, yes, you'll need to align your car after the install. Unlike one member who complained about a problem keeping alignment, my alignment has been excellent the past 6 months, and part of this is because I'm more careful about hitting pot holes and broken pavement due to the Eibach's ride being harder than OEM springs. I have not experienced abnormal inner tire wear and I have 10,000 miles on the current set of tires.

Ride quality has not been terribly effected... except when hitting a pothole, broken pavement, or speed bumps. Then, the shock will be telegraphed right up your butt. There is no question that once you put these springs on, there's gonna be a period of time you're gonna ask yourself what have you done to your car because the ride will be harsher than before.

I was told my car was the harshest riding Marauder of any who my installer had installed Eibachs. The good news was that the ride improved as the springs settled, and now, I am completely satisfied with ride quality.

Bump steer has not been a problem, but then I don't drive it the way Zac and Logan drive their cars. At normal everyday driving (and the occasional WOT) this has not been an issue.

I would highly recommend you talk to Blaine at Eibach prior to your install (which I assume you are going to do yourself). I called and talked to him and he told me that an improper install could result in some ride and handling problems. LET ME BE CLEAR that I am in NO WAY suggesting that Zac or Logan or anyone else who were unhappy with their Eibachs installed them improperly, only that Blaine pointed out to me a couple of things that an installer could do that may result in ride/handling problems so I could watch out for it when my Eibach's were installed.

Blaine
Tech Support
Eibach Springs, Inc.
909.256.8300 X-114

[SergntMac]

LET ME BE CLEAR that I am in NO WAY suggesting that Zac or Logan or anyone else who were unhappy with their Eibachs installed them improperly, only that Blaine pointed out to me a couple of things that an installer could do that may result in ride/handling problems so I could watch out for it when my Eibach's were installed.
I do not have the Eibachs, and looking back at that thread myself, I'm refreshed in what I observed with Zack's car. It bounced remarkable even at 30 MPH, and I wonder what Zack and Logan have in common.

How about asking Blaine about the added weight of supercharging on the nose of any Marauder. I can't imagine what all that stuff weighs, but I'm sure Trilogy and DR can post kit shipping weights, and that may be valuable 411 for Eibach, yes? All that hardware hanging over and forward of the springs must have some effect on ride quality...IMHO.

[Petrograde]

I won't be doing the install. I've seen first hand what happens when a spring compressor lets go! It scared the hell out of me! That was almost 10 years ago, and I'm still pretty gun shy!

Anyway,.. I may call Blain for some general 411. I think Sarge has a good point about S/C weight, and the added torque and HP. I have no plans for major power adders,. so maybe I'll have the same ride as Donny, Barry, and Todd. All of whom seem to love the Eibachs, and none of them are S/C'ed.

Also,.. I don't beat on my MM too much. Hell, I still have factory tires at 20K miles, and (with the exception of some inner tire wear) they look very good.

So, perhaps your driving style does play a roll in this. Thanks for the input so far!

[CRUZTAKER]

Ride quality has not been terribly effected... except when hitting a pothole, broken pavement, or speed bumps. Then, the shock will be telegraphed right up your butt.
Ride on!

This is the only factor I do not like. The bump steer hasn't changed either. I believe some of these issues may be able to be settled by mere tire pressure adjustments. Not so as to cause the dreaded uneven tire wear, but to find a happy medium.

Not only will you NEED to do the front alignment, but once the car has settled onto the springs, you will want to adjust the rear air ride to retain the 'rake' of the car, and stay close to average heights front to back as the OEM setup originally was. Plus it looks plain cool.

[martyo]

I would highly recommend you talk to Blaine at Eibach prior to your install (which I assume you are going to do yourself). I called and talked to him and he told me that an improper install could result in some ride and handling problems. LET ME BE CLEAR that I am in NO WAY suggesting that Zac or Logan or anyone else who were unhappy with their Eibachs installed them improperly, only that Blaine pointed out to me a couple of things that an installer could do that may result in ride/handling problems so I could watch out for it when my Eibach's were installed.

Donny: Can you give us some details please?

[Petrograde]

...snip...
Not only will you NEED to do the front alignment, but once the car has settled onto the springs, you will want to adjust the rear air ride to retain the 'rake' of the car, and stay close to average heights front to back as the OEM setup originally was. ...snip...

so,... lemme get this straight... I lower the Air Ride after the springs settle?

How will I know they have settled?

[Donny Carlson]

so,... lemme get this straight... I lower the Air Ride after the springs settle?

How will I know they have settled?
My car had the rear lowered immediately after the install, but after the springs have settled, it needed another adustment. (Actually "needs" because I haven't had it done yet.)

Once my Eibach's were installed and the air ride system turned back on, the car "squatted" to adjust for the lower front end. Scott then lowered the car more.

Since then the front springs have settled, and my car needs the rears lowered a touch more.

[Petrograde]

hmm,.. ok Thanks Donny,..

I guess this would be a good time to try out Carfixer's alignment specs! :up: Also,.. anyone here think it would be a good idea to change front shocks while I'm at it? They've been on for over 20K miles.

[Donny Carlson]

Donny: Can you give us some details please?
I don't recall the specifics, and I would doubtless say something stupid or wrong. It's best to talke to Blaine, just ask him what could be done wrong during installation that could later effect ride and handling. I do recall something about using an impact wrench incorrectly that could result in "spinning" a componant, but again, ask him.

[SergntMac]

hmm,.. ok Thanks Donny,..

I guess this would be a good time to try out Carfixer's alignment specs! :up: Also,.. anyone here think it would be a good idea to change front shocks while I'm at it? They've been on for over 20K miles.
I'd say replace them now, all it's going to add is the cost of struts. With 20K on them now, why pay that labor again in the near future?

[jgc61sr2002]

I'd say replace them now, all it's going to add is the cost of struts. With 20K on them now, why pay that labor again in the near future?


I concur. The shocks will be do for repacement shortly. A the Sarge pointed out why pay for labor twice.

[SergntMac]

I don't recall the specifics, and I would doubtless say something stupid or wrong. It's best to talke to Blaine, just ask him what could be done wrong during installation that could later effect ride and handling. I do recall something about using an impact wrench incorrectly that could result in "spinning" a componant, but again, ask him.
I respect your reservations in posting, Donny, I share in them myself. However, you're not doing Blaine any favors by metering out partial 411. Some folks will call just to solve the riddle, whether they plan on being Eibach customers or not. I know you're not a wrench yourself, Donny, neither am I, so, your 411 is only as good as your source, and I wouldn't expect any flak over that.

BTW, y'all...You know the front springs have to come out to install fresh shocks, it's not as easy as it was in the old days. Rear shocks are a snap, even I could do them, but the fronts are a real PITA, and possibly dangerous if the spring compressor gives out as Tom suggested earlier. Unless you are an experience wrench, IMHO, this is not a DYI project, shocks or springs.