Pro's & Cons of Eibachs vs Cut OEM springs?? [Archive]

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Merc4Hire

01-27-2009, 09:35 PM

I definately want to go lower with my Marauder in the future, and in my searches have seen people go with Eibach's and then I've seen people cut the stock springs. Maybe it's just me but I think we should have a sticky with the Pro's & Cons of each...because I'd like to know what the difference is.

Obviously there's price, but functionality wise, which would be better?

Eibach's are purpose built to lower the car, so it would seem to be the technical "proper" way to do it. But do they ride nice? Or is it harsh?

OEM cut springs are the cheap way to do it, but seems a little shade-tree mechanic to me. Is it easy to make sure you're exactly identical with both spings? Wouldn't the stocker's be softer and put the car at more of a risk of bottoming out(if that's possible for these cars)?

Just some questions that I think would be put to good use in a STICKY.

Anyone with me here?

Local Boy

01-27-2009, 09:53 PM

You will get mixed reviews, particularly cause "ride feel" is VERY subjective...

The main point when going with Eibach's is to change out the stock shocks with KYB's...as the stock shock is not suited for the spring rate of the Eibach's...

And there are those who like the cut springs...

Like I said...very subjective...

I personally like the Eibach's with KYB' shocks...

Best of luck...

ALOHA

Merc4Hire

01-27-2009, 09:59 PM

Vortech347

01-27-2009, 10:02 PM

I would like to lower mine about an inch but Worry about cut springs because they are sometimes very "bouncy". Aftermarket scares me because I know the E's are usually a very firm spring.

Siege

01-28-2009, 04:29 AM

The goal with any spring is for it to be stiff enough that the car isn't constantly hitting the bump stop (which protects the shocks at the end of their travel) while soft enough to provide a comfortable ride.

Cutting a spring will raise its spring rate, making it stiffer, but if you cut too much then it won't increase enough to keep you from hitting the bump stops and having a horrible ride.

An aftermarket lowering spring is shorter to lower the car and has an increased spring rate. The spring rate increase is high enough that you'll need to purchase shocks with greater damping to control the spring.

Finally, you have coilovers which offer nearly unlimited height adjustibility and damping that is matched to the spring rate of the coilovers. Usually the springs used are a standard type so you can purchase springs of different rates cheaply to optimize the suspension.

In my opinion, you need to determine your intended goals for the car. If you're going to open track it someday then the cost of coilovers is well worth it. If you'll just be driving it on the street and want the car to be a little lower then cut a coil or less from the springs for free.

I'm not a fan of lowering springs since they try to be a compromise between comfort and performance but ultimately do neither well. The ride quality is worse than cut springs with the same appearance, and the rate is too low for any road courses.

Blackened300a

01-28-2009, 04:58 AM

Maybe Krytin will chime in. He's been riding on cut front springs for over a year now.
I have a few friends that lowered their front springs in new mustang's by heating the center coil. This will make them bend a bit.

mpearce

01-28-2009, 06:23 AM

I have Eibach's with the KYB Gas-A-Just shocks. So far, I like it, no problems at all. I would not davise doing Eibach's without going with these new shocks though.

Siege

01-28-2009, 06:48 AM

I have a few friends that lowered their front springs in new mustang's by heating the center coil. This will make them bend a bit.
Never heat a coil spring to lower a car. Ever. It changes the temper of the steel and can cause the spring to break.

If you want to modify your stock springs to lower a car then you cut the pigtail at the end of the spring with a cutoff wheel.

Stranger in the Black Sedan

01-28-2009, 07:08 AM

Yeah heating springs is ultimate retardation

tjg442

01-28-2009, 07:22 AM

Never heat a coil spring to lower a car. Ever. It changes the temper of the steel and can cause the spring to break.

If you want to modify your stock springs to lower a car then you cut the pigtail at the end of the spring with a cutoff wheel.

RIGHT ON WITH THE CUT SPRINGS !!! HOWEVER,? SOME ONE IS STILL GOING TO TRY IT, FIND IT RIDES LIKE, WELL..."BAD", AND SWEAR UP AND DOWN IT RIDES "JUST FINE", "NO PROBLEMS", "SHOULD HAVE DONE IT YEARS AGO"..etc, etc..! HEAT THE SPRINGS ? CHEAP YES !!! WILL YOU NEED A "TOW" SOONER OR LATER ? YOU CAN COUNT ON IT !!!! :lol:

Krytin

01-28-2009, 08:30 AM

I have the QA1 coil over conversion on the front and the QA1 shocks on the rear - both are single adjustable.
I did not like the front springs that came with the QA1 coil over kit - they top 5 -6 coils were "stacked" all of the time! Made for a VERY hard ride that alway banged going over any bump!
Modified the coilover spring perch to accept the larger diameter OEM springs but found them to be to long/high for this set-up to get the car as low as I wanted. I had to cut off 3/4 of a coil on each OEM coil. My car is VERY low in the front and the rear - it sits level w/255/45 18's on all 4 wheels.
My next project is to cut/"Z" the lower airbag mounts down 1.5" to effectively extend the airbags. Right now the ride height adjustment is all the way down - can't get no mo! The air bags are pretty underinflated and the rear end is kinda sloppy so I hope to get some more "spring rate" with this latest mod - will let you know how it works.

justbob

01-28-2009, 04:58 PM

2,4shofast

01-28-2009, 10:55 PM

I have one full coil cut off my stock springs and I honestly can tell a differance besides it sitting lower, the ride is the same IMO.

Vortech347

01-28-2009, 11:06 PM

I have one full coil cut off my stock springs and I honestly can tell a differance besides it sitting lower, the ride is the same IMO.

Oh hell thats right! I forgot about that, I drove your car. Yea it was really smooth.

2,4shofast

01-29-2009, 01:15 AM

Oh hell thats right! I forgot about that, I drove your car. Yea it was really smooth.

It probably doesnt stick out in your mind because I have a slow 03:( haha

gmtech

01-29-2009, 10:20 AM

I went with the cut coils because of all the rumours of harsh ride with the eibachs. Noticed very little difference in quality but picked up a huge difference in cornering, but i'm sure the same goes for the eibachs.

x2, my cut springs feel great, car stays flatter around corners, ride was hardly changed, been about a year since i cut them. Just did my Lightning & it turned out great too:D

ctrlraven

01-29-2009, 05:10 PM

Front cut springs is what I would do, 3/4 to 1 coil is what some people do but it is highly recommend to upgrade your struts when lowing and GET AN ALIGNMENT.

BigCars4Ever

02-01-2009, 05:20 PM

No matter what route you go this is very very important!!. While you have the springs out remove the front control arm bolt and extend the slot with a dremel or a file in towards the motor. This is the only way you will get the correct camber adjustment. I haven't done my yet but will very soon. The best camber adjustment so far was -1.1 deg. The technician said if I elongate the slot I could get under 1 deg.