Dilemma on lowering (I searched!LOL)
01-11-11, 01:21 PM
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Dilemma on lowering (I searched!LOL)
Ok I have a dilemma, I want to lower the car about 1.5 inches just enough to get rid of the 4x4 look. Now the car just turned 100k with the original struts. I have no issues with the struts, they are not leaking and they are not bad, worn but not bad, it does not bottom out at all either. Well I have been searching on here about springs and coilovers and I narrowed it down to just springs or a whole coilover set. I figured with a 100k might as well replace them so that is why I'm leaning towards the coilovers. I was thinking of the Megan EZ kit since it is within my spending range and I read it will give a nice ride but not as nice as it is stock in which I'm trying to achieve close as possible. Would a set of Eibach Sportline springs with stock struts ride about the same or better than the Megan kit? I know the pro's and con's of each just looking for the best ride quality of the two.
Thanks, James
Thanks, James
01-11-11, 04:09 PM
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you are comparing 2 very different spring rates and asking about ride quality.
both should have acceptable suspension travel and both should have damping decently matched to the spring rate but both will have very different ride qualities as far as firmness.
both should have acceptable suspension travel and both should have damping decently matched to the spring rate but both will have very different ride qualities as far as firmness.
01-12-11, 06:32 PM
#5
Lowering springs on just about any of the stock shocks will pretty much wear them out faster since they are not geared for the drop. Essentially you pretty much will blow them in an efort to maintain the stock ride.
Eibach springs (if you can still get them) will offer a harsher ride than stock, but not too much. You will still have to change the shocks tho b/c they eventually will blow. Since you have Bilsteins available for your car, that may work and really since you ARE there and going thru the trouble to compress the springs you may as well change the shocks as well.
The coilovers are a good match, and many have had success with them, once they are tuned in properly. With them you have MANY dampening choices as well as choices for lowering, etc. so you will have to play around with them for a bit until you get them to a point where you are happy with the ride quality. It is very achievable to get close to stock with the coilovers as well.
Eibach springs (if you can still get them) will offer a harsher ride than stock, but not too much. You will still have to change the shocks tho b/c they eventually will blow. Since you have Bilsteins available for your car, that may work and really since you ARE there and going thru the trouble to compress the springs you may as well change the shocks as well.
The coilovers are a good match, and many have had success with them, once they are tuned in properly. With them you have MANY dampening choices as well as choices for lowering, etc. so you will have to play around with them for a bit until you get them to a point where you are happy with the ride quality. It is very achievable to get close to stock with the coilovers as well.
01-13-11, 02:40 PM
#6
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Lowering springs on just about any of the stock shocks will pretty much wear them out faster since they are not geared for the drop. Essentially you pretty much will blow them in an efort to maintain the stock ride.
Eibach springs (if you can still get them) will offer a harsher ride than stock, but not too much. You will still have to change the shocks tho b/c they eventually will blow. Since you have Bilsteins available for your car, that may work and really since you ARE there and going thru the trouble to compress the springs you may as well change the shocks as well.
The coilovers are a good match, and many have had success with them, once they are tuned in properly. With them you have MANY dampening choices as well as choices for lowering, etc. so you will have to play around with them for a bit until you get them to a point where you are happy with the ride quality. It is very achievable to get close to stock with the coilovers as well.
Eibach springs (if you can still get them) will offer a harsher ride than stock, but not too much. You will still have to change the shocks tho b/c they eventually will blow. Since you have Bilsteins available for your car, that may work and really since you ARE there and going thru the trouble to compress the springs you may as well change the shocks as well.
The coilovers are a good match, and many have had success with them, once they are tuned in properly. With them you have MANY dampening choices as well as choices for lowering, etc. so you will have to play around with them for a bit until you get them to a point where you are happy with the ride quality. It is very achievable to get close to stock with the coilovers as well.
James
01-13-11, 03:44 PM
#7
I suggest you go with something like megan coilovers. It has 32 ways of dampening adjustment and you can adjust the height to pretty much anything you want. It's difficult to find something you are describing without sacrificing a little bit of comfort. The extra stiffness provided by the shocks when you lower a vehicle is necessary to prevent the car from bottoming out Because you are looking for a near oem ride quality + a drop I would go with adjustability! (Plus the seats in the LS are so comfy you probably wont even notice a little extra stiffness 
)
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01-14-11, 03:16 AM
#9
Driver School Candidate
After going down the same route as you I have decided to fit coilovers to mine as you can play with the spring rate, damping and height until you get it exactly as you want it
I previously had an E Class Merc with AMG suspension so I would like to get the ride similar
Andy
I previously had an E Class Merc with AMG suspension so I would like to get the ride similar
Andy
01-14-11, 08:05 AM
#10
One thing to maybe reconsider is that your original springs + struts, at 100k miles, are probably still perfectly fine.
I recently replaced all 4 struts on my '91 at 170k, and I probably replaced a lot more than I needed to (while I'm in there ...). The rear struts probably needed it, but the rest was in pretty good shape.
I recently replaced all 4 struts on my '91 at 170k, and I probably replaced a lot more than I needed to (while I'm in there ...). The rear struts probably needed it, but the rest was in pretty good shape.
01-14-11, 12:47 PM
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One thing to maybe reconsider is that your original springs + struts, at 100k miles, are probably still perfectly fine.
I recently replaced all 4 struts on my '91 at 170k, and I probably replaced a lot more than I needed to (while I'm in there ...). The rear struts probably needed it, but the rest was in pretty good shape.
I recently replaced all 4 struts on my '91 at 170k, and I probably replaced a lot more than I needed to (while I'm in there ...). The rear struts probably needed it, but the rest was in pretty good shape.
James
