Coilovers or Springs?
 

hey guys I've seen a lot of post about this but I just wanted to know what you guys think will be best for me.

I have the money to get Megan ez street coilovers but I also live in New York and the roads are bad and there's so much salt on the roads. I ordered a set of 17x9 rota grids and I just want to get rid of the wheel gap. will springs do the job or should I go with coilovers? if I do get springs though I'll also get spyder tail lights since I'll be saving a few hundred rather than getting coilovers. I also have a front lip and skirts so will I scrape with the springs?

Coilovers are the best bet, but not if you're ordering Megan coilovers. Cheap, yes, but cheap doesn't do well in NYC with the road conditions, and with how cold it is. Rust is the first thing that comes to mind when I think NYC and Megan coilovers.

Go with BC coilovers if you want an actual upgrade, and if it's not in your price range, save up until you can do it, otherwise you're just throwing away money if you ask me.

do you think I should just got with springs instead because I don't have the money for bc's I just wanna get rid of the wheel gap it's bothering me so much haha

I'd go with springs for your application....BUT if you want to lower a lot (more than an inch or so) you will want coilovers because there just isn't a ton of bump travel on the stock shocks. Too low with springs can really be felt on bad roads. Eibach Pro-kit is the lowest I'd go personally.

From a functional standpoint springs with stock shocks would work just fine for you and your budget, but if you really wanted a bigger drop you'll want coilovers.

You'll also want a coilover that can hold up to salt and has good valving, so I'd stay away from most of the low end options (though there are a few good options). Stock shocks + springs will be fine.

- Andy

OT and not to thread jack, but how do the BC's handle salt and such? I ask because in WV, we sometimes have some pretty hefty snowfall a month or so out of the year and my 86 is my DD.

Like other have said, springs sound like a good solution for you. You can also grab some SPC lower control arms to bring the camber back toward 0 - they're only around $200.

Springs for now would work, obviously it's a lot less expensive, but the labor cost to install them is going to be relatively similar to coilovers, so that's the only catch that would suck to pay a cost twice if you had to wait and get coilovers at a later date. Honestly nothing wrong with springs, they're just mainly for looks though, so if you're ok with that, hell yeah, go for it!

Just remember, Eibach for Comfort and good looks, H&R if you want a bit harder of a spring rate, and typically a bit lower on the ride height as well.

Thanks a lot! I'll probably go with the Eibach sportline. Just wondering do I need anything else for the springs or can I just buy them and put them on? It's only for looks. If I do need anything else can you list them and if possible send me an ebay link to buy them.

You don't require anything else, other than an alignment after you drive on it for at least 200 miles so that the springs settle in.

We're not on ebay, but I can send you a PM to a link to our website to take care of it for you :thumbsup:

Hi, can you recomend me coiovers for me also? i live In Peru and the roads here SUCKS... I drive my GT86 almost daily but I also track and autocross and sometimes drift. So Im looking for nice and confort driving for the city and performance for track. I ride 18x8.5/18x9.5 Work Emotion Kiwami. Can U help me making a ride choise? Also thinking in Coils w/camber plates ? What do u think. Thanks

ST's if you want to spend a less money. KW's if they're within your budget I would say. I know I sound like a KW bandwagoner, but honestly I've been modifying cars for over 10 years now, so I know what feels good, and what doesn't. KW is the only coilover company that has done me right and made the car feel BETTER than it did stock when it comes to comfort, and performance.

Spring wise, I'll always recommend Eibach for the same reason as the KWs, for comfort. A lot of guys don't realize but some of these companies overcompensate their kits with harsh spring rates to make them perform better (at least that's just my opinion on how it feels), so it's refreshing to see a company like KW and Eibach stick to what the customers want, rather than covering up any imperfections.