Springs over coilovers ?

[wootwoot]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

My advice is to wait and buy suspension ONCE. Many get impatient and buy it twice.

I am not sure you ever "buy once" with suspension. Cheap coil-overs are known for failing more then spring/strut combinations and their more expensive counterparts (KW V3 etc). All of them will need to be re-built or replaced at some point. Spring/struts will likely last the longest. And cheap coil-overs will have the highest failure potential. It's a hard choice for sure... Maybe springs/shocks until they blow and you know the car better? Then you can decide to rebuild the shocks or buy good coil-overs.

I do agree that research is important if that's what you mean by "buy once." Know what you want the car to do and buy accordingly.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

I am not sure you ever "buy once" with suspension. Cheap coil-overs are known for failing more then spring/strut combinations and their more expensive counterparts (KW V3 etc). All of them will need to be re-built or replaced at some point. Spring/struts will likely last the longest. And cheap coil-overs will have the highest failure potential. It's a hard choice for sure... Maybe springs/shocks until they blow and you know the car better? Then you can decide to rebuild the shocks or buy good coil-overs.

I do agree that research is important if that's what you mean by "buy once." Know what you want the car to do and buy accordingly.

Dude, I meant don't spend $200 on springs just to not be happy and spend the $2K on coils anyway because that's what you really wanted in the first place. I'm saying don't get cheaper just becuase it's cheaper.

[MosesFRS]

I have been modding cars for 18 yrs and this debate as countless opinions. Personally I went springs until I blew stock struts on an RSX and then bought tein flex and felt little difference other than cornering stability. It depends on what you will use it for. Springs for mall crawling, good coils or tracking.

[husker741]

I don't track my cars and don't plan to but I want to lower it and not have any problems with the suspension. So I was thinking RCE yellows, or just waiting until I have a little more saved up for coilovers. I don't want anything too aggressive but again, I don't want problems with the stock struts if I go with springs.

Edit: I do, however, enjoy "spirited" driving on backroads and while on cruises.

[Captain Insano]

Originally Posted by JoeBoxer

Whats your budget? Koni struts/shocks and a good set of springs such as RCE, Eibach Pro-Kit, or Swift "BRZ spec" springs would be a good option and come out a little over $1k in parts.

You can always just do the springs now and do the Koni's or possibly some Bilstein's later.

If your car is a DD or primarily DD with very occasional tracking.... ^^^ What he said. Start with springs with moderate drop (eibach pro kit, RCE yellows, etc...). See what you think of that feel of driving. I have Eibach pro-kit and I love it. Gap gone. Still stock-like comfort. Don't concern yourself with premature strut wear, because if you like the OEM strut and it wears out (market hasn't seen premature wear for this as of yet) there are great upgrade options for the OEM strut already as JoeBoxer mentioned (probably more to come too). And you most likely will like that upgrade even more than the OEM strut and aftermarket spring combo.

I have done springs and coilovers on multiple cars, and if you value any kind of decent DD comfort, don't get cheap coilovers. If you like comfort and want a coilover that has the flexibility for good DD comfort along with good tracking... Get out the wallet and get ready to "pay to play".

[Jeong]

Originally Posted by Captain Insano

If your car is a DD or primarily DD with very occasional tracking.... ^^^ What he said. Start with springs with moderate drop (eibach pro kit, RCE yellows, etc...). See what you think of that feel of driving. I have Eibach pro-kit and I love it. Gap gone. Still stock-like comfort. Don't concern yourself with premature strut wear, because if you like the OEM strut and it wears out (market hasn't seen premature wear for this as of yet) there are great upgrade options for the OEM strut already as JoeBoxer mentioned (probably more to come too). And you most likely will like that upgrade even more than the OEM strut and aftermarket spring combo.

I have done springs and coilovers on multiple cars, and if you value any kind of decent DD comfort, don't get cheap coilovers. If you like comfort and want a coilover that has the flexibility for good DD comfort along with good tracking... Get out the wallet and get ready to "pay to play".

So id like to go tracking once in a while. But i also dd my car. Would kwv3s be a good coil for my situation?

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by Jeong

So id like to go tracking once in a while. But i also dd my car. Would kwv3s be a good coil for my situation?

Yes, v3, eibach pro-street, and ground control street system are all good options. Tein street basis if you are on a budget.

I could be wrong but i think a lot of the nvh that the cheap coilovers introduce is from their camber plates. For a dd i like coilovers that use a stock upper mount. If you dont need height adjustability though just get springs and add some bushings and other items until you need dampers. I have Tein H tech springs which probably arent as good for handling as the ones i recommended but they ride well and i think with the larger front sway bar i have on the way it should be impressive.

[mechaghost]

I am perfectly happy with my RCE yellows which I autoXed atleseat in 6 events last year

[Captain Insano]

Originally Posted by Jeong

So id like to go tracking once in a while. But i also dd my car. Would kwv3s be a good coil for my situation?

Yes - I think that looks like good coilover and gets good reviews on this board (I have personally never used them though). Everybody's budget is different. Don't get me wrong, I would love to own them, but I can't see myself dropping that kind of coin on a primarily DD/fun focused car, even if I throw in a couple autocross or track days each summer. That's just what my current goals are for the car. I can't justify the cost of good coilovers unless I get REALLY serious about tracking. For the entry price of good springs (I spent $190 shipped on my Eibach Pros) they are pretty darn good for DD car. And the $2K I might have spent on good coilovers can now be used for other modifications (good summer wheel/tire combo for example).

[Grimlock]

AS with my previous performance cars, I decided to go spring + shock. $300 for springs and $770 for shocks, which is about $1000 less than a decent coilover like the KW V3. For my purposes it was a no-brainer. I wanted a good performing suspension. I wouldn't adjust it after I got it original set up, and I wouldn't lower it past an inch anyway to avoid negative handling effects.

I did spend some extra money on camber adjustment solutions, but you'd have to do that anyway with coilovers as well.

I'm very much looking forward to my parts coming in the mail.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by mechaghost

I am perfectly happy with my RCE yellows which I autoXed atleseat in 6 events last year

Do you have the bushings and camber bolts or just the springs? I'm debating whether I should just get springs or the RCE starter kit.

[jesperswe]

I just picked up a set of Eibach Proline today, I'm not tracking my car and im just fed up with the AWD look on the car and figured ill start with springs and when/if the OEM shocks fail in a couple of years i'll go for coilovers.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by suaveflooder

It all depends on what you are planning to do with the car. Technically, you already have coilovers and they handle as such. At the same time, you don't have the adjustability of the aftermarket ones. The stock front coilovers will be more than enough for most of us that just take our cars out every once in awhile for fun, plus the NVH wont increase a lot and they will with an aftermarket adjustable coilover

I'll tell you this. My good friend HATED just a standard spring swap and has always run KW's on his M3's. He would make his opinion very vocal and he is someone who tracked his E90 a lot....I would venture to say 12+ track days a year. Fast forward a year and he traded his sedan in for his current E92 M3. The car already had lowering springs and he was scheduled for a track the within the following couple weeks after he bought it. Since he didn't have time to get coilovers in, he just ran the suspension as it was. He beat his previous best time by a full second! He was shocked! Needless to say, he's probably not going coilovers on this current car.

All that is to say, figure out what your plans are for the car, decide how much you want to drive it on the street. Coilovers for the track are not going to be super comfortable on the street. I had them on my cobra and I wish I would have stayed with springs as the car was a DD.

Personally, I'm sticking with springs. For the couple track days, I'm going to get more than my share of fun and have a nice stance to go with it.

Too many variables to account for that 1 second difference. Maybe your friend already considered them, but we don't know that. Some things to consider...

tires
weight from sedan to coupe
driver skills
wheel alignment
etc

Not saying I don't believe your friend, it's just difficult to say that having only springs was actually better than his previous setup.

[ayau]

Assuming the OP just wants to lower the car and not mess with other suspension settings, then lowering springs will be the best choice IMO. Look at the RCE springs or Eibach Pro kit.