Eibach pro-kit arrived for my R55. I'll be busy this weekend.
I'll take some before and after pictures with measurements.

 

 

Awesome Stimpy! Can't wait! Thanks for doing the measurements!

 

Measured from the center of the wheel it looks like it is about 14 1/4" for the front and 14" for the rear

 

I took some measurements and pictures. It looks like the front dropped about 1.2" (just as advertised) and the rear about .5"-.6". I believe Eibach stated it would be a 1.2" drop in the rear as well. Granted the springs still might have to settle a bit, I only took it out for a spin around the block. The kit I bought was the 5706.140, the one for the Clubman.
The ride doesn't seem to be any harsher than before, but it definitely is more flat around the curves. We'll see how it handles after an alignment.
Pictures of measurements to come later...

 

Front and rear after the lowering kit. I wish it would've been another inch, but I guess you can only get that with a coilover.

 

Cool! Can't wait to see pics of your Clubbie! The Eibachs don't tend to sag too much.

 

You did replace the shocks as well I hope?

 

Nope, I didn't replace the shocks. I don't think it will hurt. It only lowers by 1", there still will be plenty of travel and the spring rate is higher than the stock springs as well, so I don't think I will bottom out the shocks. We'll see.
If my shocks do go bad, then most likely that will be after 30K miles or so and by that time I'd want to switch to coil overs or a different suspension setup anyway.

 

exxxxxactly. im at 30K now on H&Rs and thinking is not going to be long now before I should think of coilovers or something....maybe come spring

 

Why not just get it right the first time?

Stock shocks aren't going to last long no matter what springs you're running, they're no doubt typical el-cheapo stuff that mfr's use. Lower the car at all is just going to accelerate the process.

I've studied the options out there and decided that Koni FSDs are the best choice for me. No need for coilovers, overkill when I have no plans to race or autocross the car. The Konis have a lifetime guarantee, so I'll be done once this upgrade is in place. I'll pair them with NM springs.

 

well i can say why i didnt 'do it right the first time'...

wanted to lower the car. car had brand spankin new shocks. didnt feel the need to spend the extra cash. I would imagine Stimpy has maybe a similar mentality towards it.

now i want to be able to adjust for going even lower and higher in the winter season.

 

Can someone tell me what are the spring rates for the Eibach and the H&R? Thanks!

 

i only have the eibach rates...

Fronts are 171lb/in
rears 155 on light and high spring rate is 239lb/in

TSWs are 225/269 respectively...
NM 205/240

 

Thanks. The spring rates of the Eibachs are much lower that TSW. Do you feel the ride to behave similar to the stock springs? Since the lowering is about ~1" I would expect the spring rate to be the main differentiator, but it looks like Eibach's are pretty close to stock in terms of spring rates. They are progressive right?

 

So installing a 40% stiffer spring with stock shocks supposed to be a good idea? lol Can you say pogo stick...

 

I have 18K on my stock shocks, I doubt they are bad at this point. I wanted the car lowered a bit and I will upgrade to Koni's or coilovers once the stock shocks are gone.

exactly!

The ride is similar to stock, probably a tad stiffer, it does not seem to lean as much through the corners. I don't know if they are progressive springs. I mainly did it to lower the car a bit. All my cars have been lowered using coilovers or a shock/spring combination. This is the first time I only did springs and although the lowering effect is not as much, I still like it.

 

Here's something to think about... stock springs are progressive, but only a very small part of them are as such... most of the spring is one rate... but the bottom tapers in a little bit... the Eibachs are tighter wound up top causing the higher rates... but the TSWs are linear springs, like the JCW springs and coilovers. to technically speaking they can be more predictable, but a progressive spring will be more comfortable in a lot of situations...

 

On my 1993 Toyota Celica I ran H&R springs on the stock struts until I got rid of the car (about 7 months ago) I had no issues with using stock struts and the car was at about 180k miles when I sold it. The issue of stock struts not lasting on aftermarket springs is a myth.

 

It's no myth. Are you an engineer for one of the suspension component manufacturers? Of course not, because if you were, you wouldn't have made that statement. Do you know something they don't? Doubtful.

Those shocks/struts on your Celica were toast ages ago. Your springs were doing all the work. That's the fact, Jack!

 

Sorry but your opinion was not a fact.
My car went through yearly inspections to ensure there was no issues with them. The only issues that car had suspension wise was at about 120k miles the bushings on the sway bar needed replacing. There is your fact.

 

By the way, I have been a licensed driver for over 22 years.I have been doing my own mantenance on my vehicles the entire time and I know what the symptoms of bad struts are and have replaced struts on my some of my previous cars due to them giving up the ghost. So maybe you need to learn a little more before you start throwing " facts" around. Just an idea for you.

 

And I've been driving for 37 years. So what? Completely irrelevant.

Call H&R, Koni, and Bilstein, Eibach, K&W, etc.. talk to an engineer. Ask if using a sport/lowering spring on a stock shock/strut (or any that's made for use with full-length, non-lowering springs) will shorten its life. 100% of the time, the answer will be the same. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine.. ask an expert and educate yourself.

 

Have you done this? I doubt it. By the way, How many of those companies actually make a strut that is specific to a "lower" spring? (other than coilovers) 99% of those struts are a direct replacement for the stock struts with the same general measurements as the stock units as well as pressure rates.
When the idea of lowering springs came out the majority of them were a hard rate spring not the better "progressive" rate springs that we have today. Many times those hard springs would cause a strut problem but now with the tech that the manufactures are using this becomes a non issue. A stock strut will not blow because it is settled/running 1-2" lower at rest than it was originally.

I would love to have anyone that has "actually had a stock strut blow on lowering springs" chime in. I believe I can probably round up 2 times more people that have had stock struts blow on stock springs making your argument invalid.

If you do not understand my point above then here it is. Stock struts may blow at any time due to the driving conditions, weather conditions, excessive weight in the car and many other reasons as will aftermarket struts. The newer lowering springs such as the Eibachs above will NOT cause it. Some struts will last longer than others that is a fact.

 

Yes, I have.

Many of those companies make a proper shock/strut for lowering springs - Koni, H&R (rebranded Koni), Bilstein, to name a few.

Look, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you over this, but you are misinformed. If you care to educate yourself, then do as I suggest and confirm what I'm saying. Are you somehow afraid to learn the truth? If you'd rather just continue to try to tell me off without verifying your incorrect theory, then I don't know what else to say.