Well,
I am a few weeks out for delivery so I started getting my suspension package worked out. I have been trying to do as much reading as possible and talking to a few vendors. I ended up ordering a set of Bilstein shocks with plans to use the NM engineering springs. I just cancelled the order at the last possible minute and upgraded (I think) to the Eibach Pro-Street S coilovers. I, atleast, feel more confident that the system is engineered to go lower, though...I only plan a drop of around and inch or so.

I will post back with my impression(s). I'd like to thank Scottab for conversing with me on this topic though it was void of the actual "brand" talk in regards to the coilover.

 

good move get yourself some swift springs 6k front 5.5k rear to replace the junk eibach springs.

 

I think that I'll stick with the eibach's for now. The main goal for me was to get a daily driver type feel with some performance gain along with ride height adjustability. Wow....why did this thread post 4 times????

 

Eibach springs are junk? Really? I've heard great things about Eibach. Or are you saying they're junk cos they're too soft?

 

eibach are okay if free otherwise buy swift for the same price .

 

So you are saying that the coilover are engineered to work with swift springs and not the Eibach springs? Are swift springs designed for the street or the track?

Also,
Does anybody have any direct experience with these coilovers and whether or not a spacer will be needed for 17" OE wheels to clear the collars? Thanks!

 

Most dampers are designed to work within a set range of spring pressure not brand of spring .

The eibach pro street s might have a hive shaped spring,if so you will need a spacer .Swift would not need a spacer and is perfect for street and track.

 

Are you talking about Swift Motorsports in CT? If so, where are the springs located on their website? Also, if you don't mind, how do these springs seat?....Would I need camber plate(s)/special top hat?

 

James,
Aha...I came across swiftsprings.com and now see who you are talking about. I had never heard of them before. I am going to browse their site. Should I be looking under "sport springs?" If so...I would be using a front spring form a GS300/400/430 (336lbs) and a rear spring from a Q45 (308lbs)? In looking at the Eibach springs, they appear to be the ERS series spring which would NOT be the behive style. I hope this will mean that I do not need wheel spacers.

 

Do not use the gs or q45 springs on a coilover.measure your spring diameter and length then choose a spring that is between 5.5k and 7.5k (a 6k to 6.5k is perfect for the street/track use, 5.5k is good for only street use)

 

Gotcha. I am pretty sure that the ERD is 2.5" spring. Thanks for your insight/input.

 

The erd spring is a joke .

 

Do you know the specs on the ERD's by any chance? Unfortunately, I am flying blind if I do the installation with the swift springs because I have nothing to compare it to (before and after with ERD) but by the sounds of it and after looking at Swift's site...I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't impressed by what they are saying.

James,
Is this something where you think the ride will be night and day between the swifts and ERD?

 

The ride will be the same or better with the swift(DEPENDING ON RATES) but the handling will be lightyears ahead of the eibach springs .Eibach has decent coilovers(dampers for prostreet are made by KW and for multipro by Koni) but Ebach springs are just middle of the pack when it comes to performance and ride.

 

Key word being "handling." I like it. I believe that you sold me. I will keep you posted when everything arrives. Thank you VERY much for your help!

 

 

James,
I spoke with Leonard at Swift. Nice guy! He REALLY recommended that I run an 8 up front and a 6 out back. Does this sound concurrent with what you have found or is he used smooth pavement?

 

Here is a really good discussion thread on this subject by some real pros -- read through it -- I think it will be helpful.

http://www.motoringalliance.com/foru...as-failed.html

 

They're the rates I'll be running on my coilovers when I get them.

 

I picked springrates to match my driving style . more spring in front = understeer,more spring in back = oversteer,equal rate front and rear = neutral .

 

the rates leonard advised you on are good for a novice and will be very forgiving at the limit.

for me i like neutal to slight oversteer at limit. the setup I run at the ring is like the setup leonard likes,at spa i like more spring in the rear and at sebring i like a neutral setup .

everything depends on driver skill and the track you plan to run.

nurburgring no runoff area,spa huge runoff area ,sebring huge runoff but combination of rough and smooth surface.

 

guys...thanks a lot and ron-s mini - awesome thread! I think that I understand a lot of what they are talking about. I honestly don't think that I am going to beef up the sway bars. Maybe the rear bar a little bit. I am thinking that I should err on the "forgiving" side of things and Leonard was very passionate about the ride quality acheived by the 8kg FR and 6kg RR. I think that I will use that combination. I am not going to be using camber plates either...stock upper mounts/bearings. This will be a street car. I appreciate all of the feedback gents!

 

no worries.

I'd say if you want to beef up the rear bar, use a slightly lower spring rate at the back. If I had a stock rear swaybar, I'd use the same spring rates all round, and if I had a 19mm bar on full stiff, I'd use 8k/6k or a similar ratio.

The ride on swift springs is better than any other spring that I've experienced, on any car. Probably due to the linear rate. The springs are so comfortable, that I actually would recommend 1kg/mm stiffer than you'd usually spec with any other brand of spring

 

IMO it's not that the Eibach sprigns are bad...they're OKAY, but with the Pro Street kit they're super soft and progressive, designed for looks mostly.

Swifts are a better spring no question. 8k/6k will handle well....i personally would rather 7k/6k or even 6k/6k for a more neutral set-up and better ride quality. Then I would run a stock or a 19mm rear bar at most with that set-up. I'm even thinking about 5k/5k since I won't be running super sticky tires and I'm looking for a good amount of compliance.

8k/6k with a rear swaybar will be nice though. An adjustable rear bar will let you tune the balance of the car quickly and easily to your driving style.

You probably want 60mm ID springs, and length probably around 7 to 8 inches. Do your Eibachs come with helper springs? If your patient, wait til you get the Eibachs and take some measurements and we can figure it out.

I work with Swift springs quite a bit setting people up, mostly for Subaru and EVO though.

- Andrew

 

Andrew,
Awesome! Thanks for that input. I don't have the coilovers in hand yet. They should be to me next week (I am guessing late). I will then see the full configuration (whether or not there are helper springs). I definitely want to get the measurements so that I have a baseline. I don't even have the car yet and may not for another 3 weeks so...time is on my side.

Andrew...do you also sell the swift springs?