[V-RAPTOR]

This is my first "tuner" car and I'm not a huge grease monkey so I don't have a huge understanding about everything. I'm planning on getting eibach pro kit lowering springs. So my question is....what I'm I going to have to do to ensure that my car drives good as well as keep my shocks and struts and all that intact and able to drive on lowering springs for a long period I time. Cause after reading threads about lowering springs, it seems like it's not as easy as installing them and that's it ha

 

[lagonwagon]

I know that one of the Eibach Pro Kit users on here seems to be having shock/strut issues after aprox 2500miles because of the extreme drop. I would say you have three options.
1) Get shocks/struts that are made for that drop.
2) Go with a less extreme drop.
3) Get coilovers which would be about the same price as springs, shocks & struts.

 

[V-RAPTOR]

I see that you have the ark springs....how are those treating you? Any additional things you had to do besides just installing them?

 

[lagonwagon]

I went with the GT-Fs because it was a moderate drop and ARK built them to be used with the stock struts/shocks. I have had them on for over 1.5k with no issues but that isn't a long period of time. The listed drop was 1in front and .75 rear for the GT-Fs but i actually got 1.3 from them. This added drop may cause a problem down the road, but it hasn't yet.

 

[MyDianaZ06]

I was gonna do springs, NGM, but after knowing that your struts/shocks are more than likely going to blow sooner or later, I decided to go the coilover route, NGM Betamax, just for the simple fact that the price is the same between a spring/koni setup and NGM coilovers (actually it would be cheaper) Also what is the point of putting springs on your stock struts knowing later you are going to have to go back and replace the struts/shocks? That is more work/time/money that I don't have. I say do it right the first time and either get the right struts/shocks with your spring of choice and hopefully your happy with the amount of work/time/money you spent on the setup and also hope your happy with the stance because there is no adjusting the height with out changing out the spring OR just be done with it and get your self NGM Betamax coilovers that are 895 shipped, fully adjustable and easier to install.

 

[Dmilinare]

With just lowering springs... can a typical dealer/mechanic still do a regular alignment without issues to increase rather than decrease the treadwear due to the drop?
I asked my local firestone(a friend of mine works there) and he said the machine is built with stock specs to align accordingly, but that a spring like the ARK with an average drop of 1-1.5 inches wouldn't throw off the alignment and they can adjust for the drop.
Is he even close to being right?

 

[btjetman]

The only thing that MAY be out of spec is your toe-in and they can adjust that if out.

 

[GT800]

Btjetman is absolutely right. Any shop could align it with just simple lowering unless you go down id say 2+ inchs then youll have to start worry about camber. When I did the NGM springs on my car before the coils I went to go align it afterwards and it was still perfectly in spec.

 

[Dmilinare]

So the ark gtf springs, could be done normally ?

Awesome! I think that's the route ill be going.