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View Full Version : Suspension brainstorming


firelizard
04-18-2006, 10:06 PM
As I've moaned about before, BHA chassis springs are hard to find so my options are limited but air is out of the question for my budget so I want to make the most of what is available in springs.
B+G makes a 2.25" drop spring (200 bucks) and that is the lowest spring out there. Intrax and Sprint also make springs (200 bucks each), for a 1.8" drop. RSR also has a Ti2000 spring but it's not much a drop (boo).
Then in the coilover department there is Ground Control with Eibach springs, and Weapon-R.
Ground Control (400 bucks) is the brand I'd trust the most out of those, especially since I'm concerned about the sleeves stripping, because that would be disastrously crappy, and Weapon-R isn't very convincing, especially at 150 bucks.* ???
I've also heard that GCs allow you to pick Eibach spring with the spring rate you want, which is nice.

So at the moment I've got three ideas.

Idea one is trying the Weapon-Rs to see how to feel and how the clearances at a big drop, as well as what adjustments I'd need to make. Also it would be a quick stance fix so I can focus on the big one: wheels, then just ride on the Weaps while I wait for airbag money. If they suck I lost about 200 bucks, woopee. I'm just worried about ruining a set of struts (that I would have to get no matter what springs I choose) if they really suck.

Idea two is getting the Ground Controls, so I have the assurance that I've got some good quality components but I'll have spent a lot of money if I don't like them. (On the upside, resale would be pretty easy, to minimize my losses).

Idea three is just getting 1.8" drop springs and live with the wheel gap, but this isn't a very satisfying solution.

One thing that is important to me aside from quality and price, is the ride quality. The WeaponRs are soft for sure, they're meant for cheap-o ricers who don't race anyways. And the Intrax and Sprint (pretty much the same thing) are designed with the daily driver in mind. The Ground Controls will no doubt be very stiff even with a lesser spring rate on the Eibachs.

I really want to try the Weapon Rs because they're such a bargain but I realize I can't expect quality from them so it's a bit of a crapshoot. Fact of the matter is, good ol' Matsuda has blessed me with an ungodly amount of wheel gap and not much would make me happier than getting rid of it before getting rims (hence my fixation on getting this done in a hurry).
I know this stuff is a bit of change from the JICs and AirRunner you guys are used to but I can't do much here so I'm hoping you guys can help me work something out. I don't want to do this half-assed by just thinking with my wallet, I would like to keep this under 1000 bucks, including struts (which would be about $400).
Oh, by the way, other ideas are more than welcome! (as long as the idea isnt "get another car" ::))

viplife
04-18-2006, 10:44 PM
what make, model, year, car? $1000 can accomplish more than ebay lowering springs, if applied in the right fashion.

DXJP
04-18-2006, 10:45 PM
What car are you working on. Is that a mx6 or sentia. we have stupid drop coils here for cheep. Even coil overs for just over a grand.

uncle_el
04-18-2006, 11:00 PM
What car are you working on. Is that a mx6 or sentia. we have stupid drop coils here for cheep. Even coil overs for just over a grand.

it's a protege, which is neither an mx6 or a sentia.


don't waste your time with the spring/strut combo for that car. you're not going to be able to get as low as you would with a ground control set up. the less you spend on suspension (doesn't make sense to buy suspension twice), the more you can increase the budget for the wheels.

OnTop
04-19-2006, 06:34 AM
a $1000 can put that thing on air, but listen to your ''uncle'' get some simple springs and have more budget for wheels

firelizard
04-19-2006, 03:53 PM
a $1000 can put that thing on air, but listen to your ''uncle'' get some simple springs and have more budget for wheels

I think Uncle was saying I should go with the Ground Control..which would run me near to 1000 with struts and any installation that I may need to do.
I could put it on air (which would be the ultimate) if I had the tools to install it myself. V8_Aristo's air strut thread makes it look easy enough but I'm afraid of buying 1000 bucks of stuff that I'm going to screw up.

V8_Aristo
04-19-2006, 04:37 PM
I think Uncle was saying I should go with the Ground Control..which would run me near to 1000 with struts and any installation that I may need to do.
I could put it on air (which would be the ultimate) if I had the tools to install it myself. V8_Aristo's air strut thread makes it look easy enough but I'm afraid of buying 1000 bucks of stuff that I'm going to screw up.


Why not get just a pair of struts first and see if you can make the mounts for it. It wasn't that hard for me, but I've been work on cars for a long time.

firelizard
04-19-2006, 05:17 PM
Why not get just a pair of struts first and see if you can make the mounts for it. It wasn't that hard for me, but I've been work on cars for a long time.

I would consider this but looking at Easy Street's Crafter Packs, just the front strutbags would blow 75% of the budget right off the bat, so no, I can't do air for 1k.

OnTop
04-19-2006, 05:24 PM
im sure you can do air for less than 1k. granted i have the ever so popular honda suspension i bought my air kit used for $600 almost 2years ago. i does have an ocassional leak but its nothing to fix. what i getting at is that there are cylinders,bags out there for cars in that price range. its up to you to fabricate/purchase proper mounts. or

go to www.airbagit.com search for protoge

firelizard
04-19-2006, 05:46 PM
KIT-II Is a "FAST" kit with 3/4HP Big compressor, water filter, 3 gal steel tank, 8 2-Position 150PSI Valves, 3/8" airline, 2 dual guages, 150PSI Pressure switch & 3/8" STEEL fittings.
$1,895 USD

Rear strutbag kits are $799 USD per axle and that's without the compressor, filter, tank, valves, and hardware.

(these prices are from the site OnTop quoted)

The KIT-II is $2,153.31 CAD, which is a decent price for air but out of my price range for sure, and that's assuming I won't need professional help installing it

OnTop
04-19-2006, 08:19 PM
for example
ebay
Item number: 8056608387

firelizard
04-19-2006, 08:32 PM
That's nice and all but I need struts, I can't use bags, and the struts need to be either universal or application specific for my car. And I wouldn't really trust used air suspension pieces, especially not ones that I can't see in person.

OnTop
04-19-2006, 09:10 PM
man just cut your springs

firelizard
04-19-2006, 09:18 PM
man just cut your springs

;D tough eh? I won't be cutting springs for sure though.
It's pretty much between mediocre "in the meantime" drop, cheap test coilovers, or pricier coilovers.

One Ton VIP
04-22-2006, 03:02 PM
You're on a budget... you probably won't keep the car for more than a few years...it's not your magnum opus ride...you prob need to keep the car as reliable as possible... just go with something cheap and simple. Get some affordable coilover sleeves and run them over the stock struts. Bring the car down about 2" and call it a day. Done. It's a good starting point as a first suspension mod, and you'll learn a lot about the car that way.

firelizard
04-22-2006, 08:24 PM
You're on a budget... you probably won't keep the car for more than a few years...it's not your magnum opus ride...you prob need to keep the car as reliable as possible... just go with something cheap and simple. Get some affordable coilover sleeves and run them over the stock struts. Bring the car down about 2" and call it a day. Done. It's a good starting point as a first suspension mod, and you'll learn a lot about the car that way.

Sounds like a plan! GroundControl it is.

Dark Anghell
04-23-2006, 09:11 PM
yeah that's the best option...I had ground control on my galant back in the day and the car had no bounce, handled very well and didn't make much noise. Well worth the money.