Lowering Springs

[Granger968]

I was wondering if any of you guys have experience with lowering your MSP's by putting on some shorter coils... I'm looking at Eibach, who offers Pro-Kit and Sportlines for the protege, with are supposed to fit on the MSP. Will I get some rubbing in the wings with a sportline kit (1.8" drop) on my MSP?

And how long should I plan on spending to change the 4 coils??

Thanks for any info!

 

[03.5MSP]

I like my Sportline kit, and you dont experience rubbing unlees u fit 3 people in the back seat. I didnt install my own springs so i cant tell how long it would take.

 

[low_psi]

Check the link in my sig. Install takes 1-3hrs.

FYI- The drop in ride height isn't directly related to coil height most of the time. Exceptions are coilsleeves, where the spring is shorter to accomodate the height of the spring perch/collar.

 

[orng1]

I havent had any problems with rubbing on the stock wheels. I have sprint on my car maybe not the best springs but it is the lowest I could find at the time. I've had 5 people in the car and no rubbing I even cut a few coils just to be lower, though I wouldn't recommend it even though the ride is not that bad after all these years. good luck.

Bob/orng1

 

[Granger968]

Check the link in my sig. Install takes 1-3hrs.

FYI- The drop in ride height isn't directly related to coil height most of the time. Exceptions are coilsleeves, where the spring is shorter to accomodate the height of the spring perch/collar.

Could you expand on the "ride height not being related to coil height" subject?

Thanks!

 

[ChiMSP]

I have the eibach prokit. No complaints here, just good times

 

[MSdestro]

ChiMSP: do you get alot of bounce????and how are the shocks holding up???the reason I ask is because I want to go with springs but im afraid to blow a shock and aftermarket is so expensive...i also blew a shock on my las car 6 months after I lowered it...it was a 2005.
respect.

 

[ChiMSP]

It's a great ride, no bouce. Very close, if not better than stock. Shocks are fine.

 

[jaw307]

It's a great ride, no bouce. Very close, if not better than stock. Shocks are fine.

are shocks fine with the sportlines or just the pro? is a camber kit needed for the pro kit?

 

[low_psi]

Could you expand on the "ride height not being related to coil height" subject?

Thanks!

Ride height is contolled by spring rate, which controls weight loads, as well as spring length and position on the shock. I could have a spring 2x stiffer than stock but .5" shorter in length and see no change in ride height. A softer spring will generally droop more with the same weight on it, while a stiffer spring will resist drooping, in most cases.

The design of the spring is what really controls the change in ride height. You can have 2x stiffer spring that drops the ride height 4" if that's what the manifacturer wants. So when you see a spring creates a 1.5" drop, it doesn't mean the spring is physically 1.5" shorter than its replacement.

Let me know if I've made this clearer.

 

[sickspeed94]

I was wondering if any of you guys have experience with lowering your MSP's by putting on some shorter coils... I'm looking at Eibach, who offers Pro-Kit and Sportlines for the protege, with are supposed to fit on the MSP. Will I get some rubbing in the wings with a sportline kit (1.8" drop) on my MSP?

And how long should I plan on spending to change the 4 coils??

Thanks for any info!

if you search it, it willcome...

i've got ground control coilovers ALL THE WAY DOWN (3+ inch drop all the way around) 16 x 7 wheels with low offset and 205/50 tires... never rubbed once.. and my car is slammed.

if you want to go cheaper it'll cost you anywhere from 160 (ebay for tien springs) to 220 plu sshipping, you should be able to install themn yourself or get a friend that knows what he's doing to help, and don't listen to anyoen who says you need a spring compressor, i've done 5-6 spring changes on different cars without compressors (i just used channel locks, and a friend to help position it.)


*EDIT* my shocks are LONG GONE

 

[Granger968]

if you search it, it willcome...

i've got ground control coilovers ALL THE WAY DOWN (3+ inch drop all the way around) 16 x 7 wheels with low offset and 205/50 tires... never rubbed once.. and my car is slammed.

That,s what I'm talking about...! With the CG lowered by almost 3" and some decent hp (250+), we'll get this car doing good on the track.

Will be in Road America on 24-25 of September for BMW Owner's Club... Anybody else?

 

[ChiMSP]

are shocks fine with the sportlines or just the pro? is a camber kit needed for the pro kit?

you'll be ok with either one. Personally I prefered the prokit. You can actually the stock camber kit.

 

[low_psi]

Have you looked at how the suspension geometry changes with lowering the car? I'm guessing 3" is too much of a drop unless you have custom valved dampers. The more you lower the car, the less shock travel you have... and the shocks are designed to operate within a certain range.

 

[ChiMSP]

Have you looked at how the suspension geometry changes with lowering the car? I'm guessing 3" is too much of a drop unless you have custom valved dampers. The more you lower the car, the less shock travel you have... and the shocks are designed to operate within a certain range.

Which was the reason i went with the least amount as possilble. It will shorten shock travel, but not drastically.

 

[low_psi]

Heh, that was a question for Granger, but I'm glad other ppl are thinking about this

 

[jaw307]

I have a quick ?.
does anyone with the sportlines w/ stock tokicos feel that the ride is softer than stock, bounce even. A lot of the dsm guys I know say the sportlines ride softer than stock, I hope this isn't true bc I want to lower my car and have it handle better not ride like slop.

 

[low_psi]

they have a softer base spring rate, but their max rate is higher than the stock MSP springs. you'll notice the ride is more comfortable, but you'll see increased handling from the harder spring and lower cg.

 

[jaw307]

they have a softer base spring rate, but their max rate is higher than the stock MSP springs. you'll notice the ride is more comfortable, but you'll see increased handling from the harder spring and lower cg.

good bc they are on the way. I did alot of research but, I figured I would ask someone with the same model bc the springs very from car to car

thanks

 

[jaw307]

put the sportlines on the other day, and wow. I love them, looks and performance. The car sits now were it should have from the factory and its not too low so it is still a functional vehicle for the road even in michigan.