Eibach Pro Kit Installed (pics)

[CWPspeed3]

I have to thank goldwing2000 and 6iguy2005 for helping install these in record time. Total install time took less than 90min due to a lift and floor standing spring compressor and air tools. First impressions driving are that most of the ride quality is retained even though Michigan roads in general suck. The car feels more responsive and planted to the road in cloverleaf on ramps and even at "excessive" speeds. The Pirelli Pzero Nero S&W tires make the ride seem smoother and quieter than the stock tires so that plays a factor as well. Anyway here are some pics.

Comparison on the rears

Some before and after shots (the Pirelli's are new and still have their coating from the factory on)

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Looks awesome man! I wonder how much more the ride will lower once the springs settle. After your alignment, i'd measure your wheel gap on all 4 corners then re-measure at the beginning of summer!

 

[CWPspeed3]

Looks awesome man! I wonder how much more the ride will lower once the springs settle. After your alignment, i'd measure your wheel gap on all 4 corners then re-measure at the beginning of summer!

Thanks, Eibach says the springs arent supposed to settle but I'm going to wait a couple hundred miles for an alignment then measure. Right now its got some crazy negative camber and toe in. I forgot to measure first so I may have to measure on yours for a rough estimate.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

No prob. I don't mind being a "stock" comparison lol. Me and my OEM-self.

 

[goldwing2000]

It's negative camber, actually.

And you should get that alignment done asap. The longer you wait, the more it's going to wear out your tires.

 

[CWPspeed3]

It's negative camber, actually.

And you should get that alignment done asap. The longer you wait, the more it's going to wear out your tires.

I'll see what the dealer says for a good laugh and try Belle Tire or I think Harolds Frame Shop is supposed to be good. How much should an alignment cost?

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Matt, I would just say that your alignment seems a little off, and have them drive with you real quick to see what they think. If they notice nothing, say "Well i'd like to see if you could throw it up on the rack and see?"

When they say "This thing is lower than average, did you install new springs or something?" And just go "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I did. Why?" And play the innocent card and see what they do lol. Just say "Didn't know your alignment changes just by changing springs!" Even though we do.

Play it off like Dave Chappelle:
"I didn't know I couldn't do that..."
"You hear that? Because I DID know I couldn't do that, LOL"

What's up with me and quoting celebs lately..

 

[CWPspeed3]

Haha I've talked to most of the people at the dealer I could try and play dumb but they might know better. It doesnt look too much lower they might not even notice, especially if its up on a lift. I could say it came back like that after I got my new tires put on or something.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

THey are not going to warranty an alignment after 6 months. One pot hole could throw that off and that isnt their fault. Dealer cost should be about $75. I have to say this guys... When you throw money into your cars like this you can not complain or go cheap on the maintenance to keep it right. You just have to do it!

 

[CWPspeed3]

I know they wont warranty it. I was just wondering if there was somewhere better than the dealer to do an alignment and trying to get an idea of cost. I'm going to pay to have it done and probably do it sometime this week. The alignment doesnt feel bad, it doesnt pull in any directions but I know its probably placing extra ware on the tires, luckily I dont drive that much.

 

[njaremka]

Comparison on the rears

do you have a similar comparison for the fronts? if thats the stock spring on the right, the Eibach looks likeit has a SOFTER rate (thinner wire diameter and more coils) than the stock speed3 spring, which would give you a smoother ride but will compromise performance. looks like these springs might be designed for the regular 3, and not the speed3.

they look good on the car, but i wouldnt have "upgraded" to these.

just my $0.02

 

[iredremix]

damn that's a nice drop man. kinda wish i bought these instead of the cobbs

 

[jwdp54]

It's negative camber, actually.

And you should get that alignment done asap. The longer you wait, the more it's going to wear out your tires.

not always true.i've been told to wait a couple hunderd incase they do settle you don't have to go back. i've had springs installed for 1500 and still haven't gotten an alignment. i will soon though just to make sure i will never have a problem. i painted my calipers this past weekend and rotated my tires and could tell no difference except i need to take it easy on my front tires.

i did notice though as i've been driving that the car started to act loose on me so when i did rotate the tires i checked all my bolts and they definitly needed to be tightened. should i use loctite or will that make it impossible if i need to swap the springs back to stock for some reason.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Matt,
How long did you guys keep Ray out? He was crying yesterday that he was sick (flu or bad food) and he isnt at work today. LOL...

 

[CWPspeed3]

Matt,
How long did you guys keep Ray out? He was crying yesterday that he was sick (flu or bad food) and he isnt at work today. LOL...

We were done before 1am but he made us go get car bombs. We were home by 3am. If he was sick thats probably why I feel like crap today too.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

So you all got drunk Saturday night then? The truth.

 

[CWPspeed3]

So you all got drunk Saturday night then? The truth.

celebratory car bomb and drinks for a job well done on my springs thats all. (cheers)

 

[CWPspeed3]

do you have a similar comparison for the fronts? if thats the stock spring on the right, the Eibach looks likeit has a SOFTER rate (thinner wire diameter and more coils) than the stock speed3 spring, which would give you a smoother ride but will compromise performance. looks like these springs might be designed for the regular 3, and not the speed3.

they look good on the car, but i wouldnt have "upgraded" to these.

just my $0.02

When I get home from work I will take a picture of the stock springs off the car for comparison. I dont believe the Eibach is a thinner diameter but I can measure that as well. It's my understanding that the more coils are due to the progressive rate springs, it defiantly doesn't feel softer.

damn that's a nice drop man. kinda wish i bought these instead of the cobbs

Thanks, do you have any pictures of yours with the cobb springs? How does the drop compare?

 

[goldwing2000]

not always true.i've been told to wait a couple hunderd incase they do settle you don't have to go back. i've had springs installed for 1500 and still haven't gotten an alignment. i will soon though just to make sure i will never have a problem. i painted my calipers this past weekend and rotated my tires and could tell no difference except i need to take it easy on my front tires.

i did notice though as i've been driving that the car started to act loose on me so when i did rotate the tires i checked all my bolts and they definitly needed to be tightened. should i use loctite or will that make it impossible if i need to swap the springs back to stock for some reason.

As long as the nuts are properly torqued, they shouldn't come loose. Using loc-tite on suspension bolts is ok, as long as you use the right color. I would recommend blue but not red.

 

[builthatch]

do you have a similar comparison for the fronts? if thats the stock spring on the right, the Eibach looks likeit has a SOFTER rate (thinner wire diameter and more coils) than the stock speed3 spring, which would give you a smoother ride but will compromise performance. looks like these springs might be designed for the regular 3, and not the speed3.

they look good on the car, but i wouldnt have "upgraded" to these.

just my $0.02

this is incorrect information.

Please review the following-

Stock linear springs:
Front- 188lbs
Rear- 171lbs

Eibach Pro-Kit:
Front- 160lbs-239lbs
Rear- 148lbs-228lbs

the initial rate is softer than stock, but they are progressive, hence the variation in coil spacing, etc. The rate under duress is quite a bit higher than stock. the stockers are linear and are of a static rate.

This Pro-Kit was specifically developed for the MS3. This is NOT a kit for a regular 3. Eibach did extensive track testing and R&D with this kit to assure it's the best Pro-Kit possible. These will give you a ride that some will say feels softer than stock while cruising. anything more than cruising will yield a marked improvement in performance vs. stock.

as far as recommendations for alignment, the Pro-Kit design allows for stock settings to be had using adjustments made with the factory camber adjustment parameters. Please review this post i made in the past regarding what happens when you install the kit (as far as settings)-

i agree with you that this car looks ideal at about 1.2 up front and 1.0 in back.

there are a few potential reasons for this decision, based on past experience with pro-kit releases-

1. camber adjustment potential using factory specs and equipment

2. no add'l performance gains from lowering any further

2. they might decide down the line to do a sportline kit, which would end up requiring some sort of aftermarket camber correction to get back to reasonable spec?

3. they also might have found that the travel sacrifices of the stock damper are not worth it for the add'l fraction of an inch.

i have some interesting info about what happens with the ms3 when you lower it.

the front OE camber is a hair under -1 degree.

when you lower it .8", you are now at about -1.4 degrees. it's possible to re-align it with the factory equipment to factory spec. no camber kit needed. that is a nice feature, esp with a car that already likes to eat tires (turbo fwd, oi!)

the rear is where the surprises are. the rear OE camber is about the same as the front, from the factory, about -1*. When you drop it only .7", you are now at -2.1 degrees! again though, evidently this seems to be still within the range where the alignment can be adjusted to factory spec using stock equipment.

i have alot of faith in the eibach R&D, but i thought the same as you when i saw the numbers initially.

AFAIK, someone from this board had their car used to develop these. i think it was possibly Channah but i'm not sure.