Just Coils or full Coil over setup?????

[Its a Demio]

Hello all! I see a lot of opinions on what route people are taking to lower their 2's. I have noticed that KSports come as a full assembly, but that all the other companies (ie Racing Beat, H&R, Eibach, Tein) has the option to go with just coils and stock or aftermarket shocks, or the full set up. I am on a budget and would like to know if you dropped your 2 with a full coil over set up or just coils. Is there a huge negative effect on your stock shocks as well if you just use coils?

 

[inspekt]

Look through some of the threads recently posted here, there was much discussion about H&Rs compared to Eibachs (both of which get you lower and look really really good - but aren't technically made to work with the USDM stock shocks; Eibach offers better daily driver ride quality, H&R is a good bit more firm), and also some discussion about the Racing Beat springs (which lower you only a tiny bit, but improve handling and body roll and are meant to work with the USDM stock shocks). Dig around and you will find a LOT of info!

 

[njaremka]

what is your goal? sharper handling, or custom ride-height? if all you want is better handling, and you don't care to corner balance or set your own ride height, get a set of springs and call it a day. if you want the ability to pick your own ride height and have control over the damping of the struts, get coilovers.

 

[eyeballs]

If you plan on autocrossing or tracking your 2 then you want coilovers. If you like more things to play around with, don't care too much about ride quality, and want to spend more money, then get coilovers. Otherwise get springs and you can add swaybars to further reduce body roll or adjust handling balance.

I've got the racing beat springs, and you're more than welcome to come check out my car if you want.

One more thing....if you have to ask this question then most likely you want springs, and probably the eibachs.

 

[Its a Demio]

Thanks for the insight guys. Eyeballs, I might take you up on that offer soon. I think I might go for the springs for now and coil overs later. Who knows? I didn't think that the stock shocks could handle the big drop of the H&R's, but I do like the way they look. It just seemed odd to me that you can buy just the coils instead of the whole assembly, but I guess that's just in case you already have an aftermarket shock.

 

[eyeballs]

Actually, there are tons of spring options for tons of vehicles that will drastically shorten the life of the stock dampers. If you think you'll want to upgrade your shocks in a year or so then just go for the H&R's. Otherwise, the eibach's still give a good look, and are mild enough that mazda offers them through the dealership as an oem upgrade in some markets. And the reason the more agressive ones are offered is because those of us that want to go lower or handle better will buy them even if it means spending more money on even better dampers when the OEM units crap out. Think of it as a long-term payment plan.

 

[Jond63]

Anyone with the H&Rs blown out their stock shocks yet?

 

[kcdirtbro54]

I haven't seen anyone offering aftermarket strut/shocks yet. CS is working on it, but I haven't seen any offerings from KYB, Koni, Tokico, and the other major suspension guys just yet. So, at the moment, if you go through your stock units, you're only choice is to replace stock with stock.