lowering disadvantages (help)

[02stang951]

so i want to lower my speed 3 dont want it slammed or anything , after looking i decided i want to go with the cobb springs(1 inch drop) my question is are there any negatives to doing this as in wearing anything out faster and can i just put on the spring or do i need something else to be good for the long run
thanks

 

[hugador]

Well I upgraded to H&R Sport Springs from stock and wow what a difference. These springs are definitely NOT for those who are only looking to lower their cars because you'll get more than you bargain for. You'll feel almost every bump. The car handles a lot more like a go kart, more responsive, and can hug corners a lot sharper with less body roll. It's an improvement for sure but will have to sacrifice that more comfortable feel you get from stock springs though. And have to really watch for those steep driveways too. So I only recommend these spring for those who seek performance than just for looks. Here are some pics. I love it.

 

[Chiller]

Lowering your car will shorten the lifespan of your stock shocks. So eventually you will need to upgrade them as well. This is why I have not dropped my Speed3 yet, I am waiting until I can afford a nice Coilover kit.

 

[Remspeed3]

I thought about changing to H&R's from my Eibach pro kit, but from the pics above it doesn't really look like the drop is that much different from the E- Pro's .8F-.7R to H&R's 1.3F- 1.2R...yeah I know its only .5'' but I figured you would really be able to tell the difference. Maybe in person they would look lower in the front. If anybody has seen both chime in and tell me what you think. O'h yeah, I think coilovers are overkill for a daily driver for the OP above.

 

[Jdm_Mica]

You can find coilovers for cheap if you look around. I bought a used set of BCs and I love them. For the amount of money you spend of springs and shocks you would almost be at the price for a set of coils. I daily my speed and auto-x it as well.

 

[Dark]

If you plan to lower the car with coils and not coilovers then you certainly shouldn't do it unless you're purchasing shocks as well (Koni yellows or Bilsteins). The stock struts/shocks are horrible to begin with and you'll end up swapping the suspension twice if you don't do it right the first time.

You can find coilovers for cheap if you look around. I bought a used set of BCs and I love them. For the amount of money you spend of springs and shocks you would almost be at the price for a set of coils. I daily my speed and auto-x it as well.

There's a reason why they're cheap, it's because they suck. BC coilovers specifically are inferior compared to a koni+coil setup. Have you ever researched the BC dyno charts for those shocks? The compression never changes when you make adjustments, only rebound.
If someone only wanted to lower their car for the look then the BC coilovers could be a decent option given the ability to customize the height but for anyone that is after improved handling they should stay away from cheap coilovers unless they are too slow around a course to realize that they don't work well.

For the look: any cheap coilover kit is fine if you don't have the money to spend.

For the look and performance: either a good strut/shock and coil combination or a quality coilover kit (KW for example).

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

Good advise Dark and

If you plan to lower the car with coils and not coilovers then you certainly shouldn't do it unless you're purchasing shocks as well (Koni yellows or Bilsteins). The stock struts/shocks are horrible to begin with and you'll end up swapping the suspension twice if you don't do it right the first time.



There's a reason why they're cheap, it's because they suck. BC coilovers specifically are inferior compared to a koni+coil setup. Have you ever researched the BC dyno charts for those shocks? The compression never changes when you make adjustments, only rebound.
If someone only wanted to lower their car for the look then the BC coilovers could be a decent option given the ability to customize the height but for anyone that is after improved handling they should stay away from cheap coilovers unless they are too slow around a course to realize that they don't work well.

For the look: any cheap coilover kit is fine if you don't have the money to spend.

For the look and performance: either a good strut/shock and coil combination or a quality coilover kit (KW for example).

+1. You get what you pay for with coilovers. If you blow a shock you have to send it out to be rebuilt, if it is rebuildable and this takes time. The money you invest in a good coilover shock setup will perform better, have more adjustability, ride height, rebound and compression. If your car is a daily driver please keep your old shocks and springs for reinstallation when you need to send your coilover out to be rebuilt.

Lowering springs simply lower the car, usually @ one inch. There is no ride height adjustability or spring rate determination. Maybe a set of Koni FSDs to help smooth the harsher ride out.

 

[02stang951]

Well I upgraded to H&R Sport Springs from stock and wow what a difference. These springs are definitely NOT for those who are only looking to lower their cars because you'll get more than you bargain for. You'll feel almost every bump. The car handles a lot more like a go kart, more responsive, and can hug corners a lot sharper with less body roll. It's an improvement for sure but will have to sacrifice that more comfortable feel you get from stock springs though. And have to really watch for those steep driveways too. So I only recommend these spring for those who seek performance than just for looks. Here are some pics. I love it.

how long have you had them on so far any problems?

 

[hugador]

I had them for three days now. No problems other than a bumpy ride lol. I had to drive more to confirm this that 2 shifts are smoother. You know how shifting to 2 smoothly can be tricky but as I drove home I didn't think about that at all. I think because of the H&R springs are stiffer than stock that it keeps the car from rocking back and forward. And because of that the back end of the car will not sink to the ground when you accelerate hard like it used to with stock springs. But yeah so far so good.

 

[Dark]

how long have you had them on so far any problems?

Don't follow in his foot steps, the cheap route is never the correct route.

 

[hugador]

Oh, and a wheel alignment will be done as soon I break in the springs a bit.

 

[peeaanuut]

i ran the pro it for 2 years without a problem. My stock shocks still feel the same as when they are new but I wanted something more. I just upgraded to Koni Yellows and the difference is amazing. It rides and handles better now than any of the speed 3s that I have ridden in with BCs or KW V1s. If you dont want to go the coil route and I wouldnt go that route on a daily unless you want to be super slammed, yellows and a good set of springs are the way to go.

The spring debate is a whole other animal. And past experience doesnt seem to play into it much. I have ran Eibachs in other cars and it was only ok in my other cars but I really like them in my speed. Where I have had H&Rs and Tein's in other cars and loved them, but didnt like them so much in this car. Its really just a personal opinion and what you want as a final product.

 

[02stang951]

thanks im just worried on how long other parts will last i dont drive the car hard at all infact i baby it probably 80% of the time i have heard that the more you lower it the shorter the shocks last so i figured id be conservative with the cobbs 1"

 

[Remspeed3]

i ran the pro it for 2 years without a problem. My stock shocks still feel the same as when they are new but I wanted something more. I just upgraded to Koni Yellows and the difference is amazing. It rides and handles better now than any of the speed 3s that I have ridden in with BCs or KW V1s. If you dont want to go the coil route and I wouldnt go that route on a daily unless you want to be super slammed, yellows and a good set of springs are the way to go.

The spring debate is a whole other animal. And past experience doesnt seem to play into it much. I have ran Eibachs in other cars and it was only ok in my other cars but I really like them in my speed. Where I have had H&Rs and Tein's in other cars and loved them, but didnt like them so much in this car. Its really just a personal opinion and what you want as a final product.

What did you dislike about the H&R's?

 

[Nliiitend1]

The lower you go on this car (after a certain point at least, which is a point that is WAY LESS LOW than most people that are looking to actively lower their cars), the more you screw up the roll center.

Just keep that in mind.

 

[peeaanuut]

What did you dislike about the H&R's?

In other cars I found the H&Rs to be inconsistent with the drop as well as a very bouncy ride. But I am hearing that on the MS3 that are actually quick stiff and consistent. But like I said before, it seems to depend from car to car and brand to brand. So what may be true for a civic or an integra isn't so true for an MS3 or MZ3.

I am actually considering switching to the H&Rs now.