Lowering springs with (new) struts?

[Rush]

I know that this topic has been discussed several times before, but I figured that if I started a new thread -- this would give the opportunity for people to share new information/input. And I'm also having a hard time finding too much information on JUST the MSP stuff -- a lot of threads mix in P5's that don't have the same stock suspension as we do.

I need to lower my car, and am almost positive that I want to get either Eibach Sportlines or Goldlines, or maybe the Tein S-Techs, as lowering springs -- since I'm looking for something around a 2" drop, no more, since I have on 18" x 7.5" wheels. I can't afford to spend $1200 on a coilover system (as nice as that would be), so lowering springs is the way I'm gonna go.

Now I've heard people say that it's fine to put a set of lowering springs on our stock struts, that they haven't had any problems. I've also heard people say that we need to buy newer/better aftermarket struts to go with the lowering springs. I'm really not sure which way to go.

I have roughly 35,000 miles on my MSP. My suspension (aside from the typical squeaky bushings) has never given me any problems thus far. What does everyone recommend? Would it be alright to put the lowering springs on our Tokico struts until those poop out, and then put on newer/better struts? Or do I have to put on newer/better struts immediately with the lowering springs?

 

[Rush]

.. Evening bump!

Nobody has any thoughts?

 

[nate0123]

I'm not exactly sure what kind of strut's you'd buy that would be "better" unless you wanted the Illumina adjustables (uhm)

 

[xelderx]

The MSP already comes with a performance spring. Any other aftermarket spring will be no more harsh to the strut, relatively speaking, than what is already stock. I ran Tein's on my stock Protege5 struts with 18" rims for a long time with no bad experiences.

 

[nate0123]

well the sportlines will be a bit higher rate...

 

[Rush]

I'm not exactly sure what kind of strut's you'd buy that would be "better" unless you wanted the Illumina adjustables (uhm)

That's what people have been suggesting .. but based on what I've managed to read, people with MSP's that've put on lowering springs seem to be doing fine on the stock struts. I just wanted to see if there was anyone out there that could or would say, "Omigod, DON'T DO IT, you NEED to get different struts or else your suspension will be FUXZORED!"

.. But it doesn't sound like anyone's really sayin' that, haha.

P.S. -- As of the moment, it's lookin' like the Sportlines will be last in line. I'd prefer either the Goldlines or Tein S-Tech's over them, as the Sportlines may be JUST a bit too much of a drop for my wheels.

 

[mavespeed]

springs/shock

I've got H&R sport springs on the stock tokicos, feels abit soft in the front, they do work well together, no funny bounces car sucks up the road OK. Small ruts are noisier, bangs and thuds possibly because the front struts aren't tuned to the 1.5" drop. The H&Rs ride smoother, the rear is stiffer, my only complaint with the springs is that the rear is higher than I"d like, It dropped like a Quarter inch. If I did I again I'd do Eibach pro kit/w tokico illumnia, try to keep the weight balance, the high butt is noticable during really heavey braking but the car is much more connected to the road with the H&Rs. I sometimes think useing the "real" racingbeat springs with illuminas would be good street application, the roads up here are turning into s*** and the the racing beats were engineered for the protege.

 

[Rush]

.. After reviewing the spring guide for the bajillionth time, and knowing that my car's front end needs to be lowered more than the back end (you can SEE that the front sits noticably higher than the back when you stand and look at my MSP, the wheel gap up front is horrendous), the Tein S-Tech's seem like the best way to go. 2" in the front and only 1.4" in the rear. And I know that a lot of forum members are running those springs, and I haven't heard any complaints ..

 

[hazeXban]

Yeah I think I am going to go S-Techs also.

 

[mavespeed]

What I've learned about the msp is that lowering springs drop measurements are not entirely accurate, they are usually engineered for the ES sedan or the P5, espeaially the rear numbers are always off for the MSP. The H&Rs are speced to lower 1.3 inchs, Igot maybe a quater inch in the rear, so I figure one should compensate four fiths of an inch when speculating on springs for the rear, the front dropped about 1.5. Pics of MSps with eibach pro kit seem to give the car a more even look

 

[mavespeed]

Thats the thing, if people are't conplaining about a product its probably a good product, any of the big brands are quality (tein,eibach,H&R). I think tokico might make a strut'spring combo for the protege, might save some cash+engineered for each other

 

[Rush]

Yeah I think I am going to go S-Techs also.

.. I think you're tryin' to steal all my ideas, LOL.


But yeah, I know that the drop measurements as listed on the spring buyers guide isn't made for the MSP -- as the MSP comes slightly dropped stock, I think by 0.75" or something like that. So I usually just subtract that amount from the measurement listed, and figure that's what I'll get.

I also looked at some of the pictures peeps have posted of the S-Tech's on their MSP's. Looks like they evened things out pretty well, and gave a nice drop, too. And that's what I'm lookin' for.

And while I'm at it, how involved/extensive is the process of installing springs? Never done it before, or had it done before.

 

[nate0123]

my biggest problem was the stubborn endlink bolts... I ended up having to chop my rear ones off with a dremel (pita)


if that hadn't been an issue it would have been just a few hour job