Thinking of Replacing Strano's for Eibach's
05-20-2009, 10:51 PM
#1
Thinking of Replacing Strano's for Eibach's Hey, jus' looking for advice on this subject: (I plan on swapping out the fronts and not the rears.) I've been riding on Strano's for jus' under two years and the ride quality is a bit harsh. I knew this going into swapping springs as I was more concerned with looks than comfort. I was riding on stock shocks as I was saving up money for Koni's. I jus' recently swapped in some Koni's and the ride quality is still too harsh for me. I have the front Koni's set at 4 sweeps from full firm and the rears set on full soft. The roads in Chicago are pretty bad and I cringe everytime I go over rough areas, which is pretty consistent throughout Chicago. Now, here's my question: Given that the spring rate for the front Strano's are 550 and the Eibach Sportlines are 360, would that mean that the ride quality would be less harsh? I also like that the front Sportlines allow for a bigger drop (1.4-1.6), (which is the reason why I'll be keeping the rear Strano's in - for a Raked look.) So whatcha guy's think? What would be the Pro's and Con's of each?
05-20-2009, 11:48 PM
#2
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Well in my opinion, when I've driven over REAL bad roads like some of the roads in Fall River then I don't think it matters what kind of spring you have. Those roads just plain hurt. Luckily I don't have to drive on those roads too often. If I did, then I'd want a truck. I'd imagine those roads are either similar to the ones I'm describing, or we just have different ride quality preferences. I would think the sportline springs will only make the ride quality worse. Less travel, lower springrate doesn't seem like what you'd want. I'd probably go with stock springs.
05-21-2009, 12:51 AM
#3
Try setting the front Koni SA a couple of sweeps softer, and repeat until your content with the ride quality, or run out of adjustment.
FYI,
You would be correct about the 360lb.in. springs offering a softer ride compared to 550lb.in. springs, if both were at stock ride height.
But, with virtually no suspension travel the sportline 360lb.in. is rather meaningless since the spring rate of the bump stops is also a factor in the overall spring rate.
FYI,
You would be correct about the 360lb.in. springs offering a softer ride compared to 550lb.in. springs, if both were at stock ride height.
But, with virtually no suspension travel the sportline 360lb.in. is rather meaningless since the spring rate of the bump stops is also a factor in the overall spring rate.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; 05-21-2009 at 06:30 PM.
05-21-2009, 01:29 AM
#4
Try setting the front Koni SA a couple of sweeps softer, and repeat until your content with the ride quality, or run our of adjustment.
FYI,
You would be correct about the 360lb.in. springs offering a softer ride compared to 550lb.in. springs, if both were at stock ride height.
But, with virtually no suspension travel the sportline 360lb.in. is rather meaningless since the spring rate of the bump stops is also a factor in the overall spring rate.
FYI,
You would be correct about the 360lb.in. springs offering a softer ride compared to 550lb.in. springs, if both were at stock ride height.
But, with virtually no suspension travel the sportline 360lb.in. is rather meaningless since the spring rate of the bump stops is also a factor in the overall spring rate.
05-21-2009, 01:31 AM
#5
Well in my opinion, when I've driven over REAL bad roads like some of the roads in Fall River then I don't think it matters what kind of spring you have. Those roads just plain hurt. Luckily I don't have to drive on those roads too often. If I did, then I'd want a truck. I'd imagine those roads are either similar to the ones I'm describing, or we just have different ride quality preferences. I would think the sportline springs will only make the ride quality worse. Less travel, lower springrate doesn't seem like what you'd want. I'd probably go with stock springs.
Yea, it seems the whole city is jacked up! I don't think I'd go back to stock springs - I like the lowered look. Too bad you can't get the best of both worlds.
05-21-2009, 04:17 AM
#6
You don't know harsh till you've run Eibachs.
If you bought a TA (and refer to it as "Batmobile") and complain about a stiff ride, maybe you should consider a Buick or Mercury and use the name "Catwoman" instead.
These are performance cars. With performance comes a healthy serving of harshness with a occasional side of finicky. It comes with the territory.
/soapbox
You compared rates. You didn't compare free heights.
If both Stranos and eibachs have the same free height and you apply the same weight to each spring (your car), one spring being 550lb/in and the other being 360lb/in, doesn't it stand to reason the 360 spring will compress MORE?
And what happens when it compresses MORE?
LESS ride height, LESS clearance and LESS suspension travel. So you can either ride on 550 springs or the bump stops. NOW define "harsh" ...
If you bought a TA (and refer to it as "Batmobile") and complain about a stiff ride, maybe you should consider a Buick or Mercury and use the name "Catwoman" instead.
These are performance cars. With performance comes a healthy serving of harshness with a occasional side of finicky. It comes with the territory.
/soapbox
You compared rates. You didn't compare free heights.
If both Stranos and eibachs have the same free height and you apply the same weight to each spring (your car), one spring being 550lb/in and the other being 360lb/in, doesn't it stand to reason the 360 spring will compress MORE?
And what happens when it compresses MORE?
LESS ride height, LESS clearance and LESS suspension travel. So you can either ride on 550 springs or the bump stops. NOW define "harsh" ...
Last edited by mitchntx; 05-21-2009 at 04:24 AM.
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05-21-2009, 10:42 AM
#8
I think it's pretty amusing when folks what to lower their car and make it ride like stock. Even more so when they have their front shocks, which have a huge range of adjustment, set at half-stiff.
Mitch is right on the money.
Let's not consider a change in damping to see what happens. Let's not consider that any lowering spring takes working travel from the suspension. Let's just jump right to all the work involved in changing springs--and in this case to a set that will put you onto the bumpstops harder and more often.
If you want to change springs then Pro-kit would be better than Sportlines. They are 400 and not as low as Sportlines. But considering how many change the other way from Eibach to mine, and report improvements I don't think that's a particularly wise idea.
Mitch is right on the money.
Let's not consider a change in damping to see what happens. Let's not consider that any lowering spring takes working travel from the suspension. Let's just jump right to all the work involved in changing springs--and in this case to a set that will put you onto the bumpstops harder and more often.
If you want to change springs then Pro-kit would be better than Sportlines. They are 400 and not as low as Sportlines. But considering how many change the other way from Eibach to mine, and report improvements I don't think that's a particularly wise idea.
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05-21-2009, 10:46 AM
#9
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I think it's pretty amusing when folks what to lower their car and make it ride like stock. Even more so when they have their front shocks, which have a huge range of adjustment, set at half-stiff.
Mitch is right on the money.
Let's not consider a change in damping to see what happens. Let's not consider that any lowering spring takes working travel from the suspension. Let's just jump right to all the work involved in changing springs--and in this case to a set that will put you onto the bumpstops harder and more often.
If you want to change springs then Pro-kit would be better than Sportlines. They are 400 and not as low as Sportlines. But considering how many change the other way from Eibach to mine, and report improvements I don't think that's a particularly wise idea.
Mitch is right on the money.
Let's not consider a change in damping to see what happens. Let's not consider that any lowering spring takes working travel from the suspension. Let's just jump right to all the work involved in changing springs--and in this case to a set that will put you onto the bumpstops harder and more often.
If you want to change springs then Pro-kit would be better than Sportlines. They are 400 and not as low as Sportlines. But considering how many change the other way from Eibach to mine, and report improvements I don't think that's a particularly wise idea.
05-21-2009, 02:00 PM
#10
I think swaping out the Strano's for the eibacks would be a big mistake, If you go lower your bad roads are going to create even more problems with ground clearance and with the softer spring rate will have even a greater neg effect on ride quality, stay with the Stano's
05-21-2009, 02:33 PM
#11
Yea, I was preparing myself by putting my flame suit on. Thanks for your responses. It jus' seems that talking about Strano springs and comparing them to a different spring will cause a meltdown. Even those threads concerning Koni's also.
I was aware that lowering it will provide me with a harsher ride. If I lived in another area - or even in the suburbs of Chicago - they will be jus' fine for me. This is more of an environmental factor. The fact that the roads over here are really crappy lately, (getting progressively worse), is making me think of changing my setup.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2...-potholesdec30
Check out these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN71V-V7F18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJYeZ6lfydU
Stories about potholes are becoming more and more common. It was said that last year had the worst we've seen in a decade and now they are saying that it is even worse this year.
This is also coming from a city that is voting to keep the potholes and horrible roads as a means of deterring speed and "calming" traffic. Basically Todd Stroger (Cook County Board President) is spending money elsewhere where it is not needed and claiming we don't have the money to spend on roads. While he raised the Chicago tax rate to 10.25%!!! The highest in the nation! (End Rant)
So anyways, Sportlines would ride worse because it'll hit the bump stops harder. How bout DMS or the Pro-kit? I had a friend do the JasonWW Upper Mount Mod which allows for more suspension travel.
I was aware that lowering it will provide me with a harsher ride. If I lived in another area - or even in the suburbs of Chicago - they will be jus' fine for me. This is more of an environmental factor. The fact that the roads over here are really crappy lately, (getting progressively worse), is making me think of changing my setup.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2...-potholesdec30
Check out these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN71V-V7F18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJYeZ6lfydU
Stories about potholes are becoming more and more common. It was said that last year had the worst we've seen in a decade and now they are saying that it is even worse this year.
This is also coming from a city that is voting to keep the potholes and horrible roads as a means of deterring speed and "calming" traffic. Basically Todd Stroger (Cook County Board President) is spending money elsewhere where it is not needed and claiming we don't have the money to spend on roads. While he raised the Chicago tax rate to 10.25%!!! The highest in the nation! (End Rant)
So anyways, Sportlines would ride worse because it'll hit the bump stops harder. How bout DMS or the Pro-kit? I had a friend do the JasonWW Upper Mount Mod which allows for more suspension travel.
Last edited by 02TransAm/Batmobile; 05-21-2009 at 02:52 PM.
05-21-2009, 08:35 PM
#13
For what it's worth, I have the eibach pro-kit springs up front with koni SA's. Not quite as low as sportlines and a little stiffer. They hit the bumpstops on even moderately rough stuff but adjusting shocks a little firmer did help (about where yours are now). I've been considering getting the Strano fronts. It's a whole different problem when you're slamming onto the stops. It gets pretty wild. Maybe 400lb springs would be enough with a little more travel like with the upper spring mount mod? Or stock height of course. If I get the higher rate springs you're welcome to try my front eibachs if you're still searching for the right combo. If you like them you can swap me yours for my other SS. All I know is I'm definately ready to give up a little smoothness to avoid the bump stop thing. Hate to see you get sportlines and be in the same boat.
05-22-2009, 06:04 PM
#14
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You don't know harsh till you've run Eibachs.
You compared rates. You didn't compare free heights.
If both Stranos and eibachs have the same free height and you apply the same weight to each spring (your car), one spring being 550lb/in and the other being 360lb/in, doesn't it stand to reason the 360 spring will compress MORE?
And what happens when it compresses MORE?
LESS ride height, LESS clearance and LESS suspension travel. So you can either ride on 550 springs or the bump stops. NOW define "harsh" ...
You compared rates. You didn't compare free heights.
If both Stranos and eibachs have the same free height and you apply the same weight to each spring (your car), one spring being 550lb/in and the other being 360lb/in, doesn't it stand to reason the 360 spring will compress MORE?
And what happens when it compresses MORE?
LESS ride height, LESS clearance and LESS suspension travel. So you can either ride on 550 springs or the bump stops. NOW define "harsh" ...
05-22-2009, 06:27 PM
#15
What's probably happening is your feeling the bump stops in the back making it more harsh...firming up the Koni's helps reduce the frequency you'll hit the bumpr stops. Try it...it's free right?
Feel's great on the road.
Last edited by z28ss4me; 05-22-2009 at 06:38 PM.
05-22-2009, 06:30 PM
#16
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ya seriously dude I just took off my eibachs today. CAUSE THEY SUCK. Strano's spring rate is a lot higher and just more suitable. I'm going to sell my eibachs and buy ground control coilovers and konis .
05-22-2009, 07:01 PM
#18
Launching!
Koni SA = adjustment of rebound only (top of shock), compression is not affected by any adjustments
Koni DA = separate adjustments for rebound (top of shock) and compression (**** at bottom of shock)
05-22-2009, 09:44 PM
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The sportlines suck in my opinion. My dad just bought TA that has sportlines on them, and if you think the ride is harsh with the Strano springs then you're gunna hate the sportlines. They have barely an travel in them so you hit the bumptops with almost any bump hit.