MX-3 Lowering Springs or Coilovers

[TOOgreezy]

just a couple questions i have
1. did you just use springs to lower your car or did you get coilovers? and what was the cost?
2. how much did ya'll drop your car? i hear 1 inch and a half a lot, i just want 2 know the best height to drop it to because im not sure if im going to jus get springs or the coilovers

[wytbishop]

The Tokico blue struts which are stock replacement for the Escort ZX2 are 1/2" shorter than the MX3 stock units. If you pair them with a shorter spring, you will get an additional drop. I paired them with the Eibach springs for the ZX2 and got a total drop of about 1". I like it because I drive my car in winter and I don't want a snow plough and also I think it looks best. If you want a lower drop, you can get about 1.5" from HR or Ground Control with KYB struts. If you want to go really low you can get coilovers from K-Sport and a few others and put them on the strut of your choice.

If you drop more than 1.5" or so you will need some sort of camber solution.

[rece]

Just to clarify, the strut DOES NOT determine the height of the car. It is the spring does, therefore the ZX2 (SR) strut does not assist in the lowering aspect, it just increases tha damping and rebound of the suspension.

As an example:
Stock strut + stock spring = Stock ride height
Stock strut + lowering sprong = lowered car, with extra take up (sag) of the stock strut which will cause them to wear faster
ZX2 SR strut + stock spring = stock ride height (given less the 1/2 inch if there is no sag in the suspension which is not likely)
ZX2 SR strut +l owering spring = lowered and better for wear on strut due to changed damping characteristics

I dont know why everyone seems to think that the ZX2 struts lower the car.

If you want a nice lower and better than most ride quality, find a set of Eibachs. if it is looks you want I would recommend the H&Rs, but the ride is quite a bit harsher.

rant over

[wytbishop]

Well I hear what you're saying Rece, and I would agree with you except that Eibach says that the springs will lower 3/4" and my car came down a little over an inch with that combo. I guess that the MX3 could have 1/2" more sag than the Escort, but I don't see it.

Anyway, that's an excellent combination. Nuf said.

[TOOgreezy]

so wat do you guyz use? just the springs? or the coil springs?
see ill probably drive my car in the winter, but not often expecially if theres too much snow.. so thats why i was thinking i would just get springs and drop it a little, but coilovers might be wise because i'll get to adjust the height
also how much did u guys get it for?

[Whisper]

1) AST coilovers. About 2 grand. But then I track my car a lot. Definitely overkill if you only drive on the street.
2) Didn't drop too much, actually. About an inch. Main benefits are damper adjustability and corner balancing.

I used to have Tokico HPs with H&Rs. Dropped the front almost 2 inches, and rear was more like 1.5. Ride quality was crap, and it was too low - I would scrape everywhere, both nose and cat, and couldn't get the ramps under the front wheels. Also the axles were binding under hard turns, because the suspension was compressed too much. Plus weird vibrations during acceleration.

If you want adjustability, there are Ground Control coilover sleeves (which is the cheapest option and it's what most people have). Then there is a number of true coilovers. Ksport are the cheapest. Then you have Tein for Probe GT/MX-6 - they will fit, but their knuckles are wider, so you'll need spacers. After that you have HotBits and AST. Typically quality increases with price, so judge based on that. There are a few threads on HotBits, Teins, and ASTs, if you want to do research.

Personally, I'd recommend Eibach springs, and ZX-2 shocks. Good balance between drop, quality, and ride comfort.

As far as shocks being shorter, I think some aftermarket shocks are a bit shorter. Tokico HPs for example.

[tehbrookzorz]

I never got out the measuring tape to see if the Escort ZX-2 uses a shorter strut or not. If the strut assembly is shorter, it would drop the car. It wasn't made for the MX-3.

They work well though for me, with the Eibach springs for the MX-3.

[solo_ryder]

1) AST coilovers. About 2 grand. But then I track my car a lot. Definitely overkill if you only drive on the street.
2) Didn't drop too much, actually. About an inch. Main benefits are damper adjustability and corner balancing.

I used to have Tokico HPs with H&Rs. Dropped the front almost 2 inches, and rear was more like 1.5. Ride quality was crap, and it was too low - I would scrape everywhere, both nose and cat, and couldn't get the ramps under the front wheels. Also the axles were binding under hard turns, because the suspension was compressed too much. Plus weird vibrations during acceleration.

If you want adjustability, there are Ground Control coilover sleeves (which is the cheapest option and it's what most people have). Then there is a number of true coilovers. Ksport are the cheapest. Then you have Tein for Probe GT/MX-6 - they will fit, but their knuckles are wider, so you'll need spacers. After that you have HotBits and AST. Typically quality increases with price, so judge based on that. There are a few threads on HotBits, Teins, and ASTs, if you want to do research.

Personally, I'd recommend Eibach springs, and ZX-2 shocks. Good balance between drop, quality, and ride comfort.

As far as shocks being shorter, I think some aftermarket shocks are a bit shorter. Tokico HPs for example.

Good points here Whisper.

I have ZX2's with ground controls now and the ride in town is not that great, I bounce alot and my car is lowered about 2.5" or more (lowest setting front and rear without cutting perches away, which I will do next year) I juest realized this as I was talking to smoothmx3 about my suspension haha.. I scrape s--- everywhere and I am so canned and I bounce so much that I look like some dude with parkinsons driving hahha and I love every minute of it!

PIC:

[TOOgreezy]

solo_ryder your ride looks nise @ that height
iwont be able to go 2.5" drop tho lol expeciallly seeing that i might need to drive the car once in a while in the winter ( not on really bad snowing days tho )
so i might just lower it 1"-1.25" see how that works out. i just dont want soo much space between the body and the tire.
not sure if i should lower it right now, or wait til winter goes by then just drop it in march/april along with new engine & exhaust

[SmoothMX3]

solo's silver ride is SEX. that ride height is the SHEEEE-OT

[Whisper]

Damn, solo, that's a hefty drop. I bet your suspension cries at night, when you sleep.

[MCNano117]

Word, that looks fugly. From what I've seen a 1.5" drop looks the best.

[solo_ryder]

Word, that looks fugly. From what I've seen a 1.5" drop looks the best.

Are you referring to me?

[TOOgreezy]

Word, that looks fugly. From what I've seen a 1.5" drop looks the best.

Are you referring to me?

lol i think he is idont know why tho i like your drop
i would do around that height if it wasnt for snow
i might have to drive my car once in a while in the snow so i want something low but not too low
i might end up going with 1-1.25"

[eyezpinned]

i'm actually in the middle of lowering my car as we speak. i think the bottom line is whatever you do... do it right. if you get a coilover kit, it's gonna be expensive if you do it right. groundcontrols go for like $400 and then you're probably gonna want to get new struts. i haven't looked into using stock struts (just doesn't seem like a good idea). i've seen zx2s for $175 on a few websites. there is some modification involved though, but they're essentially tokico struts. tokico blues can be bought for $300 on ebay, kybs go for like $200 (didnt research them though). so you're looking at like around $650 in parts if you go that route.

springs can be bought for roughly $225 (eibach, h&rs). that would bring parts costs down to about $450 depending on the strut.

installation costs are about $400, but if you're mechanically inclined you and a buddy can do it. (me and a friend are going to try and tackle it today or tomorrow). an alignment is also needed anytime you mess around with lowering the car, that's another $100.

i personally got a set of eibach springs on tokico struts. (i probably would have got the zx2 struts, but got a REALLY good deal). it should give me a 1-1.5 inch drop, which i'm fine with because i already have a low-hanging aftermarket bumper and am mostly doing it for the more agressive look. and remember the lower you go, the harsher the ride. if you pretty much know what you want the car to look like, just get the springs that'll drop it to that height. good luck.

by the way:

Word, that looks fugly. From what I've seen a 1.5" drop looks the best.

get your eyes examined bro... solo's whip is dope. i'd be right there with him if i had the ground clearance and a higher tolerance for rough rides.