Compiled Suspension Lowering Info

[MX3-4U2NV]

So, to further help those who are new and curious, or long time members who are curious, I am looking to build a database of sorts help those uneducated, get educated on the world of lowering gear.

There are all kinds of posts about this brand and that brand, etc etc, but none that compile all the information we all search for in one post. (Who knows, maybe this will get stickied with enough interest)

The task is simple, select the brand springs you have from the poll above, then in your reply, try to post like so;

Brand: (self explanatory)
Struts: (definitely helps)
Ride Comfortness: (please rate it between 1 and 10, 1 being terrible, 10 being fantastic)
Have you compared: (please let us know if you tried other brands, and why you went with what you have now)
Comments: (anything in particular you wanted those new to the lowering world to remember or know before hand)

Remember, the point of this thread is to help those who are interested in lowering their vehicles. Too many times you have one person swear by one thing, and curse the other. While Joe Blow will argue the opposite.

Just state the info asked, and your opinions. Comparison replies are the most sought after seeing as they will help the most compared to those who have only tried one brand.

I have read many threads about lowering springs, and have had many personal opinions about why they chose what they did, and in doing so, have heard a lot of contradicting opinions. So I thought a thread like this would shed some light on the situation.

I am no genius in the world of what's available for the MX-3, so if I left out a brand for the poll, please let me know and I will add it in asap. And if there anything else you think would help inform those uninformed, please let me know and I will add that to the list of things to reply with.

Those with Eibach:
RS_OBD'oh_2 LINK TO POST

Those with H&R:
fowljesse LINK TO POST
umcamara LINK TO POST
onlytrueromeo LINK TO POST

Those with B&G:
_-Night-Shade-_ LINK TO POST

Those with Apex:

Those with Evotion:
Ryan LINK TO POST

Those with Intrax:
Mooneggs LINK TO POST

Those with Coil Overs:
solo_ryder - Ground Control Coil Overs LINK TO POST

Those with No Namers:

[_-Night-Shade-_]

B&G S2 Sport Lowering Springs
Don't know what to rate it as I haven't rode in too many other setups.
I've had SpringTech universal springs on my red car and they were noticeably worse than these.
1.6" drop all around, progressive spring rate for added comfort + many fancy design things on their description, lol.

[fowljesse]

Brand: H&R springs/ Gabriel struts
Ride Comfort: Compared to stock, they're not a cushy, of course, but sruprisingly comfortable.
As far as handling, they were compared to a popular fully adjustible coilover set, and were found to be at least equal in handling, but I also had Poly bushings at the time. I have ridden in MX-3s with other setups, and prefer mine, although all the higher level setups are good. It would be tough without a skidpad to find which setup performs best.
I love my setup.

[Mooneggs]

I think that struts are an important part to choose when lowering as well...

on my DD I have Tokico Blue + Intrax lowering springs
on my RC I have KYB GR2 + Intrax lowering springs

I can only compare to stock... and I will say that the KYB GR2 + Intrax for me is almost as comfortable as stock, but with all the handling of a lowered ride. I would definately recommend the KYB GR2 over Tokico Blue - as they are half the price and have lasted longer. I can't rememember the lowering stats of Intrax... they are one of the lower ones as far as just springs go.

[MX3-4U2NV]

And the KYB GR2's have a lifetime warranty

I just bought myself KYB GR2's, hope to install Sunday. $218 for all four.

[umcamara]

I might recommend changing the title to "compiled suspension lowering info" or something, since what you've put reads as if you're talking about swapping tranny gears.

Might make it easier for future searches, if that IS your goal.

[_-Night-Shade-_]

Haha that's true I thought about a tranny the first time I read this lol. I forgot to add I've got KYB GR-2s as well

[umcamara]

ZX-2 Tokico struts, on Mx-3 H&R springs.

Never driven in another Mx-3.

Very nice ride on SMOOTH roads, VERY harsh on rough surfaces. Before I did this swap I was running on stock struts (rear 2 had no fluid left in them), and stock springs, and it was still a smoother ride on rough surfaces.

The ride height is good as far as wheel-well gap. I've been tempted to switch to Eibach springs for a softer ride (since they have a progressive spring-rate).

I guess the fact that this is in the "Suspension" forum would be a pretty good indication that it's about suspension and not transmissions.
But I never really look at what forum the threads are from, just "view new posts" and ka-blam pow.

[MX3-4U2NV]

I would love to see someone chime in on the Eibachs.

[solo_ryder]

Brand: Ground Control coilover sleeves - Custom spring rate
Struts: Tokico ZX2 S/R
Ride Comfortness: 4
Have you compared: Compared to Suspension techs and Tokico HP
Comments:

Pros:
- Car corners like its on rails, much tighter then a car with lowering springs.
- The build quality of the ground control is excellent, good quality stuff. Also utilizes Eibach springs.
- Ability to adjust ride height is awesome, uses simple tools to do this. Can lower your car lower then any lowering spring on the market and also raise car up high is you like that kinda thing

Cons:
- These ride like a-- in town, not to bad on the highway.
- DOES NOT like small ruts or storm drain covers or any hole or dip for that matter.
- I look like a drunk driver swervin all over the place avoiding stuff.
- Linear springs = Rough time. Make sure your kidneys are in good health.
- Metal thrust bearings are a must, the plastic stock ones will blow. $60+ for the bearings from Ford.
- No strut that can really handle these properly, everything is undervalved.

[RS_OBD'oh_2]

Eibachs with tokico hp's (mx3 spec)
love the ride quality.
Had ebay dropzone coils with stock struts.. they blew the struts.
Would like to get K sport coil overs one day

[onlytrueromeo]

Brand: H&R
Struts: ZX2 S/R
Ride Comfortness: 6
Have you compared: I've had stock, ZX2's w/ B&G's, and Ground Controls

As far as performance, I think the Ground controls gave the best of the group, but they came at too high a price. Too rough a ride! W/ poly bushings on it actually might have been better since mine are totally shot right now.

B&G's were nice, but sat too low for my tastes. I want suspension travel.

I prefer the H&R's since they sit low, but still leave ~an inch of wheel gap all around. Car sits very evenly.


Nothing likes big bumps. The car was not designed to be cushy, I even found the stock struts/springs were rough compared to most other cars. If you want a cushy ride, buy a Buick.

[wytbishop]

I use Eibach Escort ZX-2 springs on Tokico blues. The problem with the Tokicos is the lack of compression damping control. I think the springs would be fine on shocks closer to the stock valving. I live in a city with very harsh winters and the city has been very lax over the past decade or so in maintaining the roads. Edmonton is like a minefield and this combination is not very nice for a daily driver here.

I am tempted to go find a decent set of stock struts somewhere just so that I can see what difference the poly bushings make on stock vs. aftermarket struts.

[onlytrueromeo]

I think my next suspension setup will be Koni inserts, if the price is right. But that's not for another few years.

[Ryan]

Brand: Evotion
Struts: Used ZX2 (non-S/R)
Ride Comfortness: 7
Have you compared: stock RS, stock ZX2.
Comments: Reduced body roll, made understeer more noticeable, as the tires were now the weak link. Rode a bit more rough, but definately an upgrade from stock performance and feel wise. The height was nice. Cheap upgrade, but worth it IMO. Cost me $130 CAD for everything.