Well my engine mods are almost done and I'm thinking about suspension. I decided that if I do go with a spring/strut combo, I'm considering the following options. I've searched high and low for opinions from experts like IrishJ and have narrowed down to a couple of different setups.

• Eibach/Illumina
• Progress/Illumina
• Maxspeed/Illumina

Now as far as handling goes Eibachs seem to be the most promising option. Ride quality honestly isn't that big of a concern of mine, as long as it isn't too bouncy or floaty. A firm/controlled ride is what I'd like.

I like Progress because the drop is a little more aggressive (1.7" F vs 1.5" F on the Eibachs, IIRC) however I'm not clear on how controlled/precise the ride is.

As for Maxspeeds, I've seen pimpin02max's car on Maxspeeds and I think the drop looks way sexy. But I'm not sure about the actual handling. For me a semi-aggressive drop looks good, but I want this car ultimately to be strong at almost any level.

Can anyone whos had any experience with any of those setups shed a little bit more light on them?

Coilovers. If I find a good deal on coilovers I'll ****** those up. I've ridden in cars on coilovers and yes there is some noise but I like the feel of the road and the handling and thats what it comes down to.

 

i have progress with kyb gr2 the handling is good but i feel all those bumps and pot holes on the road. the bottom line is the ride is not as comfy as it suppose to be.

 

This will help you decide

http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html

 

I'm currently riding on H-techs and Blues and actually like the combination.The drop looks very nice along with much improved handling but the ride comfort is average at best.

 

Yeah, thats the first place I looked actually. Eibach drop looks good but I'm not sure how accurate the pictures are.

Has anyone running a spring/strut setup had experience with autocrossing or HPDEs?

 

I am about put suspension on my 2k and seem like Illuminas are the way to go for struts on the org. Now the spring decision (to me) seems to come down to a BLIND shot in the dark b/c your not going know if you really like it till you get over the newness & have to grind on them everyday!!

By reading & reading threads you can kind weed out certain brands & seems like it comes down to H&R, Eibach, & HTech! Ideally, riding in a car w/said springs would help in decsion making but good luck with that!

Htech - the best drop if you ask me (mildly rough ruff ride from those Ive asked)
H&R - Org'ers say "the best ride" (again what most say that Ive asked, but the saggy azz bothers ME)
Eibach - seems like the way to go (IMO), not as low as Htech, doesnt ride as nice as H&R (org'ers Ive asked opinion)
Maxspeed - from my reasearch again FAGETABOUTIT, if you gonna get the same H&R drop you might as well have the H&R ride to go with!

Funny thing thou, out of the 10-12 guys Ive asked doing my research most said they would have gone with coilovers! Personally, dropping $1200-1400 on coilovers on a 10yr old car is just not gonna happen......FOR ME!!

Im going with Eibach based on what I've researched, GOD I HOPE IM RIGHT!!

hope this help, ALOT of org'ers have help me w/there INFO!!

BTW, if Im wrong about anything, IM NO EXPERT IM STILL A NOOB MYSELF!!

 

Illumina/H&R

I liked the eibachs...but they were eventually to harsh

H&R performs like eibach but isn't as harsh

 

THANKS DUDE, F*CKER!!!!!!!

Looks like Im back to square one AGAIN!!

Drunkie, safe to assume you've have BOTH Eibach's & H&R's?

Also, you say eventually to harsh (exactly how many miles is that)

 

After about 2,000 miles after completely settling they just seemed stiff and harsh

I've riden in a car with H&R, I liked the way the feel, so did alot of other people that have them (SoonerFan).

I would have done that instead of eibachs had I known it would be like this, I wanted to go coilovers next, but then I sold the car.

I would rank them like this on the illuminas (only way to go IMO is Illuminas)
1. H&R
2. Progress
3. Eibach
4. H-Techs
5. Vogtlands

 

I have H&R's with Illuminas and I think it's great. I got them used from a friend so I didn't have that break in period. I had two blown front struts and kinda weak rear struts, which is why I replaced them with Illuminas, and did the springs with it. I can definitely say the ride is MUCH better, a lot more controlled and isn't a harsh ride (the road around here suck though and sometimes you can't help but feel it). I haven't tried any other springs for comparison, but I can definitely tell you its much better than OEM blown struts

 

here's a video of my car eibachs and illuminas set at 5/5 tire pressure around 45psi (toyo t1r's), rsb and fstb...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8rC6cLfMo8

 

MoncefA33, bro forgive me if im THREAD JACKING!!

Has anyone had any experience w/spring lifters? I saw two kinds while @ Pepboys, one looked like a big lug nut the goes inbetween the spring & the other looks like it seats under the spring itself.

Reason behind this is In KNOW H&R is the way to go but I can get over the azz sag!

Sweet vid Knight but my Max has never been driven like that on purpose, thats what my CBR1000 is for!

 

H&R has an uneven drop, that's why I like eibach... also irish said its not that rough, I guess everyones opinion of rough is different.

 

+1, How about this.

People who have rode on Eibachs, would your mom be able to ride in the car with you? How about your girlfriend/wife?

Same with Progress users.

I don't want H&R...weak drop and uneven.

I've got it narrowed down between Progress and Eibach springs. Has anyone run both setups? Progress are quite a bit cheaper and the drop is the same. How's the handling?

 

My wife doesn't have a choice. It's what's on the car. But you can't have the best of both worlds. If you want comfort you can't have top handling. Unless you go coilovers.

 

That's true, I agree.

Coilovers are totally different cuz I don't want to switch back to a winter setup or blow dampers left and right when there's snow on the ground.

Looks like Eibachs/Illuminas. I can handle a stiff ride and I'll enjoy the handling benefits of em. Although Progress is significantly cheaper...

 

Go with Eibach, since they have better quality overall and will probably have better ride quality, since there is more play in the suspension. One more thing, eibach spring rate matched illuminas better then progress does.

 

I guess what it comes down to it, for me is LOOKS & RIDE, handling is a distant 3rd b/c I dont care to be flying around town or auto x'ing my Max. Not that handling doesnt matter but if I wanted a sports car well anyway!

And it still comes back to Eibach!

Would it be a safe statement to say Eibach has the second best ride after H&R?

 

Yeah Eibachs are def looking better now, I might pick those up this winter/christmastime. I want to get a little more input from Progress springs though...

With my mods my car has plenty of engine but I think the suspension is a little on the weak side. Too old man like.

UPDATE Progress are gonna be noticeably better 'looking' has anyone run an autocross or was able to get a good idea of how they handle?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPSGbcH3tQo

friends car, 03 AT with progress and illuminas rsb and fstb. more body roll

 

Very convincing.

 

anyone know where I can get a set of Eibachs for less then $240 shipped??

 

I've had the H&R springs on my OEM struts for about 6 months. The ride was fine for 2 months or so but the OEM struts are going out but I'm looking to swap out the front springs. The springs ride great but I want to loose a little more of the wheel gap so I'm getting a set of Ilumminas and thinking of going with the Progres or S-Tech's in the front and keeping the H&R's for the rear. I like the ride but I hate the front wheel gap.

 

Moncef wants Eibachs...

 

good choice, dont forget the rsb.

 

Butta does too!

just got my illuminas today as well!

 

Go with Eibachs just got some for my 00 maxima and going illumina for struts also have the eibachs on my 3.5 se altima with kyg gr2 and the ride is good not like original but not bad at all