I got my Eibach springs in earlier this week. They are for a 3rd
gen, but they are advertise as a 1.2" drop all the way around, and
they are progressive springs (meaning that their spring is not
fixed, they change as the spring compresses more to become
stiffer...you usually can tell because on one end of the spring, the
winds are tighter). Anyway, I decided to do the fronts today, so I
can get my front ST springs off to sell them (rears springs just
need to be pulled off the old strut housing...but I can't use my
ST's because I'm using practically 3rd gen suspension in the rear).
My ST springs are 1.5" drop all the way around.

So I put the Eibachs on the front....and what is this? The front
sits even lower than it ever had now! To give you an idea. The
entire time I had my ST's, the gap between the fender and tire was
about 2-3 fingers. The gap now is almost 1 finger. This is both
sides too. I'm scratching my head even more because I believe 3rd
gen springs are a little taller. I even compared the Eibach to ST
springs, and the Eibachs are taller, but they don't have as many
winds as the ST springs. So now I'm scratching my head. I'm not
really complaining about it...but I am worried that my 18's are not
going to clear so well now. Be interesting when I do the rears,
since I have stock 3rd gen suspension, the rear end is jacked up
really high, and the front is really low! lol! So do you guys have
any ideas to why this is?

S

 

seems as if the lower spring perch for the J30 front struts are put at lower height compared to the U11..
what of the coil wire thickness?
well, if u don't like it, then I'm more than happy to come around and pick it up.. being that they're J30 coils...

 

I'm very happy with them, just surprised by the result. Car seems to be driving fine (though it pulls right...but thats because I just put in camber bolts...so I need an alignment...thank god for lifetime alignments at firestone! ). The wire thickness appears to be the same, but as I mentioned, the Eibachs had fewer winds then the ST's. So the solution to this maybe as simple as slapping on 3rd gen struts? I should of compared the struts while I had them out to see if the spring perch was indeed lower.

S

 

Perhaps since the springs are progressive, it just sags more then the old springs. If the soft portion of the springs are compressing too much before the spring rate tightens up enough to bear the weight of the front end, that may account for the lowered height--even if they are taller, they're probably be softer initially. Were the old springs progressive too?

 

The ST springs are linear. The odd part is, normally with my experience with progressive springs....though Eibach claims this doesn't happen. When you put them in at first, the ride height should be higher than advertise since the springs are fully expanded before they go in the car. Then the spring would just need time to settle before they reach advertised height. Either way, I'm not minding it at all, just a little odd to me. I am worried though about rub when it comes time to put the 18's on. I'll try to take some pictures.

S

 

The ST I believe are not progressive (used them on my U12 last time, rally car)

it's also possible that the U11 strut towers are taller than the J30...

 

Well it was a combination of slight lower spring perches, and running tires that were bit on the tall side for the car. I put new tires, 205/55R15's on, and now I have about 1.5 finger gap now.

S

 

wonderful..

 

Do you think that the springs will work on a 2nd gen?

 

the U11 is a 2nd gen and its' rear spring perches is wider than the J30's (3rd gen)

 

You could probably fit J30 springs on a U11....but I wouldn't recommend it since they are a little smaller, they could shift around which you don't want.

S