Lowering springs

[415 ZHP]

I love the ride quality of my Zhp , but I also want to lower my ride height .What kind of springs work really well?

[danewilson77]

Tough to pair lowering springs with stock shocks. I think H&R is what most get.

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[Johal E32]

i have got h&r on stock shocks. ride is FIRM, I have never driven a stock ZHP so I wouldn't know how the ride quality compares...sometimes I want to rip out my springs for stock comfort :( But the handling is good :D it's only bad for me because Cali has the worst potholes ever.

With that said, h&r is firm, handels well, pretty comfortable but not if you have lots/bad potholes around in your area

good luck!

[DeM3n]

I've got H&R Race on and love them. Ride quality is hardly affected (and I drove it with stock suspension before). Check my sig to see how it looks when race springs installed.

[mimalmo]

coilovers>springs

[415 ZHP]

Yup i Live in SF so the roads are full of potholes

[az3579]

coilovers>springs

Not cost-wise, my friend. Cost-wise, springs>coilovers.

Coilovers ain't cheap. Not ones worth getting, anyway.
OP, interested in getting coilovers, or just want springs?

I have an H&R Cup Kit on mine, which includes the H&R Race Springs. I love it; the perfect amount of low (no gap) but isn't at all uncomfortable.

[mimalmo]

OP didn't say budget was a concern. Additionally, E46 owners that replace just springs will often find that soon after, their stock shocks are blown out. By the time they replace the springs and the worn shocks, they could have just put that money towards a set of coilovers and had a wider range of adjustability.

Buy nice or buy it twice.

[danewilson77]

Well said Eli.

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[GSEN820]

Eli words are very true. Spend the money doing it right the first time. You will not only save money later on.

When it comes to your suspension you dont want to mess around being cheap, more importantly you will be missing out on the quality of the ride you are expecting. Time is what you will spend trying to find the right combination switching out springs and then doing shocks and struts later on.

Do it right the first time (trust me I tried to do it my way costed me a whole lot more than it should have).

[DeM3n]

I understand what you guys are saying about coils. But honestly, ride quality has not been compromised. I paid $225 shipped, bought a 12 pack of Coronas (for a friend to help me), and about 3 hours of our time to remove/install the springs. Compared to over $1000 for a set of good coils... I think I'll stick with springs for now.

For me, this is my DD and don't need to have a bada$$ suspension setup to go to work or get groceries. If I want a thrill, I'll take the M out. :)

[danewilson77]

I understand what you guys are saying about coils. But honestly, ride quality has not been compromised. I paid $225 shipped, bought a 12 pack of Coronas (for a friend to help me), and about 3 hours of our time to remove/install the springs. Compared to over $1000 for a set of good coils... I think I'll stick with springs for now.

For me, this is my DD and don't need to have a bada$$ suspension setup to go to work or get groceries. If I want a thrill, I'll take the M out. :)

How many miles ago was this? The main concern is premature failure of shocks/struts caused by lowering springs (as The Good Eli stated).

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[DeM3n]

About 500 miles so far. I drive this thing like a baby though.

[danewilson77]

About 500 miles so far. I drive this thing like a baby though.

Copy. Give us another review in 10k miles.

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[lilcdkey]

If you've got the cash, get some quality coilovers. If you don't, H&R sport will maintain your ride better and H&R race will give you a nicer drop. Be warned though, using aftermarket springs on stock shocks usually isn't recommended..

[mimalmo]

How many miles ago was this? The main concern is premature failure of shocks/struts caused by lowering springs (as The Good Eli stated).

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:rofl

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Hehe. Nice.

[static667]

I have intentions of pairing H&R springs with Koni sport shocks and struts. The ones I'm looking at are ok to use with stock springs or for lowering springs. All of the common wear items like strut tower bearings and shock mounts will be replaced as well.

Rockin' Tapatalk on my rooted Fascinate.

[Johal E32]

Sorry, I am not on stock shocks.... I got a surprise today when I finally properly looked. I turned they are h&r shocks with h&r springs!!!! Major shock for me, it explains why my car is so firm lol. My PO thought the car was stock save for the grilles and angel eyes!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

If they are H&R shocks, then you must have the H&R cup kit, correct?

[kpro]

Coilovers work well for some while springs work well for others. I have both. Not both on the same car...but different cars serve different purposes and I felt the daily driven BMW didn't need a coilver kit because I was never going to adjust the dampening or the ride heigth, basically eliminated the need for coilovers. My prelude on the other hand needs to be able to adjust and therefore I have coilovers on it. I wouldn't knock either of those two H&R kits that the tirerack sells for our cars one BP was referring too $600-$679 and they come with MATCHED shocks and springs. Both kits are decently priced and H&R is tried and true. A Good coilover kit starts around $900-$1100) OP: Figure out if you want/need adjustability and go from there in making a decision.

I have the H&R race springs. My rear struts were shot and I put in Bilstein Sports when I installed the springs. The fronts were never touched, my stock shocks are still fine. Just had one off a few weeks ago, not leaking, still works flawlessly. Since installing the springs on my stock front struts...I have auto-x'd my car 4 times, and had it BeaveRun for a track day, and put just shy of 8k miles on my car...everything so far so good :) I inspect them often

[llll1l1ll]

Sorry, I am not on stock shocks.... I got a surprise today when I finally properly looked. I turned they are h&r shocks with h&r springs!!!! Major shock for me, it explains why my car is so firm lol. My PO thought the car was stock save for the grilles and angel eyes!

I bet it was a major shock.

Herp derp derp

The only thing I know is that if I were going to get lowering springs I would probably just go ahead and spend the extra moola to get sport shocks - even if the springs say you don't need new shocks. Other than that, though, I actually have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this thread. Sorry.

[Johal E32]

If they are H&R shocks, then you must have the H&R cup kit, correct?
yep!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Nice!

[WOLFN8TR]

I have intentions of pairing H&R springs with Koni sport shocks and struts. The ones I'm looking at are ok to use with stock springs or for lowering springs. All of the common wear items like strut tower bearings and shock mounts will be replaced as well.

Rockin' Tapatalk on my rooted Fascinate.

Curious if you went with this setup as I'm looking to do the same.

[static667]

Curious if you went with this setup as I'm looking to do the same.

I haven't done it yet. Gotta get the money saved for the shocks. I have everything else I need...just keep finding crap that needs paying for before them. You know, stupid crap like car insurance and electric bills.

Sent from my TI-85 with Tapatalk 4

[WOLFN8TR]

I hear ya. My AC just now went out and we are having the hottest week in Vegas the next few days. Perfect timing. Thanks for the reply.

[SC4ME]

I recently swapped out my OEM suspension with an H&R Touring Cup kit (130k mi). It only dropped it about 0.4" (I didnt want a big drop, already hit speed bumps, driveways, etc) but is much more firm. However, my original shocks/struts were beyond worn, one tool over an hour to fully rebound from being compressed.

Ride is awesome. Can really feel the difference in corners and the ride is a bit more stiff. Perfect.

[danewilson77]

Well done.

The friendliest forum on the planet.

[Pip]

Fresh suspension is the best :thumbsup

[Pip]

Fresh suspension is the best :thumbsup

[JKO_ZHP]

Curious if you went with this setup as I'm looking to do the same.

Did that; bought and installed them a month or so ago and everything should've settled in by now. It was on sale back then directly from Koni - they had their Koni Yellow shocks paired with H&R springs already.

Handles better than stock and turning isn't so unpredictable anymore. It is even scarier though since with these on, my confidence in turning sharply at higher speeds has been raised.....it's actually for this reason that I will be changing all of my tires early to Hankook Ventus Evos, to better accommodate the new suspension.

Anyways if you have any questions or would like to see the before & after drop, etc. I can try to provide it.

[johnrando]

Nice

[WOLFN8TR]

Did that; bought and installed them a month or so ago and everything should've settled in by now. It was on sale back then directly from Koni - they had their Koni Yellow shocks paired with H&R springs already.

Anyways if you have any questions or would like to see the before & after drop, etc. I can try to provide it.

Ya that would be great! Did you get the Koni Sport 1271's? Which H&R Springs did they include?

[JKO_ZHP]

Ya that would be great! Did you get the Koni Sport 1271's? Which H&R Springs did they include?

I got the 1140 sport kit and as for the springs I have no idea beyond the fact that they are H&Rs.
Here's the product page, I ordered directly from Koni since their price was and actually still is lower than TireRack's which I had always thought had the lowest price.
http://www.koni-na.com/cat_search.cfm?mt_id=1&my_year=2005&mak_id=6&mod_id=114&submit=Search&as_sfid=AAAAAAV5LcMif%2BoIbcv1lw6l6NP%2FdxbSSY2Z4A IMMrbv2SI1xCWu37JnTJ%2F9PRUZPzGZCSFpdadlhBK1Qf2qv% 2FBJ1QJ8krsNzgcJrQhhmeXKXpLgrA%3D%3D&as_fid=nVE%2FV8j2UXcyPXo0NnOX

I'll take some updated pics after I'm out of class and find some pre-install ones when I had the stock suspension later, stuck here for the next six consecutive hours....

[WOLFN8TR]

Cool Thanks, looking forward to seeing the pics.

[brettbimmer]

The springs should have a number on them. If they are the H&R Sport variety, then the numbers on the springs should be: 29484.

[JKO_ZHP]

So, I don't have any "before" pics measuring how high up the front bumper was from the ground, but you can compare my "after" height with yours, assuming you are still on the stock suspension.
Excuse the dirty car/wheels/fenders/everything....trying to save water and just got my water-free car wash but haven't had the time to use it yet.

https://31.media.tumblr.com/de574d65c46587b0e3c989f99ea520f3/tumblr_n8gsiuwODF1r2z3guo3_1280.jpg
Front bumper is slightly less than 5 inches off the ground now

https://38.media.tumblr.com/84132216bdf0ed3e701413a376a57237/tumblr_n8gt1zYxUe1r2z3guo1_1280.jpg
Rear gap

https://33.media.tumblr.com/a1287ef282debb0875b41ff63ce619ad/tumblr_n8gt1zYxUe1r2z3guo2_1280.jpg
Front gap

https://31.media.tumblr.com/a6874aef2a463ac7921dda93cdd6b60a/tumblr_n8gtcgs9JC1r2z3guo1_1280.jpg
Taken a little over a year ago while on stock suspension, much bigger gaps

My wheels are aftermarket but they're still staggered 18s and the tires on the style 135s transferred right over so it should be about the same.
Overall, I can definitely feel that the front is lower since I now scrape in places where I didn't before while on the stock suspension unless I drive up/down really sideways. Only because of the lip though

[johnrando]

A whole penny? Dang those springs had better settle or you're gonna need moar low! :biggrin

[WOLFN8TR]

A whole penny? Dang those springs had better settle or you're gonna need moar low! :biggrin

That's a Quarter Johnny....

Thanks for the Pics.

[johnrando]

Oh, hard to tell on my phone. A quarter???? EESH! MOAR LOW! :biggrin

[WOLFN8TR]

:thumbsup

[fantinno]

I just went with Koni yellows (set at about half) and H&R race springs. It's a little firmer than stock, but really no less comfortable than stock. Cornering definitely feels more precise. Would easily recommend the combo to anyone looking for a more aggressive ride without too big of a hit to ride quality :-)