Best Cheap Suspension Set Up?

[got_no_sol]

Ok so here's the deal -

I Have a couple questions about lowering -

What is the cheapest good quality set-up I can go with?

And how much lowering requires a camber kit?

I've thought about going with h & r sports and hadn't really decided which shocks.

In my mind here is a run down of the cost -

Springs
Shocks
Alignment
Camber Kit (that's like another 100$ so I'd really rather not)

Keep in mind, when I say "good" I mean good ride quality and cornering etc.

Oh and if it matters my car will be riding on the 16 inch 5 spoke gst rims

(just trying to get rid of that pesky wheel gap for a good cost)

Thanks fellas

Andre

 

[iamtall77]

Just find some springs that don't lower your ride more than about an inch. More than that might require a camber kit of some kind. As far as shocks go, KYB is decent. For about $400 or less you can get a set of AGX adjustibles or just the G2 (i think that's the name) for a little better than stock setup for far less.
My only experience is with my setup. Sprint Springs, can be had for $200, mine came on the car. Lowers it 2" which is huge on our cars. I have AGX all around, but the ride is stiff enough not to have to adjust it. My camber correction consists of Whiteline upper control arm bushings, cost about $50. The old ones need to be presses or melted out. My ride is stiff and low. The front correction is just the camber bolt that cost $35 from the alignment shop. I figure the shocks won't last more than about 2 years at this ride height and on the crappy roads in my area. Look for some springs with stock like rates for decent comfort. Figure in another $50-$100 for an alignment. Total cost <NEW> $750-$800. It really is an investment. So, hey for that you might as well go with a coil over setup for only about another $250. Your choice, spend wisely.

PS My ride is a 1st gen AWD

 

[98spydert]

H&R OE Sport Springs ~1" drop -about $200 shipped
Tokiko HP shocks -about $250 shipped
Alignment -about $60 at your local tire place
RMDSM Sway bars, front and back -$300 shipped
No name upper strut bars from Egay, front and back -about $50 shipped

$860 said and done if you do the installs yourself. Not bad for awsome handling and nice comfy street driving.

Ditch the sway bars and strut bars if you're not worried about handling that much and just going for a lowered ride and a little better handling. Only comes to $510 that way.

 

[jtmcinder]

Camber Kit (that's like another 100$ so I'd really rather not)

If you're only lowering a 2G AWD by an inch or so, you don't need (or want) a front camber kit unless this is a dedicated drag car. Bolts and washers for the rear will run about $10.

- Jtoby

 

[cait sith]

My car runs neither front nor rear camber kits and it's A OK by me.

You can also do an alignment by hand if you're clever.

 

[got_no_sol]

My car runs neither front nor rear camber kits and it's A OK by me.

You can also do an alignment by hand if you're clever.

how???

 

[cuttheduck]

how???

Some string, some tools, some knowledge.

 

[DSMSpyder99]

i think you are better off getting TEIN basic coilovers of $800 then you can adjust the height when ever you want

 

[98spydert]

The idea of adjusting your hieght when ever you want is great but you'll need an alignment ever time you do and feedback from this web site suggests that the TIEN Basic coilover isn't all that comfterably of a ride.

 

[Revolution]

H&R OE Sport Springs ~1" drop -about $200 shipped
Tokiko HP shocks -about $250 shipped
Alignment -about $60 at your local tire place
RMDSM Sway bars, front and back -$300 shipped
No name upper strut bars from Egay, front and back -about $50 shipped


Hmmm , well you did forget the taxes ,and the insurance fee some places add on for shipping but if it were only that simple.

I have the stock kyb replacment shocks (kyb fixed their length problem) with the tien high teck springs wich drop the car a modest 1.2 or so and have a spring rate 30-40% stiffer then stock . This gives me a great ride . Soft enough for daily driving but stiff enough for solo1.

If you are getting the sway bars I def recomend the rmdsm sways .
They indeed make my car feel much more nuetral then understeer biased, like the stokers tend to be.

 

[98spydert]

Hmmm , well you did forget the taxes ,and the insurance fee some places add on for shipping but if it were only that simple.

Notice the "shipped" after each price. For example; the springs are about $165. $200 is a conservative guess for a final price

 

[jtmcinder]

The idea of adjusting your hieght when ever you want is great but you'll need an alignment ever time you do...

Maybe yes; maybe no.

If you autocross a daily-driven 2G, you can set your heights the way you like and then raise the nose a half inch and get aligned to zero front toe. At events, you lower the nose that half inch and gain just the right amount of front toe-out (plus some camber) to get your pig to turn. Then raise it back up for the other 6 days of the week and have no front tire wear.

- Jtoby

 

[98spydert]

Very good point but most people wouldn't know as much about suspension as you do to get that right. Most would probably install there stuff, get it aligned, look at the wheel gap, lower it, drive it with rubbing, change it again to try and "fix" it... and on and on, eating their tires up over time or paying up the butt for alignments.

 

[jtmcinder]

This is why I find all the "look at my new 18" wheels, y0" threads so annoying. If you stay focused, you will soon be able to apply what you've learned about bump-camber and bump-toe, and be able to do this sort of thing quite easily. I mean, all you need to be able to do is loosen (and later tighten, doh!) a locking device, spin the perch on the sleeve a certain number of times, and remember which way to turn before the event and which way after. Rather simple, really. And, if you don't autocross, you would not believe what a 1/4" of front toe-out can do for your times.

- Jtoby

 

[cuttheduck]

just on the mention of alignments,,,
In case anybody finds this useful and doesn't yet know it firestone does have lifetime alignments. I paid like 99 bucks one time (I think regular price is $139?) and have got it aligned three times in the last 4 months while dialing in my new suspension and changing camber etc.. Now I probaly wont get another one for a year or so but there technically isn't a limit if you keep it to a reasonable amount i'm sure. Just an idea.

 

[97_Eclipse_GS]

I found some coilovers and camber kits CHEAP on ebay. The coilovers were $36, and the camber kit was $45. Would it be a mistake to put these on my 97 GS? I'd rather not mess up my brand new Kumho Ecstas. AND if I get coilovers and drop my car 1.5" do I REALLY need a camber kit?

RMiller

 

[cuttheduck]

Read past suspension threads about EBAY coilovers.
Dont waste your money, do it right the first time.