Stock or cheap Matrix coilovers?

[MarcVIII]

My car has 100k on it and no suspension problems. I obtained a cheap set of Matrix "coilovers" (looks like springs with a height adjuster to me). Anyone ever hear of these or have them? I'm stock 17s and OEM tire size so...

Anyways are these things gonna ride like crap or really harsh if I lower the car just a little? Will I need spring compressors to get my stockers off? Will they have roughly stock ride quality, as I'm not a fan of bouncin'?

I don't plan on going low, might stay stock height for winter and all. Next summer might get rid on that body gap, but thats it.

Also while I'm asking about cheap parts, I was thinking of a front strut tower bar. Plus these suckers help stuff when they're lowered right? Theres a $22 on ebay, but that sounds way low. Its gotta be like paper thin or something, right? Its aluminum though "aircraft" grade. Maybe model airplane grade right?

Strut tower bar on ebay

 

[91dsmtalon]

I bet you could use that strut bar, those things are so simple. Not alot to them to mess up. Hell you might be able to do one up D.I.Y. style.

 

[cait sith]

So you're willing to put on a set of sleeves on stock shocks that you have no idea what their spring rates are? Nevermind how a stock shock setup at 100k is pretty much blown as is.

Throw them out in the garbage and get a proper coilover setup if you want to lower your car and not be bouncy.

 

[MarcVIII]

I got these for FREE and they are new / unused. I was just wondering if they would be decent enough to throw on and not ride like ass. I just want to get rid of the body gap, I don't care about additional suspension performance. If it performs stock and looks better, thats all I want. I don't have the cash to buy good tiens or another good coilover set. I'm also throwing on a front sturt tower bar.

 

[DiamondStarM]

I, like many others on the board, have gone the way of the ebay strut bar and I cant complain about it for the price. It does the job for me and should for you too since you aren't going to be going all out with handling mods. You will notice its adjustable on each side and that is why its cheaper. Its a generic bar on a tower bracket made for your car which makes it cheaper. The really good strut bars are one solid piece made just for your application.

As for the suspension, like stated above 100k is getting up there for stock shocks and if you just put springs over them you will suffer in ride quality especially if you lower it eventually. No one is saying the springs are bad but you will want to find shocks to match them that are made for higher rated spring as well as a lowered car.

On the negative side you have a 2G and if you go too low you will end up needing front camber correction and possibly rear toe arms when you get an alignment to be able to get it right.

Whatever you decide to do get an alignment afterwards.

 

[MarcVIII]

As for the suspension, like stated above 100k is getting up there for stock shocks and if you just put springs over them you will suffer in ride quality especially if you lower it eventually. No one is saying the springs are bad but you will want to find shocks to match them that are made for higher rated spring as well as a lowered car.

On the negative side you have a 2G and if you go too low you will end up needing front camber correction and possibly rear toe arms when you get an alignment to be able to get it right.

Whatever you decide to do get an alignment afterwards.

Thank you for a real answer and not just saying the stuff is junk.

I did pick up the strut bar and I'm gonna have to think some more on these "coilovers." The car rides rather smoothly now with all stock everything, but what would you suggest shock-wise as a low-cost upgrade to enhance these? Also, how low is too low where I'd require the front camber correction and rear toe arms and their costs / where they could be purchased?

 

[jtmcinder]

You will notice its adjustable on each side and that is why its cheaper.

Look more carefully. Those ends are not threaded to be cheap or adjustable. One side is reverse-threaded, so it can be pre-loaded after being installed.

- Jtoby

 

[DiamondStarM]

The whole idea of the stock suspension is for the smoothest ride, where performance based suspension will give better handling. I use GAB 4-way adjustable shocks on my setup and its not like riding on a trampoline but you do feel some bumps in the road. For example there is a bump at the end of my road that in my car I slow down to go over and in my parents Impala('01) I can fly over it and not even feel it. But on the flip side there is a long sweeping turn that I take at 35 in the Impala, but my car will take it at 50 easy.

My car is lowered to about a two finger gap at the top. This required a camber kit. I think most people suggest anything over a 2inch drop should have a camber kit. I got my camber kit from Summit Racing, they even threw in a free hat!

Not all cars will need the rear toe arms replaced. The problem is the bolts rust to the sleeve of some cars, so no adjustment can be made, you just would order new arms from the dealer if your alignment shop cant adjust them.

 

[DiamondStarM]

Look more carefully. Those ends are not threaded to be cheap or adjustable. One side is reverse-threaded, so it can be pre-loaded after being installed.

- Jtoby

So would that make this type better then a solid piece or just as good?

 

[TJGoSurf]

So would that make this type better then a solid piece or just as good?

You would already be pushing on the strut towers, so I would imagine It would be slightly better. A good example would be, you're blocking a door you would be more able to block the door if you were pushing againsnt it rather than standing 2-3" back right?


[Posted by 206.100.227.72. This is added while posting a message to avoid misuse of WebWarper: see http://webwarper.net/han Example of using WebWarper: http://webwarper.net/ww/dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200522 ]