first car?
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Las Vegas, NV
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Re: first car?
Not unless you wanna keep re-doing it..
Technically speaking, you can get away with just the springs on stock struts, but only if they're a subtle drop (I'd say 1.5" max), so long as you're saving up for the struts to be your next mod. But even then, you're spending more money, because every time you take your suspension apart, you have to go get an alignment.
Save up and do it all at once, you save money by only having to do the alignment once. In my case, I did the springs first, then the struts a year later, then full coilovers a few months later. That's 3 alignments, at ~$100 each.
Technically speaking, you can get away with just the springs on stock struts, but only if they're a subtle drop (I'd say 1.5" max), so long as you're saving up for the struts to be your next mod. But even then, you're spending more money, because every time you take your suspension apart, you have to go get an alignment.
Save up and do it all at once, you save money by only having to do the alignment once. In my case, I did the springs first, then the struts a year later, then full coilovers a few months later. That's 3 alignments, at ~$100 each.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 15,176
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From: TN
Rep Power: 367 Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 15,176
Likes: 1,605
From: TN
Rep Power: 367 Re: first car?
here is a word from the wise. from a person who had a decent disposable income.
if i had to do it all over again, this is what i would do:
keep the car stock for a while. drive it. learn how it responds and how it drives.
save up enough money for lowering. do it properly the first time. dont cheap out. you will be spending about 1200 if u install it yourself.
1000$ coilovers, 100 camber kit, 100 alignment.
i know 1200 sounds like A LOT, but it isnt. ive WASTED much more than that on suspension.
i first got eibach sportlines + stock. i thought to myself, "****, who cares what the forum advises me, ill just ride them for a while n change out the struts when they blow.
4 months later they blow. i wasted my more time reinstalling my sportlines + tokico blues.
they rode fine for about 4 months...but i became annoyed at how much MORE of a gap i had in front than in the rear. i had a good 3 finger gap in front and a 1 finger gap in rear. WTF... OCD KICKING IN...
so i saved up for some eibach ground control paid with koni yellows. cost me about 900. i REINSTALLED them. spent more money and time. and got another alignment. now my car sits with perfect stance: 1finger gap all around.
after u do suspension you will appreciate how DIFFERENT it is...and how much better of a car it is.
then i would do practical things like:
stainless steel brake lines
retrofit (relatively cheap now a days)
better tires and/or rims+tires
then bam. do the subtle things...if u dump too much money in it and rice it out you'll regret it later on.
ive dumped wayy too much money and now i wish i kept it simple.
if i had to do it all over again, this is what i would do:
keep the car stock for a while. drive it. learn how it responds and how it drives.
save up enough money for lowering. do it properly the first time. dont cheap out. you will be spending about 1200 if u install it yourself.
1000$ coilovers, 100 camber kit, 100 alignment.
i know 1200 sounds like A LOT, but it isnt. ive WASTED much more than that on suspension.
i first got eibach sportlines + stock. i thought to myself, "****, who cares what the forum advises me, ill just ride them for a while n change out the struts when they blow.
4 months later they blow. i wasted my more time reinstalling my sportlines + tokico blues.
they rode fine for about 4 months...but i became annoyed at how much MORE of a gap i had in front than in the rear. i had a good 3 finger gap in front and a 1 finger gap in rear. WTF... OCD KICKING IN...
so i saved up for some eibach ground control paid with koni yellows. cost me about 900. i REINSTALLED them. spent more money and time. and got another alignment. now my car sits with perfect stance: 1finger gap all around.
after u do suspension you will appreciate how DIFFERENT it is...and how much better of a car it is.
then i would do practical things like:
stainless steel brake lines
retrofit (relatively cheap now a days)
better tires and/or rims+tires
then bam. do the subtle things...if u dump too much money in it and rice it out you'll regret it later on.
ive dumped wayy too much money and now i wish i kept it simple.
This one is worth moving to suspension forum
Last edited by sdaidoji; Dec 16, 2010 at 07:43 PM.
Kenny the Ricer
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From: In your trunk
Rep Power: 291 Re: first car?
Cut the stock springs, or cheap out with some H-Techs .8' drops
Theres a guy selling on this forum for $80 shipped
Though, I wouldn't recommend either.
Ah, yes. Soon as you're ready.
I haz his address, he sent me something
bwahaha
Theres a guy selling on this forum for $80 shipped
Though, I wouldn't recommend either.
Ah, yes. Soon as you're ready.
I haz his address, he sent me something
bwahaha 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21,620
Likes: 1,252
From: Las Vegas, NV
Rep Power: 511 
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