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lowered but comfortable?

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Old Sep 26, 2004
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lowered but comfortable?

i want to lower my car but i want it to ride smooth like stock and i dont want it to bump bump bump when theres not bumps, no what i mean. my brother lowered his truck and it rides like ****. i dont want it to ride like **** but i want to lower it. is this possible i would like to do an adjustable kit but i dont want air ride is there any other way other than coilovers because i heard they ride really bad. any way to lower my car and still have a smooth comfortable ride? by the way i have 17" wheels (dunno if that makes a diff.)
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Old Sep 26, 2004
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Any time you lower, you will lose ride quality. Most springs are stiffer than stock. Adjustable kits will usually ride more harsh than just springs and shocks. I would suggest either the Tein Basic or SS, or Tokicos with some sort of spring of your choosing. AGain, you won't be riding like a caddy, but you will turn better.
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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Neuspeed sports springs or Eibach Pro-Kit with Koni adjustable shocks would be a good set up if you still wants to maintain that soft comfortable ride. It won't be as soft as factory set up but it's close enough. Just stay away from any race springs if you still want the soft comfortable ride.
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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I have eibach pro kit springs w/ koni yellows. I also have eibach swaybars f/r. The ride is exceptionally good for an aftermarket suspension.
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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You can check out H&R OE Sports Springs. They lower your car about .75-1 inch and they are called the OE springs becasue they maintain your normal ride quality. Find out if others agree.
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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Tanabe also makes a spring like that, its called the Dress Up Form or something. it loweres the car but uses a spring rate only slightly stiffer than stock.


Know this though(if you dont already): the reason lowering springs are stiffer than stock is so that it wont bottom out due to the loss of travel. I.E. say you like the look of Eibach sportlines, but want a factory ride. well, you decide to cut your stock springs to the height of the sportlines. what happens, nice look, nice ride, and a nicely scraped up underbody. see, if you lower and dont increase stiffness, the springs will let your suspension compress normally to absorb the bumps cause its designed for the stock amount of travel

you probably already know this....sorry for rambling
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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yah i figured there would be some discomfort but i just want to know what you guys think is the most comfortable. i dont want my car being scraped up and trashed underneath but i want it to be lowerd. is there any range? like 0-1 inch is safe and comfortable 1-2 inch is better looking 2-3 inch is race car or somthing like that? i really dont know like anything about suspension other than like he said the lower the stiffer unless theres a way around that? but yah any info would help
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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yeah, youve got it about right. every company is different really From what i can tell, it sounds like you would like the Eibach Pro-Kit(~.75" drop), or the Eibach Sportline(~1.5" drop)
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Old Sep 27, 2004
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also, someone correct me if im wrong on this. i think a way to relieve some of the bouncyness or harshness would be to get some aftermarket shocks/struts


and yeah your 17s will have some impact on the ride quality...what size tire you have on them? i would suggest a 215/45-17, some will say it "doest look low profile" well, that may be but IMO, a 205/40-17 looks like practicly a rubber band, not a tire. and 2, a 205/40-17 will ride like SH*t!

When will you need new tires on your 17s? when you replace them, if your not looking for all out grip, id say get a set of tires that are more geared towards touring. you should be able to find a few Makes/Models and the will have a sidewall that is less stiff than say a Yoko Prada Spec2, Kumho Ecsta Supra 712, etc..

anyway, thats something to consider as well
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Old Sep 28, 2004
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Yeah, the stock dampers are really only designed for stock spring rates. Once you increase spring rate with aftermarket springs, you'll bounce more since the dampers cant dampen the increased rate.

Tire size is all about personal preference. I run 205/40/17 Kumho 711's with my Eibach Sportlines and Koni setup. The 711's are an H rated tire, so its sidewall is softer the most 205/40's that are Z rated. Being softer, it gives a pretty comfy ride over my previously owned Z rated tires that were the same size.
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Old Sep 28, 2004
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I have nitto neogen 215/45/17 with my eibach pro kit and koni yellows, and it rides similar to a bmw 3 series.
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Old Sep 28, 2004
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how do you like the neogen's in general?
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Old Sep 28, 2004
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They're very good tires for the money, not max performance by any means but they work great for everyday driving.
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Old Sep 28, 2004
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yah i need to replace my tires like right now and i'm just looking at a 215/45/17 i would rather have them stiff and not bounce than soft and bouce alot so what your saying is if i get like a sportline then i should get new dampers
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Old Sep 28, 2004
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aftermarket dampers are recommended for any lowering spring install, but they are not required

they are recommended for a few reasons

1.they are valved a little differently than OEM ones, which makes them better suited to lowering springs,

2.many(though in our case, few) companies offer a shock/strut that is adjustable

they may be a few other small reasons, but these are the most important
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Old Sep 29, 2004
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guys what can u say about the tanabe nf210 springs?
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Old Sep 29, 2004
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cuz i see like 98 civics driving around all the time, that must be like an inch or less from the ground driving down the street boucing up and down, and thats definately not what i want to do.
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Old Oct 27, 2004
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4drcivic, I have an 04 coupe and am considering lowering. I like the sound of your setup. How much should I expect to pay for that type of setup?

Thanks

Originally Posted by 4drcivic2k1
I have eibach pro kit springs w/ koni yellows. I also have eibach swaybars f/r. The ride is exceptionally good for an aftermarket suspension.
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Old Oct 28, 2004
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it doesn't matter what shocks or springs you use. the moment you lower your car expect to have a harsh ride. the lower you go the more bumpy the ride. people tend to think that if they install performance shocks to compliment their lowering springs it will give them back the comfort that they had when they were stock. there is no truth to this, as a matter of fact some performance shocks will lower ride quality even more.

there is one thing you can do to remedy this...lower the psi in your tires to about 10, then you should have a comfortable ride regardless of what height you're at...LOL!
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Old Dec 17, 2004
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i jus cannot deal with driving like this every day and communting so i am selling my suspension set up i jus dont care anymore.
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Old Dec 17, 2004
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Actually, you can appreciate firmness, but not bounciness or a overly harsh ride.

I have the Sportline/D Specs and I am happy. Only the worse bumps are a little harsh, but otherwise people like my girl have no issues about it. Even my mom did not complain. That is the test. Plus you can adjust the D Specs, pricey but worth it.


My teg has Tein SS, also very nice, but the daily driver is about right in height.
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Old Dec 17, 2004
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cuz i cant commute through the streets of NYC everyday especially now that pothole season is comming up. UGH i love my drop my car feels like butter but at least ill still have the sway bars in....::i know i know no where near the same::
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