The time has come for me to lower my car and I have some questions about it all. Will lowering the car without coilovers mess up anything? will it put more stress on the shocks or anything thus producing problems? I have been told that just lowering the car with just springs will mess up how the car handles and that "air" would get under the car or something like that and produce lift. I have heard so many things that I just want some hardcore facts..........anyone please help............Hotchkis lowering springs is what will be used.

 

If you use the wrong spring combo then you can blow your struts out over time. People complain a lot about Tein springs doing this. If you lower the car too much then you can mess up the suspension geometry and it may handle worse. You will change the roll center of the car by lowering it but there are kits to fix that as well. I think the Hotchkis springs only lower it about an inch so they may be all right but I don't know too many people that have used them on Evos. Anybody else?

 

Not that this has never been asked before, but whatever.

No matter what, pretty much any aftermarket spring is going to put on additional stress on your factory struts. But the difference between springs is how much stress. There are some well-engineered springs that have been accepted and approved by the online Evo community, and these springs won't negatively impact your factory struts' lifespan too bad. Then there are some crappy springs that offer too great of a drop (i.e., Tein S-Tech) that will deteriorate your handling while significantly reducing the struts' lifespan.

Most people on these forums will recommend GTWorx or Swifts, though Hotchkis, Works and Robispec springs have also been given the thumbs-up.

 

Swift Springs

 

anymore info?

 

I love the Gtworx RCE springs..Perfect drop and havent had a problem with them yet..

 

^^^^What kind of struts are you using with those springs?

 

^ His wheel/tire combo may account for the drop looking greater than normal

 

Just finally put Hotchkis springs on my Evo 8....the ride is very comparable to stock...just a bit more harsh on rough payment lines or speed bumps. The drop is moderate and the spring rates are very similar to stock

 

So it seems like Hotchkis are a green light for lowering th car? My concern was how much stress it would put on the struts but it seems to be very low.

 

Hotchkis - lowers but doesnt help handling. Just was talking to a good friend about this exact subject. The rates are too soft to help with body roll. So yes, you lower the car but you dont gain in handling as much as you could.

Swift Sports (Linear): 269, 319 (314 for MR). -1.4, -0.8 drop.
Swift Spec R's (Progressive): 157-358, 196-380 (153-380 for MR). Same drop.
Hotchkis: 195, 275. -1.5, -1.0 drop.
Stock: 180, 225. Stock - no drop.

My review of the Swifts:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=337211

SmikeEvo Handling Package:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=343046