Coilovers vs Springs?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: the land between lancer and evo
(Speaking in the context of a Lancer 2008+)
I want to blow my brain sometimes when I hear this question. Given my roll as a car club admin, I get asked this all the time. Springs or Coilovers. I wish my old blog didnt get erased or I would send you the link. But I visited this question in depth.
At the end of the day, because Mitsubishi and KYB setup the Lancer suspension they way they did. Springs are generally pretty hard on the Lancer DE SE and GTS. If you live in a colder climate with salt and crap on the ground. Generally lowered Lancers dont last too long without experience premature failure to the struts.
Local guys, install the springs, eventually one strut starts to go, Then then, you try to pull a fast one at the dealership and get it replace under warranty, so you install the stock stuff. Then you get your strut or struts replaced, then you do it all over again. If you total up all that money and headache it would have been cheaper to do coilovers in the long run. Do coilover`s a decent coilover should last you a while and offer you multiple features you cant have access to with springs. If it was for an EVO, or some other car with a good set of struts valved and set up the right way, it might be a different story. Springs might be a viable affordable option.
But I gotten about 100 Lancer question emails from people over the past 2 years asking this same question. Most end up opting for the Springs, but of those half usually report an issue within the first year.
I want to blow my brain sometimes when I hear this question. Given my roll as a car club admin, I get asked this all the time. Springs or Coilovers. I wish my old blog didnt get erased or I would send you the link. But I visited this question in depth.
At the end of the day, because Mitsubishi and KYB setup the Lancer suspension they way they did. Springs are generally pretty hard on the Lancer DE SE and GTS. If you live in a colder climate with salt and crap on the ground. Generally lowered Lancers dont last too long without experience premature failure to the struts.
Local guys, install the springs, eventually one strut starts to go, Then then, you try to pull a fast one at the dealership and get it replace under warranty, so you install the stock stuff. Then you get your strut or struts replaced, then you do it all over again. If you total up all that money and headache it would have been cheaper to do coilovers in the long run. Do coilover`s a decent coilover should last you a while and offer you multiple features you cant have access to with springs. If it was for an EVO, or some other car with a good set of struts valved and set up the right way, it might be a different story. Springs might be a viable affordable option.
But I gotten about 100 Lancer question emails from people over the past 2 years asking this same question. Most end up opting for the Springs, but of those half usually report an issue within the first year.
Last edited by evo_soul; May 4, 2011 at 02:50 PM.
my 2004 WRX had for 2 years, 2006 STI had for a year, 2008 EVO GSR had for 8 months, now onto another 2008 EVO GSR had it for 4 months... kept tein-s-techs on all of my cars the entire time i had them and my struts or shocks never went bad. I live in the PNW where it rains about 9 months of the year, never any problems. Just some numbers for ya guy.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: AZ
On my previous cars, I had coilovers and bigger wheels and wider summer tires for the spring/summer/fall. I kept the OEM strut/spring combo for the winter with winter rims and tires. This made it easy to swap out. I used to do the Eibach springs for the spring/summer/fall and put on the stock ones in the winter. The problem was compressing the spring with the spring compressor. I never had one pop out, but I've heard of this happening and it always goes through my mind when doing it.
Anyhow, that's what I'm going to do ASAP! Waiting for my big bonus
Anyhow, that's what I'm going to do ASAP! Waiting for my big bonus
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Honestly, everyone is correct. But personally I would go with a daily affordable set of full coilovers. You can adjust your height and even your dampening depending on the product. You can get megan or ksport coilovers for 800 bucks. They're a lot better than springs in the long run.
If hes looking for a DD set up he will want to be able to adjust his height according to SEASON . snow raise . summer drop .
Also for DD dampening would benefit him to control how stiff or soft he wants his set up to be . you have so much more control over the ride height and comfort with coilovers. Ive ran Ksports and i loved them. hit the biggest of all biggest potholes . never blew one . and they were actually very comfortable. solid enough to have my handling where i wanted but soft enough to dd and not feel like it was solid thru every slight bump....
Sure he can save a bunch of money buying just springs to get the lower effect and a little handling . but he has SO MUCH MORE CONTROl over every aspect with coilovers. KSPORT !!!!!!! FTW affordable and amazinq imho.
but hey dont chew me alive this is just MY OPINION ive owned them and ive been in this situation deciding on a couple hundred dollars more for a better product . i opted Ksprt and dont regret a thing
Last edited by B00ST4DAYZ; May 7, 2011 at 10:40 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Oman
i was planning to purchase H&R springs which it drops 1.4 front and 1.3 rear, but now i am scared after reading the problems of installing it. I cant afford coil overs, it's out of my budget and i donno what to do 
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
(Speaking in the context of a Lancer 2008+)
I want to blow my brain sometimes when I hear this question. Given my roll as a car club admin, I get asked this all the time. Springs or Coilovers. I wish my old blog didnt get erased or I would send you the link. But I visited this question in depth.
At the end of the day, because Mitsubishi and KYB setup the Lancer suspension they way they did. Springs are generally pretty hard on the Lancer DE SE and GTS. If you live in a colder climate with salt and crap on the ground. Generally lowered Lancers dont last too long without experience premature failure to the struts.
Local guys, install the springs, eventually one strut starts to go, Then then, you try to pull a fast one at the dealership and get it replace under warranty, so you install the stock stuff. Then you get your strut or struts replaced, then you do it all over again. If you total up all that money and headache it would have been cheaper to do coilovers in the long run. Do coilover`s a decent coilover should last you a while and offer you multiple features you cant have access to with springs. If it was for an EVO, or some other car with a good set of struts valved and set up the right way, it might be a different story. Springs might be a viable affordable option.
But I gotten about 100 Lancer question emails from people over the past 2 years asking this same question. Most end up opting for the Springs, but of those half usually report an issue within the first year.
I want to blow my brain sometimes when I hear this question. Given my roll as a car club admin, I get asked this all the time. Springs or Coilovers. I wish my old blog didnt get erased or I would send you the link. But I visited this question in depth.
At the end of the day, because Mitsubishi and KYB setup the Lancer suspension they way they did. Springs are generally pretty hard on the Lancer DE SE and GTS. If you live in a colder climate with salt and crap on the ground. Generally lowered Lancers dont last too long without experience premature failure to the struts.
Local guys, install the springs, eventually one strut starts to go, Then then, you try to pull a fast one at the dealership and get it replace under warranty, so you install the stock stuff. Then you get your strut or struts replaced, then you do it all over again. If you total up all that money and headache it would have been cheaper to do coilovers in the long run. Do coilover`s a decent coilover should last you a while and offer you multiple features you cant have access to with springs. If it was for an EVO, or some other car with a good set of struts valved and set up the right way, it might be a different story. Springs might be a viable affordable option.
But I gotten about 100 Lancer question emails from people over the past 2 years asking this same question. Most end up opting for the Springs, but of those half usually report an issue within the first year.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
This is NOT true. A quality spring like Swift or GTWORX will not harm other suspension components. Springs like Tein which lower the car too much DO harm other components (such as the struts and shocks) because they were not engineered correctly to go with the OEM components.
My evo has been on Swift springs for three years now with no issues. I love them. if you are seriously looking for information on suspension choices I would recommend some looking at the suspension forum here on EVOM. Many people have discussed the topic already.
good luck with your choice.
My evo has been on Swift springs for three years now with no issues. I love them. if you are seriously looking for information on suspension choices I would recommend some looking at the suspension forum here on EVOM. Many people have discussed the topic already.
good luck with your choice.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Miami
Coils. I have Ksport on mine...and I dont even have them maxed out and I scrape everywhere. I had previous Teins and they bounce too much, but they're still good quality coils. Go with the Ksport I only spent around $800. Just for the record I havent busted my oil pan yet, pretty proud of myself. 
I had the Swift springs on my evox and you could barely tell the car had them..imo
I had the Swift springs on my evox and you could barely tell the car had them..imo
Last edited by arievox; Jul 7, 2013 at 07:40 AM.
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