Advice on suspension
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: the land between lancer and evo
The question you have to ask yourself is how much are you willing to pay. Alot of people buy the cheapest coilovesr they can find, and suffer as a result.
1) getting one that either doesnt have the range of features they need.
2) doesnt ride they want it to or makes noise
3) doesnt last long after a good North American weather cycle.
So do research, get feedback and buy one that everyone has good experience with.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Minisoda
Get coilovers if you plan to autox if not stick with lowering springs and a good set of shocks for easier street driving, to me its not worth the money to get real coilovers unless you autox or drift where it really matters just because they are adjustable doesn't mean they are better then lowering springs. 
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: the land between lancer and evo
Get coilovers if you plan to autox if not stick with lowering springs and a good set of shocks for easier street driving, to me its not worth the money to get real coilovers unless you autox or drift where it really matters just because they are adjustable doesn't mean they are better then lowering springs.
1) Mitsubishi's specs for the strut. Ride height and valving does not take very well to Lowering with springs. Ad to that North American weather and you have a strut that will degrade rather quickly in terms of its performance and overall life.
2) The cost of installing the springs isnt terrible, but spring install and alignment isnt cheap either. If you go this route you run a very high risk of strut failure as you drive you car. This varies depending on many factors. But I cant tell you how many guys in our club have had their Struts warrantied or just replaced on their own dime because the strut failed. Primarily because of aftermarket springs.
I dont say this to discourage people from buying Springs.... I am just saying specifically for the Lancer GTS, Springs are hard on the strut. That said, a mild drop is worth it. H&R springs are a good balance, Eibach is even a little less of a drop than that.
The main point is. You get good coilovers.
$1600 installed and done. You will have suspension that operates at 100% all the time. Vs. driving on springs, with compromised struts. Your handling suffers and at the end of the day. That difference means you just avoided an accident instead of going into the ditch or losing control.
If you do the cost analysis of both... factoring the potential of replacing a strut down the road. Coilovers are the better way to go.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Minisoda
On the surface its good advice, but I disagree and I will tell you why.
1) Mitsubishi's specs for the strut. Ride height and valving does not take very well to Lowering with springs. Ad to that North American weather and you have a strut that will degrade rather quickly in terms of its performance and overall life.
True that's why I said get a good set of shocks, shocks are struts like how rims and wheels are the same thing lol I think you misunderstood their I don't recommend you drive on the OEM shocks/struts with any lowering springs.
2) The cost of installing the springs isnt terrible, but spring install and alignment isnt cheap either. If you go this route you run a very high risk of strut failure as you drive you car. This varies depending on many factors. But I cant tell you how many guys in our club have had their Struts warrantied or just replaced on their own dime because the strut failed. Primarily because of aftermarket springs.
If you run a good set of shocks/struts you shouldn't have any problems with lowering springs plus the stiffer the shocks/struts the better your handling would be too and don't get oem after-market shocks/struts replacements.
I dont say this to discourage people from buying Springs.... I am just saying specifically for the Lancer GTS, Springs are hard on the strut. That said, a mild drop is worth it. H&R springs are a good balance, Eibach is even a little less of a drop than that.
Lowering springs are hard on the oem shocks/struts that's why you also want to upgrade them when you put on lowering springs.
The main point is. You get good coilovers.
$1600 installed and done. You will have suspension that operates at 100% all the time. Vs. driving on springs, with compromised struts. Your handling suffers and at the end of the day. That difference means you just avoided an accident instead of going into the ditch or losing control.
With a good set of lowering springs and shocks/struts your suspension/handling could be a lot better then coil-overs since they're at a set stiffness and spring rate they're just not adjustable so if you go to the track often and want to make adjustments coil-overs would be better. Coil-overs are by no means more "sturdy" then lowering springs they are just as prone to failure as much as lowering springs or shocks/struts. Broken sleeves, strut, brackets, perch etc.. can happen with coil-overs look at this thread for an example the coil-overs were made by HKS a very reputable company also prone to failure.
http://g35driver.com/forums/brakes-s...ch-snaped.html
If you do the cost analysis of both... factoring the potential of replacing a strut down the road. Coilovers are the better way to go.
Replacing a shock/strut with spring is still cheaper then replacing a whole new coil-over unit.
1) Mitsubishi's specs for the strut. Ride height and valving does not take very well to Lowering with springs. Ad to that North American weather and you have a strut that will degrade rather quickly in terms of its performance and overall life.
True that's why I said get a good set of shocks, shocks are struts like how rims and wheels are the same thing lol I think you misunderstood their I don't recommend you drive on the OEM shocks/struts with any lowering springs.
2) The cost of installing the springs isnt terrible, but spring install and alignment isnt cheap either. If you go this route you run a very high risk of strut failure as you drive you car. This varies depending on many factors. But I cant tell you how many guys in our club have had their Struts warrantied or just replaced on their own dime because the strut failed. Primarily because of aftermarket springs.
If you run a good set of shocks/struts you shouldn't have any problems with lowering springs plus the stiffer the shocks/struts the better your handling would be too and don't get oem after-market shocks/struts replacements.
I dont say this to discourage people from buying Springs.... I am just saying specifically for the Lancer GTS, Springs are hard on the strut. That said, a mild drop is worth it. H&R springs are a good balance, Eibach is even a little less of a drop than that.
Lowering springs are hard on the oem shocks/struts that's why you also want to upgrade them when you put on lowering springs.
The main point is. You get good coilovers.
$1600 installed and done. You will have suspension that operates at 100% all the time. Vs. driving on springs, with compromised struts. Your handling suffers and at the end of the day. That difference means you just avoided an accident instead of going into the ditch or losing control.
With a good set of lowering springs and shocks/struts your suspension/handling could be a lot better then coil-overs since they're at a set stiffness and spring rate they're just not adjustable so if you go to the track often and want to make adjustments coil-overs would be better. Coil-overs are by no means more "sturdy" then lowering springs they are just as prone to failure as much as lowering springs or shocks/struts. Broken sleeves, strut, brackets, perch etc.. can happen with coil-overs look at this thread for an example the coil-overs were made by HKS a very reputable company also prone to failure.
http://g35driver.com/forums/brakes-s...ch-snaped.html
If you do the cost analysis of both... factoring the potential of replacing a strut down the road. Coilovers are the better way to go.
Replacing a shock/strut with spring is still cheaper then replacing a whole new coil-over unit.
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From: the land between lancer and evo
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