Will installing a set of springs improve handling on an 03 EVO? Specifically, the car is a daily driver that gets time trialed and autocrossed. I'm looking at a set of Hotchkis sport springs.

Will springs make the car hande better?

 

Yes. But only with new or low mileage struts. If you have any more than about 40k miles on your struts, you will make them "bad" very quickly.

Darin

 

Spend $ on tires. Thats going to be the biggest improvement you will see.

OEM Shocks are valved for OEM springs, and even though the Evo is "overvalved" from the factory, like was said its just going to wear them out faster by putting on heavier springs, and depending on what spring rate you end up with, may very well make the car handle worse. (If you can't properly damp the spring movement, then none of the parts are doing their job)

It is a better modificaiton to get performance shocks and leave the OEM springs on.

Jon K
www.racerjon.com

 

I'm already spending money on tires. I run STU so I'll run either Kumho Ecsta's or Hankooks. I've already budgetted for 2 sets this year and 2 sets of used tires for practice sessions. If I do nationals this year I'll buy an additional set just for that.

I agree that screwing w/ spring rates w/o matching the shocks is not an optimal approach. However, the choice I made is to go w/ Hotchkis which seems to do what I want (bigger difference in rates between front and back) without using really high spring rates. The drop is more than I like, but it is not as much as some manufactures do.

Would having the stock struts revalved for the new springs be effective? anybody know how much that costs?

 

Jake, I'll try to discuss this to you in more detail over dinner tonight.

But, first of all, you need to realize that tires are indeed going to be the most important factor. Yes the Kumho MX's are good. The hankooks are better, Azenis are better, the yoko's are the best.

After that, you need to decide on how far your suspension is going to go. I can tell you right now that in our region, springs are not going to cut it, unless I'm driving

Seriously though, get some camber plates, look for some used or even cheaper coilovers. They are budget options out there that are better than many people would lead you to believe. Work on a tune with a piggy-back. And drive drive drive!

I'll be happy to help you dial in the suspension. Also, is there a reason your set on just doing the springs?

EDIT: Also, I believe they raliart springs are the best on the market as far as spring rate and drop is considered. There are some threads on here discussing revalves of the MR bilsteins, which is an option.

 

As somebody who has autoX'd on hotchkis springs I would honestly say don't do it. They were good for a couple of events but after awhile they deterioated the struts enough that the car lost grip. I would also plus one the idea of staying on stock springs and installing camber plates. Being able to go -2.5 on the camber will give you a whole lot more vs. lowering springs.

On the idea re-valving the stock struts, probably not cost effective. You would probably be better off getting a set of budget coilovers that are adjustable dampening and come with camber plates......just my .02 worth.

MX's are okay but too much sidewall flex, stick with something that has a stiffer sidewall like the A046.