Hey Everyone,
Finally about to pull the trigger and order all the parts I need to properly lower/stiffen my car this spring. Spohn SFCS, Eibach Pro-Kit, UMI Lca relocation brackets and a UMI adjustable panhard bar. One last question though...can I keep my Monroe struts and rear shocks? Last summer I rebuilt my suspension with stock parts and this included the monroe struts and shocks. Basically I spent the money on them and they are brand new and I don't want to have to replace them if I don't have to. Is there problems with ride quality when lowering the car but keeping the monroes/stock type struts? And are the Koni "Yellows" and other higher quality struts/shocks specifically meant for lowering?

Thanks for any help/opinions.

 

When i was looking for options on lowering my car i searched and read a lot of threads here on TGO. The general thought seems to be is you can use whatever shocks/springs you want but dont expect as good of a ride from lower end stuff and since youre just using lowering springs the shocks will probably wear out faster since the car wasnt designed for that kind of suspension. As for the higher end suspension that often claims to be best with lowering, take it however you want imo. Youll get a better ride but again i wouldnt say itll be as good as the stuff would be at factory height. If you want to save some money now just try and use what you have and upgrade later if things dont work like you want or youre just looking for somethign better. This si of course just my opinion. I ended up going a different route as far as lowering after i did a lot of reading and searching. Drop springs are great but if you can wait and sepnd a little more there are better options (not that drop springs are bad).

 

I'd install the parts you mention (thanks for including UMI!) and try the existing shocks. It's always better to use brand new Koni's but that's not always in the budget. Try it with your existing shocks and if you like the ride and handling, you're good to go.

Some shocks are specifically meant for lowering (think Belltech Nitro, etc) but mainly the premium quality shocks have the damping ability to handle the higher spring rates required of most lowering springs. They aren't necessarily mechanically any different just for lowering.

ramey

 

Great info. guys... So basically install the springs and other parts and just see how it rides? But bottom line is you can use monroes with the pro kit and its not going to hurt anything you might just get a better ride with konis etc.? Yeah Konis or Blisteins etc. defintely are not in the budget at this point I was planning 500-600 total for this project and new struts/shock would make it more so over 1000 which for a college kid working part time dosent work.

 

Yep, just use what you have. It wont hurt anything and you can see how it rides. Im in the same boat as you so i know what a pain working with that kind of budget is.

 

Yeah it certainly is limiting... Im just hoping the ride with monroes while lowered isnt terrible...But the Pro Kit only lowers the car 1 inch so I don't really think it should be that different.

 

1 inch shouldnt throw much off really, at least not to a really noticable degree (if any). Just do it right with LCARBS and an adjustable panhard bar and youll be fine. At least youll have yours dropped soon, i have to wait until im done with school to finish mine. lol

 

Haha yeah man Ive been saving for this project for awhile, but good luck with yours! Anybody else have any experience or opinions?

 

I had to move all of the parts ive been ordering out to my car because it was annoying my GF having parts/boxes everywhere. Be sure to get some pics up when youre done.