springs affecting anything?

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Old 06-30-2003, 10:04 PM
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springs affecting anything?

I'm about to get my comptech springs put on, but I'm starting to hesitate because my friend who's a mechanic is worried that it might mess my camber up a lot, and might mess up my alignment. For those of you with the comptech springs on stock struts, what has been your experience with camber and alignment. Have you had any problems with either, or any other problems related because of the upgrade? Anything you could add to help me make my decision to go with them would be very helpful. Also, please let me know how long you have gone with your stock struts/comptech springs, and how the stock struts are holding up. I'm hoping I won't have to change them out for a while. Thanks in advance.
Old 06-30-2003, 10:07 PM
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you're worried about nothing. camber and alignment will be fine, so will your shocks.
Old 06-30-2003, 10:12 PM
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i hope you dont plan on letting your friend install the springs because he SHOULD know that a 1-1.25 inch drop will not affect the camber of a vehicle. You will need to do an alignment after the springs settle though...

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Old 06-30-2003, 10:12 PM
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i hope so, but i'd feel a lot safer hearing a lot more of the consensus...not that i don't trust you. are your tires wearing any differently?
Old 06-30-2003, 10:13 PM
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nah he didnt know how much they dropped until i told him, and then he said it should be ok
Old 06-30-2003, 10:34 PM
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I was worried about this exact same thing. I want to make improvements to my car, but I don't want to improve on one thing and mess up another in the process. I would love to drop my car, but I don't want to screw up my shocks and tires or god knows what else.
Old 06-30-2003, 10:38 PM
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read the damn tuners guide!

if you go with moderate springs LIKE COMPTECHS you will NOT have to worry about any other piece of your car being negatively effected.

Comptech (1-1.25") drop does not effect camber by any significant amount. And because of the moderate drop and relatively soft spring rates they WILL NOT significantly shave time off the life of your shocks or any other suspension components.


I've had several different suspension on my CL's... so I speak from hands-on experience.


Go for the Comptechs and stop worrying
Old 06-30-2003, 10:43 PM
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Guess I am just a little gun shy about mods, thats all. Thanks for the input!
Old 06-30-2003, 11:05 PM
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I had Jens at PAA install my Comptech springs (left the stock shocks on). My 4 wheel alignment showed the rear camber off by 0.1 degree, the fronts were perfect. Not enough for a camber kit.

Jens (and others) recommend rotating tires every 5000 miles when the car is lowered, and no camber kit for Comptech drop.

Your shocks will probably NOT last the 100K miles that they were made for with a drop, but they still should last many 10s of 1000s of miles without a problem. I decided to wait until they fail to change them at which point I'll probably go Koni Yellow. I don't expect that to happen for a few years.
Old 06-30-2003, 11:05 PM
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I had the CT springs and sways installed by an Acura dealership with a 4 wheel alignment. Absolutely no problems with camber or stock shocks. However, I've heard the stock shocks will wear out sooner (may within 30k-40k miles). This doesn't bother me though cause I'm installing konis in a month or so.

Also, I noticed that the car drove straighter after the install and 4 wheel alignment. Not sure if it was because car was out of alignment from factory (only had 3800 on it) or the affect of lowering the car. But car feels so much more stable than stock.
Old 06-30-2003, 11:13 PM
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so should i get it aligned right after the install, or is it really worth it to wait until it "settles"? does it really make a difference?
Old 06-30-2003, 11:18 PM
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Originally posted by zigzagzig
so should i get it aligned right after the install, or is it really worth it to wait until it "settles"? does it really make a difference?
When I had my springs installed, I believe the tech drove my around for a few miles then did the alignment. I'v put 3k on car since install and car still tracks the same. IMO, I'd get the alignment at the same time.
Old 07-01-2003, 12:06 AM
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Couple questions if you have the time......... Does anybody have experience driving with comptech springs (or any other spings) in the snow, and how does it affect the car?? Secondly, has anyone installed a trailer hitch or a trailer hitch with springs?? Yeah, I know that springs and trailer hitches don't really go together, but I am interested in that extra bit of handing comptech might give my car. I might get and begin racing a small Laser trailerable sailboat next year and like to leave DC for the hills when it snows to ski, are comptech springs right for me???? Thanks in advance for your advice-
Old 07-01-2003, 12:20 AM
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if you have snow tires i think a comptech drop is perfectly fine in the snow. i've plowed through 8"+ in my cl-s w/ snow tires and a h&r race spring drop, which is a bit lower than the CT springs.

i've always got an alignment soon after a spring/ suspension install.
Old 07-01-2003, 02:11 AM
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Its no that bad, I drove without the kit or alignment and had no strange tire wear, but I had to get a camber kit and realignment just to pass safety. If you do drop it, camber and alignment won't be within factory specs, which does not pass hawaii's safety inspection.
Old 07-01-2003, 02:23 AM
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Originally posted by cls6sp03
When I had my springs installed, I believe the tech drove my around for a few miles then did the alignment. I'v put 3k on car since install and car still tracks the same. IMO, I'd get the alignment at the same time.
i disagree

the suspension is still changing while the springs are settling so the camber will be off. Its best to let the springs settle first (1-2 weeks for new springs) before getting an alignment

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Old 07-01-2003, 02:39 AM
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imma wait like a month to let my eibachs settle before gettin an alighnment
Old 07-01-2003, 08:46 AM
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ok, so nobody here thinks my camber will be messed up?
Old 07-01-2003, 09:37 AM
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Originally posted by sidemarker
i disagree

the suspension is still changing while the springs are settling so the camber will be off. Its best to let the springs settle first (1-2 weeks for new springs) before getting an alignment

sidemarker
In 2 weeks, I can easily put 1000 miles on my car. This could cause some serious wear if the aligment was way off after the springs intall. IMO I think the amount of settling of springs would only affect alignment very slighty at most, not enough to warrant waiting.
Old 07-01-2003, 10:11 AM
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I have the same worries.

I was (and still am) a little about getting them.
Old 07-08-2003, 03:22 AM
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you'll drive a lot more and put tons more miles on it =P
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