evan03CL

I'm looking to drop my 2003 CL a bit, just to get rid of the wheel gap a bit, nothing drastic.

I'm looking to retain my ride quality but I dont have a huge budget. What are some of my options? Should I just get spirngs? or are there a springs and struts package thats good? What is everyones opinion?

Also, I am thinking of getting some 17s along the way, so those will factor in a bit on how low i drop.

Thanks guys!

o1s

how much money are you willing to spend? coilovers would be my recomendation. tein basics cost about the same as springs and struts fele very close to stock stiffness. if i bought new coilovers now, i would go with tein ss coilovers.

kyle77777

I have 2003 CL-S and i currently have 17's right now and i have the eibach drop with camber, its pretty much 2" drop all the way around. The ride is not bad at all, its my first car lowered and have been happy with the ride. I have not rolled the fenders yet so i do rub going around some tight corners.

MarbleGT

for the best, most stock like ride, I'd just get some comptech, H&R, eibach (whatever) and get some new OE shocks. It'll ride exactly like it does now.

Theres not really a need to spend 500+ on coilovers or fancy shocks/spring set up, unless you want them. Some people prefer adjustability and/or a stiffer set up.

dnd2984

iTrader: (6)

Tein H tech. I have a TL and My car still is very close to factory...

SkillmatiC

wow..do u NEED the camber with those eibach springs?? and i take it those things drop your car pretty low..cause i have tein s-techs, and sometimes i feel it should be alittle lower..

BigLizard

I have the Eibach 2" inch kit with SPC cambers on all fours. It sits nice N tight, but it feels like stock OEM spring rate though.

gorgerax

Are you saying just get lowering springs? Why the new shocks? Finally, does anyone have an idea of how low you can go before camber is a problem?

Sorry for the noob questions (and sorry to hijack the post it seems my questions fit) I am brand new to the group...just picked up my 2001 CL-S tonite after having totaled my M3. On it, I put lowering springs ONLY...ride was exactly the same, but camber WAS a problem.

Thanks!!!

jproy

what M3 did you have? camber is not a problem with the springs that drop just a little. anything else and you need the camber kit.

gorgerax

Hi! Well, it "was" a 99 BMW M3 with a 2" drop. On the CL's, how much is a "a little"? 1.5"; 2"?

Thanks!

solokook

i have tokico blues with the tein s tech springs...its about a 2 in. drop...i have 19's riding on 225 35 19 and the ride is only a little stiffer...don't even feel it on good pavement... i was surprised to read that kyle7777 was rubbing with a 2 in. drop on 17 in. rims

m733l

iTrader: (1)

sorry for jacking the thread but i was thinking the same thing and excelerate is doing a groupbuy on k sport coilovers. any thoughts on that system and i too want to keep the ride exactly like stock. i was going to post a thread about it but since you guys were on the subject... so any feedback on that system? quality? cost? is it worth it? comprable set ups? thank in advance

kyle77777

There is a about a one finger gap in the back and prob two finger in the front with the eibach kit.

mystikk

I'm a suspension noob and wasn't involved, in any way shape or form, in the installation of my Eibach springs .. but I heard no one mentioning anything about a camber kit for these.

evan03CL

So if I'm understanding correctly, I shouldnt need to get anything besides lowering springs or coilovers and my ride quality wont change very much?

How much of a drop do I need to get rid of the wheel gap but not rub if I buy 17s? I definetly want NO tire rub.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Coilovers if you can afford it would be best. But my favorite set of springs have always been H&R Sport.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I have had 2 CL's with tokico blue shocks & the older gray CT springs. The ride is close to stock. A bit stiffer, but nothing dramatic. The drop doesn't need camber kits, & the wheel gap is less, but not so much as to rub, bottom out, or have any problems with road surfaces.

Now the old CT springs seemed to have a problem with rusting. While I haven't had a problem with that others have. CT changed their springs to rebranded Eibach ones that now lower it closer to 2" all around, & these now may need camber kits.

As for rubbing that depends on your rim offset, tire size, & rim size.

As for shocks the tokico blues are a good aftermarket replacment. They are a little stiffer then stock, but still give a great ride. They can be had for around $250 for 4 on Ebay. Seller jdmwerks.
It's recomended to replace the shocks cause after you put lower springs on you will wear out the stock shocks early, & then have to replace them. Your better off doing it all at once & doing the labor 1 time.

jproy

IMHO I think 2" is to much drop

paulff3

Tein High.Tech. 1.25 iches all around. I love mine.

Lord Helmet

If you want to stock close to stock, I'd go H&R Sports (part #51858-which I feel the Type S model should have looked in stock form from the factory) or if you want a VERY sublte stance change, there's Tanabe NF springs. The H&R's will be just a bit more sporty (although not harsh AT ALL) and the Tanabe springs will be normal (hence "NF"=normal feel). I believe the other H&R's that offer less of a drop are the 55103's, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Personally, I wouldn't touch the 55103's or the NF's but rather the H&R 51858's. At least make it worth it IMHO.

PimpCL23

springs usually have a softer feel rather than coilovers... so if ur looking for a stock feel (or close to stock feel) id get springs over coilovers... coilovers are stiffer than springs

evan03CL

I'm not going to want to change the ride height around alot, or atleast, I think I'll be too lazy to change it around anyways so I'll probably just go with the springs, as long as there is no real need for getting shocks....

and that 2 inch drop is too much if I didnt want any rubbing with rims on. So I guess something around a 1.75 drop?

From what people are saying the two best ones to get for our cars are either the TEIN or EIBACH, is there really that much a difference between the two? I know they are both reputable brands, will I be good with either one?

Oh and thanks for all of your help guys, I'm not all that knowledgable on suspension

Lord Helmet

I wouldn't go with either of those springs. Eibach's are going to be lower than you're looking for BTW. Also, every car is different and you may need a camber kit with any of them. When I was on my H&R's, if my car sat any lower, I would have needed a camber kit. That being said, the Eibachs are lower and I believe Stealth CL runs them with no camber kit (he didn't need one I think). Here's the thing though... When I had my alignment done, the alignment guy said that if I had dropped it any lower, I would have needed it. It was already 1deg off after the alignment.

asloudasitgets

i have a tl and have the tein ss. let me say these coilovers are not for a tl. The way it rides is wrong. When your just crusing on even nice paved roads it is great but when it comes to imprefections on the road the shocks cant handle the weight and bottom out. you can tell the coilovers wernt made to handle the weight. And no my teins are only a year old, the shocks havent given way. And it doesnt matter what setting you put it on, it dips and you can hear the shocks not able to take the weight and sending some of the force(when going over imperfections on the road) on top of the coilovers where they are bolted, inside the engine bay. A loud clunk.

belcom

iTrader: (1)

H&R Sport give you about 1.75/1.5. Looks good not too low not too high. I'm running tokico illumina and I noticed that 2/2 setting pretty much feels like stock except the handling is improved and less body roll.

In terms of alignment I did it at Honda and the front wheels aligned perfectly and rears were 0.4 off which is not significant at all.

Also I got the version that everyone thinks is sagging in the rear (58518 or whatever the part number is) and it's not true. I'd say any suspension will sag if you a huge ass sub box in the trunk. Looks nice and even with a single sub and 2 amps.

Lord Helmet

^^^ No sagging with the 51858's. Actually, it will give you a very subtle rake stance. Looks very nice.

gorgerax

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CM-Lo...QQcmdZViewItem

What about these CM springs off EBay. ONly $120 so probably too cheap???

gr4mm4t0n

don't waste your money on crap. you get what you pay for. go with H&R or Eibach etc. i love my H&R Sports (more than my old rusty Comptechs).

evan03CL

Where's the best place to buy the H&R springs? Will they void my warranty?
And I should be good with just the springs right?

exxtraa

i got hr sport with illuminas as well, although i have the settings 3/4 it handles great, although it is just a bit more bouncier than stock, but not wably like stock. takes turns like a champ... i am planning to get some thicker tires and put it on 5/5

dalostpinoy

Running Tein S-tech springs with a 1.8" F & R drop on Tokico Blues. Great Handling and I cant tell too much difference in ride quaility.

All for less the $500 total

solokook

^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^
i agree with the dude above me..got the exact same setup...you dont want to do a drop and then wished it was lower & you dont want to rub find a good shop that knows what their doin and get the rims and drop at the same time.

MYStikk are you a naruto fan?

gorgerax

What about the TEIN S. Tech? How does it compare to the Eibach Pro or H&R Sport?

03JamesCLS

i want the stock feel/look as well.

I am getting the H&R sports 858(the lower ones) w/o any shocks in the near future

belcom

iTrader: (1)

s-techs are 2" and will most definitely require a camber kit unless you don't give a shit about your tires of course. some people think that this /------\ is cool and I see a lot of cars like that, mostly civics.

HondaVtec21

I'm selling BRAND NEW Neuspeed Sport springs for $150 if anyones interested. It gives a nice 1.75'' drop (front and back)!!! PM me if interested!!


Thanks!!~

gorgerax

OK...what drop and/or what springs ONLY would NOT require a camber kit? Thanks!

solokook

Im runnin on 19's with 225 35 19's no rubbing and no spacers or camber kit

coastal rider

Last month I installed on my '03 CL-S Tein H-Tech springs and Koni Yellow adjustable struts / shocks. The ride height is perfect at a 1.2" drop inducing a slight negative camber for much flatter cornering along with a nice ride. The car looks taught and lies horizontal and it does not have a rake so the headlights don't point downward. The springs are 270 lbs/inch up front which is 15 lbs stiffer than stock type S; 140 lbs/inch in rear stiffer than stock by just 5 lbs. Over speed bumps the suspension is actually more compliant than stock.
The only issue I had was with dialing in the shocks too tight just for kicks and the Konis were so strong that the springs couldn't keep up. I settled in at about 2/3 turn up front and a little less than a 1/2 turn in the rear. I would have liked the Tein S-Tech's slightly stiffer spring rates though the extra 1/2 inch lower I could do without.

gurot1

I had sways first and then a few years later I put on Koni yellows and the new Comptech springs which are about a 2 inch drop. My koni's are set to about 25% stiffness and they are on the highest perch. It definitely does NOT feel close to stock. It's still a lot more comfortable than when I initially had it on the lower perch and >80% stiffness on the konis and the car was very jittery. Luckily I don't need a camber kit on the higher perch. I noticed increase in stiffness with just the sways on and the addition of the springs and koni's made it a lot stiffer. I don't know how stiff/harsh the springs and shocks would be on their own. I've been in a TL with the Tein luxury springs and koni yellows,not sure how stiff the koni's were dialed, but it was stiffer than stock but not very harsh. The car also had comptech sways. You give up comfort for performance though. When my car was on the lower perch and the koni's were dialed up high, the car handled like a dream! Best bet would be to see if you can get rides in other people's cars with different set ups and see what you like the best.