I did a search, but still could not find the right answer. I have NBP 03 TL-S with OEM body kits, stock wheels, A'pex WSII catback, and Icebox CAI. I have two question that need your help:

1. Which drop will be for best looking and handling at the same time?
2. Will H&R Sport spring cause rubbing if I have 4 people in the car?

I probably will go to TEIN-SS down the road, but for now, I think I will stick with lower springs. Please help me to decide which lower spring so I can have enough time to install and show off at the So Cal Aug 14th meeting Thanks.

 

Stock wheels and OEM kit will not rub.

Check my sig for pics on my setup

 

go for the H&R sport springs. the OE's I think drop the car very little. The sports are perfect and will give you about a 2 finger gap all the way around.

 

Sport all the way. You will not rub with the Sport springs, even if you had 4 people in the car. I have a heavy system in the trunk, and had 8 people in my car (don't ask ) one time on H&R Sport 50103 and it never rubbed.

 

I heard that just putting the Hr sport on it affects your struts after a while is that true? or does it depend on how low you drop it?

 

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll order the H&R Sport after work today and will install this weekend. Pics of before and after will follow soon

Aro TL: from what I gather from the search, yes, adding HR sport on the OEM struts will decrease the struts life by half.

 

thnaks i was just making sure i got my info right I am thinking of getting springs or going for coilovers to avoid having to change my struts later down the line

 

So far, no issues with my struts. I've had the HR Sports for about 7 months now. I am currently on a 4400 mile road trip and crazy as it sounds, with all my highway driving, the springs seemed to have settled a bit more and the car is riding smoother than when I first got them on. My old Eibach springs on my Accord were the same way. The stock struts may or may not wear out quicker than normal, but besides this road trip, I don't drive the car that often, only on long trips and on weekends with the wifey. So, these struts should last me as long as I have the car. A daily driver, that may be a different story. It also depends on what type of roads you got.

 

how long/miles/years are the OEM shocks expected to live with the H&R Sports?

 

1) H&R Sports. Beware may need a camber kit.
2) No, but it really depends on your offset of wheels and tires.

If I were you just save up for the Teins and not bother with the H&R at all. Trust me, I did them both.

 

i think no matta wat u will need a camber kit unless its stocks shocks and spring....all aftermarket springs or coilover you will need a camber over a period of time..

 

i agree with him
i have H&R sports on my car and rims *will not cause camber wear* drop is about 1.7 front and 1.5 back, but i dont find the car low enough
id would prefer H&R race* may cause camber wear* drop is 2.2 in the front. and 2.0 in the back or something., but it will sag with having people in the car with stock factory shocks.

you should save up for something better, atleast tein basic coilovers* still a good price*, dont go cheap.. im learning it the hard way. im waiting to get coils on my car,
and the rubbing will occur if you have the wrong offset like benzo said.

 

I got stock shocks and H&R sports. No camber kit needed for me, alignment came back within acceptable specs. After 3000 miles on my current road trip on hot southern roads and a full load in the car, no extra wear on any of my stock Michelin tires. I especially check the inner edges on the rear and they are even with the rest of the tire with no cupping or feathering. That's good news to say the least!

 

I just install the H&R Sport springs and my car looks much better than before. Thank you for all your advice!
First impression is the ride just like stock, not much bumpy or harsh at all; however, driving on the bad street, I can feel the different, but nothing that serious to make I feel discomfort. Handling is better in turning and entrance/exit ramp. Don't know if when the springs are settle in, the ride will be little harsher or not, but for now, the ride just seem like stock TL-S.
Before drop: front wheel gap is ~3.75in (driver side is little lower), rear wheel gap is ~3in (again, driver side is little lower)
After drop: front wheel gap is ~1.5in, rear wheel gap is also ~1.5

Here are some of the pics:

The H&R Sport springs


Before the drop


After the drop

 

ohh i c...dats koo but yeah it wont happen right away but i think i have read on this forum that aftermarket springs on stock shocks will reduce the life of the shocks...correct me if im wrong...

 

just get some toico blue shocks affordable and is a great suspension setup

 

What was the part number for the H&R springs that you got ? Was it a DIY or did you have them installed ?

TY

 

TY: the local shop installed for me. The whole installation tooks just little over 2hrs. The catalog# of H&R Sport is 50103.

 

did you get an alignment? if not, id suggest getting one and checkin out the camber? some have issues some dont. i didnt get one done, and bout 20k miles later my tires were shot to the metal on the insides, outer edges had another 20k in them. got new tires and an alignment, fixed the camber issues.

 

Did you also change the struts/shocks / Just curious...

 

TLS-Sun: I would do the alignment next week. Hopefully I don't have to get the camber, but if I have to, so be it.

Jperdoch: the shocks are still OEM. I'll change to aftermarket one once the OEM shocks blow.

 

One month update with alignment result:

I love the car looks with lowering springs. Handle is much better than stock setup. Quality of the ride is almost the same as stock with little more bumpy.

Just did 4W alignment today and looks like I need the rear camber kit

..............................Front Left .................................Front Right
.........................Actual.....Before.....Spe c. range .......Actual.........Before
Camber............. -0.6 ....... -0.6 ..... -1.0 to 1.0 ........... -0.6 .......... -0.6
Caster ............... 2.5 ........ 2.5 ....... 1.8 to 3.8 .......... 3.0 ............ 3.0
Toe .................... 0.00 .... -0.22 .... -0.08 to 0.08 ...... -0.01 ........ -0.15
SAI ..................... 8.1 ....... 8.1 ............. N/A .............. 8.5 ............ 8.5
Included Angle ... 7.5 ....... 7.5 ............. N/A .............. 8.0 ............ 8.0

..............................................Fron t
............................. Actual ..... Before ...... Spec. range
Cross Camber ...... -0.1 ..... -0.1
Cross Caster ........ -0.5 ...... -0.5
Cross SAI ............. -0.4 ...... -0.4
Total Toe .............. -0.01 .... -0.36 ............ -0.16 to 0.16

..............................Rear Left .................................Rear Right
.........................Actual.....Before.....Spe c. range ..........Actual.........Before
Camber............. -1.3 ....... -1.3 ....... -1.0 to 0.0 ........... -1.2 .......... -1.2
Toe .................... 0.08 ...... 0.16 ..... 0.00 to 0.16 ......... 0.09 ......... 0.20


............................................... Rear
........................... Actual ..... Before ...... Spec. range
Cross Camber ..... -0.1 ....... -0.1
Total Toe .............. 0.17 ...... 0.36 ......... 0.00 to 0.32
Thrust Angle ......... 0.00 ..... -0.02

 

how do H&R sports compare to comptech springs, the old silver ones?

 

I don't know since H&R Sport is my first lowering spring.