lowering springs or coilovers
12-27-2010, 04:50 PM
#1
lowering springs or coilovers
Im trying to lower my 04 TL but I can't find the specs I want... I think im gonna go with the KONI shocks but I want to drop the front 2 inches n the rear 1-1.25 .. but I can't seem to find any lowering springs with these spect so im thinking of just getting coilovers even is the ride is a little bouncier. I need help deciding what brand to get. If anyone has a setup similar to this one plz let me know. Im eager to get this done.
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12-27-2010, 07:10 PM
#9
Team Owner
A thread with several replies and not a single fact or a pro or con. Interesting.
There are no performance advantages to coilovers. The TL is a factory coilover setup. In the aftermarket "coilover" means a spring and damper combo with adjustable height.
I much prefer the Koni shocks if performance is the goal. These things are great at the track and can be softened to stock levels for the street.
The TL does not need a super stiff spring to handle well. A-specs are more than enough. Instead you should look at handling balance. My car on a-spec springs, front and rear larger swaybars, and Konis had no bodyroll on street tire. It was not until I put a stickier tire on it that it had some bodyroll. Look at bringing some of the handling bias back to the rear via a larger rear swaybar.
The Konis alone will get rid of the rocking. I suggest you keep as much suspension travel as possible for real world performance. Once the car hits the bumpstops in a corner, all balance is gone and it does weird and unpredictable things. You need the suspension to do it's job and keep the tires planted on the road. Take away all movement and it can't do it's job anymore. A car at stock height will out corner a slammed TL that sits on the bump stops any day of the week even though the slammed car will feel like it corners better right up until you hit the limit.
The one advantage of coilover setups (just a couple of them) is they will allow the full stock suspension travel even while lowered. If you look into coilovers, make sure they have this feature as it will have a huge impact on how it rides and how it handles. This is the one time I would do coilovers over springs. I've modified my Konis to get this feature but it's not the easiest thing to do.
There is the Koni SP3 setup with the Konis as the shock part of the coilovers. I've never looked into if it has the feature described above but it would truly be the best of all worlds if it does.
There are no performance advantages to coilovers. The TL is a factory coilover setup. In the aftermarket "coilover" means a spring and damper combo with adjustable height.
I much prefer the Koni shocks if performance is the goal. These things are great at the track and can be softened to stock levels for the street.
The TL does not need a super stiff spring to handle well. A-specs are more than enough. Instead you should look at handling balance. My car on a-spec springs, front and rear larger swaybars, and Konis had no bodyroll on street tire. It was not until I put a stickier tire on it that it had some bodyroll. Look at bringing some of the handling bias back to the rear via a larger rear swaybar.
The Konis alone will get rid of the rocking. I suggest you keep as much suspension travel as possible for real world performance. Once the car hits the bumpstops in a corner, all balance is gone and it does weird and unpredictable things. You need the suspension to do it's job and keep the tires planted on the road. Take away all movement and it can't do it's job anymore. A car at stock height will out corner a slammed TL that sits on the bump stops any day of the week even though the slammed car will feel like it corners better right up until you hit the limit.
The one advantage of coilover setups (just a couple of them) is they will allow the full stock suspension travel even while lowered. If you look into coilovers, make sure they have this feature as it will have a huge impact on how it rides and how it handles. This is the one time I would do coilovers over springs. I've modified my Konis to get this feature but it's not the easiest thing to do.
There is the Koni SP3 setup with the Konis as the shock part of the coilovers. I've never looked into if it has the feature described above but it would truly be the best of all worlds if it does.
12-27-2010, 08:27 PM
#10
Great response. Ur setup looks very interesting... my goal is to lower the front 2" n the rear 1" to have the fenders just above the tires. Im gonna get a swaybar as well to stiffen up the rear end. I saw a kit on ebay for around $700 from a company named NEX. Spring rate is same as tein basic kit. The ride height does not affect the ride quality on this kit either. Has anyone heard of this brand?
12-28-2010, 11:19 AM
#12
Great response. Ur setup looks very interesting... my goal is to lower the front 2" n the rear 1" to have the fenders just above the tires. Im gonna get a swaybar as well to stiffen up the rear end. I saw a kit on ebay for around $700 from a company named NEX. Spring rate is same as tein basic kit. The ride height does not affect the ride quality on this kit either. Has anyone heard of this brand?
You could achieve the lowering you want by installing KONI Yellows with a lowering spring and then putting the front shocks at the lowest perch.
However, what are your goals? Daily driver? Light Track? All street? Do you want ride height adjustability or damping adjustability? What is your budget?
Please PM me your response if I don't respond to the thread. Or PM me if you have any questions.
12-29-2010, 05:40 AM
#13
it doesnt seem like ur looking to lower ur car because of "performance" reasons... and not sure how much new springs + koni will run u (close to the cost of coilovers i bet.. but with less height adjustability)
If you just want to get rid of wheel gap and want to keep ride quality.. there are a few coilovers that range from $800+ with damper adjustment that'll allow u to set it to keep ride quality, yet go as low as u want
If u want a very minor drop.. maybe 1" all the way.. u can go the super cheap route with $200ish springs... not saying springs or a bad choice, but if u dnt like the amount of drop then u just have to live with it.
do da right thing.. get coils for more adjustment lol
If you just want to get rid of wheel gap and want to keep ride quality.. there are a few coilovers that range from $800+ with damper adjustment that'll allow u to set it to keep ride quality, yet go as low as u want
If u want a very minor drop.. maybe 1" all the way.. u can go the super cheap route with $200ish springs... not saying springs or a bad choice, but if u dnt like the amount of drop then u just have to live with it.
do da right thing.. get coils for more adjustment lol
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