Originally Posted by Fritzauf
I don't understand why anyone would cut their stock springs when the Eibach Pro kit is under $250.00 and the handling / ride quality is so much better. Then you want to put $600.00 plus into Koni dampers. That just doesn't make good sense.
Springs are the foundation of the suspension. I guess some people want the lowered stance and don't mind bouncing down the road feeling every little bump in the pavement.
That's not the way want my Crossfire to ride. I have The Eibach Pro Kit with Koni adjustable dampers. I wish you could drive my car. it's like riding in a cloud on rails.
An alabaster cloud .... that is.
Agreed.
You know - sometimes it's possible to decide without trying both. Every time I see a ricer going down the road on cut springs with the thrust angle all screwed up, rubbing the fenders, and the driver looking like a bobble head, I thank my maker that he gave me the ability to read and learn about things like car suspension. I don't need to ride in the car to know it's not something I want to do.
I have made significant alterations to the suspensions of several vehicles. In each and every case it was all about handling. In the case of the cars, one of the bi-products was the lowered stance. But that wasn't the primary reason for changing - it was for the improvements in handling, the lowering of roll-center, the tightening of the spring/shock combination for quicker response. These changes in combination with beefier sway bars up front and matching ones in the back. Different bushings, and so on.
I haven't heard anyone talk about changing their bump-stops after cutting the springs. I have read the "cut-springs" write-ups and find they all are missing several critical considerations in a suspension modification write-up. Just cutting the springs and rolling is, to me, insane.
In the case of the Jeep, it wasn't about height either. In that case it was about flexibility, load capacity, and with considerable added weight, preserving stock ride height (which keeps roll-center low). Other modifications there included sway bar mods, multi-valved shocks for more advanced shock responses to different driving conditions, and corrections for track bars, and wheel alignment.
Suspension theory isn't basic. When you make one change, it ripples through a number of considerations. All must be examined, and where necessary, accomodated.
What I find surprising is the profound lack of suspension travel on the stock Crossfire. I tried to drive across a "V" ditch on grass on the side of the road. I didn't have any clearance problems but the car literally was wobbling like a see-saw on two opposite wheels while the other two were clawing at air. The angle of the "V" couldn't have been more than 15-degrees. I can't imagine what it would be like with cut springs! Of course when you can do this with your "other" vehicle, I guess you kinda get spoiled....
It's wonderful that we get to do what we want with our own cars. I only hope my comments make those thinking of cutting springs go do some research (Besides on a message board) and make informed choices!
Sure, you can save $250. If all that matters is looks, then a free lowering job might be the ticket. But if you're going 120 mph down the road and hit an irregularity in the pavement, do you want to trust it to cut-off springs? That $250 savings could sure seem small in comparison to the potential outcome of an "off-road excursion".