So I am thinking about doing this. . .

"YSI-what can brown do for you" (ysi-what-can-brown-do-for-you) 10/01/2013 at 02:52 • Filed to: None

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So after I get a new set of wheels I feel like buying a set of springs just to save some money until I get enough money for a nice set of coilovers. Is this a bad idea?

HammerheadFistpunch > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 03:01

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take it one step at a time is my advice, come to a clear understanding of your tuning goals as opposed to just going the "gran turismo 3" route and going all it. You may think you want this that and the other because thats the logical chain of upgrades, but you may end up in a place where you actually like your car less and ruin it a little. Plus its such a thrill to build it up slowly, getting antiquated with each measurable change in a cars behavior as opposed to jumping right in with 2 wet feet. Or do it, who am I the Pope?

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 03:03

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Know what you want. If somebody else has a car similar to what you are planning on doing, beg to drive it or at least ride in it.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 03:06

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It depends...if you do it on stock shocks/struts you will increase the wear, prematurely requiring them to be replaced. Due to the decreased ride height, you may also get some rubbing if your car is ever full.

Most cars would highly benefit from additional cross bracing (better sway bars, tower bars); older vehicles also see some improvements with upgraded bushings/mounts throughout the vehicle; oh, and of course sticky tires. For streetable vehicles, springs/adjustable dampers or full coilovers are often last options reserved for those who a) don't mind the possible ancillary issues (additional stiffness from the lowered springs = additional vibration = additional wear and tear on other less noticeable parts) and b) don't mind wrenching often.

A little scattered brained explanation, but you get the jist.

YSI-what can brown do for you > HammerheadFistpunch 10/01/2013 at 03:17

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Well compared to an acquaintance I am going quite slow. 1000 miles on his car and it already has springs and 17x9 wheels on it. Mind you wheels aren't coming anytime soon. I am probably going to order them some time next year, and then they will have to be made and then shipped. . . so they will probably be on my car some time in April. Either way, you really need to lower the ride of the car because without it the wheels stick out a bit.

Chaos-cascade > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 03:18

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Wow. This is like a honda tech newbie post. You probably want to take the time to include as much information as you can. ie: what make, model, trim, year is it? what are your goals? what are the miles? what is your budget? what are you going to use it for and what ratio (daily driver, rally, autox etc...) are you doing the work yourself or paying for labor? blah blah blah...

YSI-what can brown do for you > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 10/01/2013 at 03:20

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Nothing to see here people.

YSI-what can brown do for you > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 10/01/2013 at 03:21

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This is basically what I heard about springs and that is why I don't want to put them on. I have also heard that a really good coilover can provide good ride and help a lot in the handling department. I haven't done my research but this what I have been told. I haven't heard that coilovers ruin other parts of the car. . . is that really true?

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 03:25

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I think you should use rubber cone suspension instead.

because hipster chicks will love it?

YSI-what can brown do for you > Chaos-cascade 10/01/2013 at 03:28

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I am only really asking this question to get a general sense of springs. I have heard that it is a bad idea, but some people still have it on their cars. If you need to know my car, it is a Scion FR-S with 8800 miles. I am probably going to be daily driving it for the most part and doing some autocross twice a month. I am probably going to pay for labor just because I don't like the idea of messing with suspension. . . or I might do it myself.

YSI-what can brown do for you > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/01/2013 at 03:30

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I shall give my friend a call then, and see if he will let me drive the car.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 03:42

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Cars are engineered to have a natural balance from the factory. The NVH, ride/handling, weight, etc. are all accounted for pretty well by engineers who are usually working in sync with one another to produce a single product with levels of quality testing that many aftermarket brands don't attempt to replicate. Naturally, there are exceptions; some aftermarket brands are actually the main suppliers for certain OEMs (Bilstein, H&R).

Making changes to that system to enhance certain "abilities" comes at the expense of others. Sometimes it is barely noticeable or the system absorbs those changes (for instance, like with a Cold Air Intake or exhaust); other changes can have more lasting effect (turbos with too much boost on a thinly walled engine, too much HP on a stock clutch). Springs and coilovers fall in the middle...well made springs/strut combos or full coilover systems can often be VERY close to (or occasionally exceed) OEM spec and have minimal impact on ride quality (which is where the additional vibrations would cause wear and tear on things like wiring, clips, bolts, fasteners, mounts, etc.) while others might be a little harsher (either by design because they are for racing or because they are poorly made).

The question for you is perhaps how sporty do you want your vehicle to be? If you aren't racing, if you are just looking for handing benefits, the options I indicated can be tried first with little issue and large returns for the investment. Also worth investigating is if there are any OEM "sport" options for your vehicle that might have come uprated from the factory (for instance M3 suspension being applied to a standard 3-series) and will fit to spec without issue.

Ultimately, cars are such a personal choice that only you will decide what you want to do. I have tried all of the different options out there and have liked/hated them all for very different reasons :-)

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch 10/01/2013 at 04:19

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Ferrero1911 > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 04:20

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Don't worry, I know most of us know what kind of car you have. I replaced the springs on my Abarth almost immediately. I'm sure it will make my shocks wear out sooner, but by the time that happens I'll be ready for coilovers. For me the improved ride was really worth it, for the 150 miles I drove on stock suspension my car bounced around and followed ruts in the road way too much. Also the Abarth stock ride height looks ridiculous.

I would check the forums to see what people are saying about the different spring options. I don't think installing springs is a bad idea in general but, you should just do your research first (obviously you are). Make sure you get an alignment after having the springs installed. Good luck!

Chaos-cascade > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 04:30

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Leave it alone. If the urge to upgrade is hitting you put that money aside in a savings account so you can do it when your better educated and know exactly what you want. Instead focus on upgrading the part between the steering wheel and the seat for now. I assume there are quite a few FR-S's at autocross events. Take note of the ones that are significantly faster then you and what is different about them. Is it the springs or the just the driver? Join an FR-S forum and do some reading on all the tried and true upgrades and which is most bang for your buck. Your car is so new and so well put together from the factory that it isn't going to need crap to be competitive. When you stop improving then start improving the car. By then you should know exactly what your looking for and in what order to do it. Post up some autocross vids so we can follow your journey.

offroadkarter > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 04:34

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You sure you don't want to wait til your warranty is over?

timateo81 > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 05:38

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I'm a firm believer in establishing goals prior to making changes, especially when money is tight

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 08:29

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I installed VW Drivers Gear springs on my GTI. My wants were:

Lower center of gravity

Less squat and dive (only helped a little)

Better apperance

Maintain stock ride quality

Cost me $200. And after 5k miles I'm still glad I did it. I never did have the negative camber fixed from lowering it. I get so much more grip in the corners now.

Bruno Martini > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 09:54

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Personally, I would not do springs again on just about any car out there short of a panther. They do make the ride feel sportier, however you limit suspension travel, you increase harshness. For what? Marginally better handling if that, and in most cases it reduces the actual road holding ability turning the car into a ride the razor mobile where at any point you use up all of your suspension travel and bottom out causing loss of traction, however its predicable. You want to increase handling? Get a set of stiffer swaybars. The rule is more swaybar, less spring rate. More spring rate? less swaybar. Ill stick to changing swaybars. Any time you lower a supension you give up suspension geometry and give up road manners and articulation. Don't give me the center of gravity crap, that can be mediated with wider wheels and tires, you can even widen the track of the vehicle that way thus effectively bringing center of gravity in relation to torsional forces lower. Unless your riding 10/10 an extra inch is not going to effect 99.9% of your ride. Focus on driver mods first, then get a set of adjustable sway-bars from a reputable shop with greasable wear points and polyurethane bushings. Then tune from there. If you must do springs do it right the first time and get a real set of coilovers with adjustable shocks and a spring rate that is no more than 5-10% stiffer than stock with comparable travel and adjustable rebound rates at the minimum. Suspension tuning is a hell of a job. No matter what you calculate, at some point it really does come down to trial and error.

YSI-what can brown do for you > offroadkarter 10/01/2013 at 10:02

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This is not going to happen for a long time. Probably next year summer time, which by that time my 2 year warrenty will almost be up(about 2 months left).

offroadkarter > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 11:42

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roger that

Your car is still pretty new, so keep doing some research and let other people be guinea pigs. New products will come out in that time frame, so see what people like and people hate.

YSI-what can brown do for you > timateo81 10/01/2013 at 12:08

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Well I want coilovers but a good set goes for 1200 to 1600ish. I could get TRD coilovers, those are 500 bucks and try have a factory warranty.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 10/01/2013 at 12:30

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This is good, but 200 bucks?!? Is this for a really good set?

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > YSI-what can brown do for you 10/01/2013 at 13:57

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The are VW branded gear. They are made by Eibach though if I remember correctly. Lot's of people on the VW forums are running them.

I've got about 5,000 miles on them and have been very happy.