Gauging interest in Lowering Springs

[elwesso]

As some of you may know I recently bought a set of California Custom springs. On a whim, i decided to email them, and must to my astonishment they actually returned my email...

They are a 2in drop so you will want to shim your upper links to get the proper camber..... Adjustable upper links would probably be ideal, remember any adjustables from the Z32 will work on the Q..

So i emailed this guy named Chad, and he said he has 4 sets left. These have been out of production for about 6 years, and I thin would be a nice upgrade. Compared to the eibachs, they seem a little stiffer, I havent installed them on my car yet but im going to very shortly....

Let me know if any of you want a set and I'll hook you guys up. Please dont post if you think your car is going to self implode by not running stock parts, because my car has had the eibachs on for about 4 years (maybe more!)

[Falkdesigns]

Quote »Please dont post if you think your car is going to self implode by not running stock parts[/quote]Ahhh hahahahahahah!!!!!

I'm also working on Tein's for G50's but as yours are already in the States they'd be much quicker.

[qship96]

sounds like a perfect way to make your shocks wear out even faster than the eibachs!

[Falkdesigns]

Shocks such as Tokico blues or the KYB's in my Q are designed to work with lowered springs, not stock springs. Some of you guys need to relax.

[elwesso]

sounds like a perfect way to make your shocks wear out even faster than the eibachs!

Im thinking worst case scenario, 20k for the rears... Plus, if they wear so fast so that they leak or blow out, tokico replaces free!!!!!

[qship96]

20,000 miles would have me replacing shocks every 9 months! why I have stuck with factory springs with the Blues so far-should get 80-100k out of them as is. Q45tech says 60k MAX with the Eibachs.

[Q45tech]

Tokico Blues rarely leak they just lose rebound damping stiffness, this is not covered under warranty.Simple test is to measure the time it takes for a [standalone] compressed shock to self expand the 7" stroke.

When you mount a shock on a shorter spring the shock cannot dissipate the energy over the normal 3.5" this 3.5>2.5 is a 40% overload not covered under warranty either -------unless they leak.

Lots really depends on the road they are used on ------undulations per mile and the years one takes to drive 60,000 miles.

Most under $100 each shocks are not designed to be used with any lowering springs! All about maintaining oem stroke +- 3.5".

Since you can buy 4 [sets] ~~ $260 on ebay.......they are cheap enough to change frequently.

[Falkdesigns]

Tokico Blues and H&R Sports in my 2000 Si lasted me the entire 4 years (42k) I had my Si and still rode / handled like the day they were installed. Tokico Blues (HP's) are made to work with lowering springs. Quote »TOKICO shock absorbers have quite a wide range of performance. They are designed to work with original springs or with a wide range of performance lowering springs.[/quote]And I know they will last more than 20k, that's just retarded. Tokico also make their own line of lowering springs. As I've said a million times, a car modded properly will not last this rediculous short amount of time some of you think, it will last nearly as long as stock parts.

In any case, at least mine, 4 years is the longest I've ever kept a car, and I put only about 10-12 k a year of hard, but careful miles on them.

[qship96]

you cant compare a leightweight prelude experience to a 4000+ pound q as far as suspension/tires go-way different animal! at 55,000 miles on blues with stock springs,I can already feel the rebound control is not as new in the rear shocks-compression performance has not deteriorated as much-my guess is by 80,000 miles,I will need to renew shocks to maintain the minimum performance level acceptable TO ME.

[elwesso]

*sigh*

If anyone is interested, email me ..... [email protected]

[RobertsnewQ]

They couldn't resist...

Why do people with those opinions hang out here so much?

I've had dozens of other cars and dealt with many online communities but this is the first time I've encountered such rabid anti-aftermarket sentiment.

Weird.

2" is a bit more of a drop than I would prefer, but good for you for tracking these down. Any information on the spring rate?

[elwesso]

2" is a bit more of a drop than I would prefer, but good for you for tracking these down. Any information on the spring rate?

Im waiting back, but from what i can tell, they seem somewhat stiffer than stock.. who knows, we'll find out soon!

[Falkdesigns]

*sigh*

x2

[rsiwicki]

Quote »x2[/quote]x3!!!!!

[maxnix]

Why do people with those opinions hang out here so much?

Probaly because Q45tech has provided so much valid experimental data here, as opposed to other sites where there are just opinions.

If you say something is better here, you better have the data to back it up. Just saying it is doesn't make it so.

[AZhitman]

I know they will last more than 20k, that's just retarded. Tokico also make their own line of lowering springs. As I've said a million times, a car modded properly will not last this rediculous short amount of time some of you think, it will last nearly as long as stock parts.

I'm not as "doomsday" as many on here, as I have Eibachs, Tokicos, and several other mods on my Q. And I won't be changing them every year and a half.

But I'm ALSO not foolish enough to dismiss as "retarded" the advice and experience of a Master Tech who's been overseeing a group of Q mechanics and looking at Q45 suspensions for nearly a decade, AND who keeps copious notes on such trivialities as degradation of rebound rates (and who has monitored one car for over 200K miles).

My Dad thinks the shocks on his 2000 Grand Marquis are "fine" too, even though they have 98K miles on them. For the record, they're shot. But to someone who drives the car every day, they feel "fine".

It's a question of whether they perform "as new" or if their performance degrades over 20K miles. And they do indeed degrade, just as OEM's do.

Not looking to add fuel to the fire, but let's not dismiss the experiences of a professional in favor of our own layman's opinions.

[Falkdesigns]

Qtech also drives an insane amount of miles. He puts in one year what takes me 3, and in some cases, it's more than I put on the entire time I own a car! I've modded every single car I've owned since 1986, I've never had any of the bull you hear about on here. If my new shocks last 45k instead of 60k, that's just fine with me. It's all about properly matching, as Tokico state in thier own info as well.

*ninja edit* I didn't dismiss Qtech's info as retarded, I said if someone thinks they'll only last 20k, it's retarded. I never saw Qtech say they'd last only 20k.

[gniknave]

[lurk taking notes]

[elwesso]

I prefer Dennis' information to anyone else, but remember he is VERY sensitive to changes. He ditched the 24mm rear bar because it made the ride too hard. WE could toss some new shocks that can "handle" it, from a Z32 and call it a day. That being said, i dont think he would want to put some other shock on there that would be stiffer, and possibly be able to handle this kind of stress... Ride, proabbly gone..... I dont see any reason it will be an issue, but maybe i'll be eating my words when i put mine on.. I hope not, and I dont think it will.

BY FAR, the best mod you can do to your suspension is the tokico/eibachs... I hate fender gap, and it looks even stupider with stock springs. The ride is alittle firmer, and if I wanted a nice ride, id get some BBS 15s and the tokicos. The tokicos and stock springs were perfect, for a luxury sedan. HOWEVER, with this Q im taking it to the next level and im willing to take some risk...

Id rather replace my shocks every 20k (that was just a number i threw out BTW) than have the rolling, wallowing Q that I have right now. I have tokicos that are under 10k old and its too floaty for me at speeds above 100... Bottom line, I want better handling, and $260 for a set of 4 shocks (mainly rears that need it, fronts are tough) every 1.5 years is trivial to other things like tires...

I appreciate this information... I posted a thread about this a month ago, and tech went into great detail. I weighed my options, and chose to take the risk.. Just because Q45tech doesnt do it to his car does not mean its not worht considering!!! You gotta do your homework, and from whta ive learned for 2 years and nearly 13,000 posts, that if Q45tech does it to his car, its *really* hard to go wrong.....

[Rex]

In general any "performance" oriented part is made for performance, not long term reliability. As a group we generally fall into one category or the other.

Will they perform "less" after 1-2 years ~20k? Yes, the question is how much and would it be noticable wihile on the car? We all have to decide the last part for ourselves.

IMHO, 2" is too much, stock is not enough. I'm gonna go 1". That doesn't make either of the other 2 choices wrong, just not right for me.

[AZhitman]

Well-said.

Even if they DID only last 30K miles, that's almost 3 sets of tires for me.

My Q has only seen 30K miles since my Blues went on, 3.5 years ago.

[Falkdesigns]

Past few posts were all well said. For me, I also hate fender gap, and think it looks plain stupid; Ok on trucks, not on cars. For my Q, the goal is to have a Q that can at least try to handle like an M5, still a luxury sedan, but a luxury "sports" sedan. IMO, I've achieved my goal. My car's handling is night and day from when I bought it, I'm sure part of it is re-habbing worn out items, but the bigger part is springs, shocks, wheels, tires. Combine that with stock front & rear upper tie bars, this big cars tracks very well, and is confidence inspiring at high rates of speed in turns as well as tight, twisty roads like Mullholland.

[redmanfx]

You've got mail.

red

[nissanforlife]

sounds really interesting.. i'm about to do my suspension as you know.. .

hey wes.... wut r u gonna do with ur Eibachs? R they still gud?!

[Jeff Williams]

He is probably going to keep them, just to make sure the new springs don't cause kidney failure, then get Fred to sign them, and sell them for $500 as "Discontinued high performance autographed parts from the BAD Q."

My $.02:

I would buy lowering springs, if I could keep the same (or very close) rebound rate of OEM. My car(s) handle GREAT at 120 MPH+ Lola is like a rock, Layla has some squirm, but it is vrom the 255/45/17 tires.

The only complaint I have is fender gap. I would like to see it about 1" less. The larger tires I bought for Lola will help a great deal.

I put some Suspension Techniques 2" lowering springs and 8" x 17" wheels on my 1995 Maxima, and I though I was riding in my old Honda Civic.