Lowered Q45 Ride Quality?

[Red97GST]

Sup everyone.

I currently drive a 97 Eclipse GS-T, and have had it for 7 years. It's been on a ground control/ Koni coilover suspension setup for a few years, and the roads in the D.C. area have made many drives less than comfortable.

I'm looking at buying Y33 Q45, and am wondering if those of you who have dropped your cars are satisfied with the ride?

I'd like to put 19s on the car, give or take an inch, and to drop it enough so there's not excessive fender gap.

Any recommended suspension setups? Something very soft? Perhaps a basic progressive-rate spring with some adjustable shocks set really soft?

I want the car to ride decent on crappy roads....I know there's only so much that can be done if youre rollin on 245/35-19s, but surely it's gotta be more comfortable than my eclipse, which is on STOCK 16s and 55-series tires but the 450lb spring rate on my eibach race springs are ownin me...

[bullittandy]

Only two choices for springs and those that have them haven't complained.

I cut my stock front springs and the ride feels very similar to stock. However, all the people who haven't ridden in my car and haven't cut their stock springs don't recommend this.

[Jesda]

The lowered suspension will have much less of an impact on ride quality than your tire choice.

[Q45tech]

Tires have a 1500-1100 lb per inch of sidewall stiffness depemding on inflation pressure whereas the front springs are 180 - 150 lb per inch.

[Red97GST]

Tires have a 1500-1100 lb per inch of sidewall stiffness depemding on inflation pressure whereas the front springs are 180 - 150 lb per inch.

So what kinda rubber/sizes are people running for a smooth ride?

Like I said, I have 55-series tires on my eclipse, so i have plenty of sidewall, but it still will send your spine on a wild ride...then again they are essentially autocross tires

So how bout some 245/45-19s? Is that gonna be ridiculous with that much sidewall on a 19?

[SanDY33go]

the closest to the comfortable stock ride and riding real low would be full tap coilovers, like the algernons, aimgain, and insurance (highly reccomend) only from japan. and you also got air suspension, UAS (what i have on right now), bold world, airrunners, kobra, etc. but whatever it is, anytime you modify your suspension to lower you're not gonna have the stock feel like you had before.

[Red97GST]

the closest to the comfortable stock ride and riding real low would be full tap coilovers, like the algernons, aimgain, and insurance (highly reccomend) only from japan. and you also got air suspension, UAS (what i have on right now), bold world, airrunners, kobra, etc. but whatever it is, anytime you modify your suspension to lower you're not gonna have the stock feel like you had before.

what are the going rates/prices for the algernons, insurance, aimgain coils?? $2k due to teh dollar being worthless against the yen now?

[BadQ45t]

I have a 97' with Tein lowering spings (about a 2" drop) with KYB SR Special struts/shocks. I am running 19" rims with 245/35 19. I think on bad roads you will feel the 19" rims with the short sidewalls more than the spring/strust setups. I think you will not find the coilovers for less than 2k, but the you really need the KYB's (special import only, got them from OneTonGarage off this board) which will run you about $800 and probably about $300 for lowering springs....so the price diff isn't that huge anymore.

I am going to run 245/40's next go around to buy myself a little more sidewall but with the lowered setup that is about as high profile your going to fit....it will be more rough than a stock 2nd gen but it will be more driveable than your eclipse more than likely.