Using 1.5" lowering springs with stock shocks?

**RaceMyLS1** · 02-09-2009, 10:53 AM

The panhard rod I have is from UMI Performance. It's the powdercoated red single adjustable one, so that means it cant be adjusted while on the vehicle.. A customs shop here in my town is charging me $250 to install 4 springs, 4 shocks, and the adj panhard bar (they will adjust it too). That isn't bad at all considering the average price around here just to install a set of lowering springs is $350..

**Joe00SS** · 02-09-2009, 04:47 PM

what springs and shocks are you going with? I'm planning on getting the Koni's and Strano springs real soon...please post some before and after pics

**RaceMyLS1** · 02-09-2009, 05:05 PM

KYB shocks & Eibach Pro-Kit springs with a UMI Performance Adj. Panhard Rod. I duplicated this set-up from my friends 1998 Z28, his handles and looks excellent. It will be done by the end of this week, I'm just waiting on my parts. They should be here by Wednesday morning, so I'll post before and after pictures by this weekend...

**LUV2SK8TE17** · 02-15-2009, 11:22 AM

been running stock shocks w/ the pro springs from eibach for 50k+ miles. theve bout had it. saved me money @ first which is y i did it. duznt ride bad or anything to me. just the trouble of havin to change out the front now. no big deal. if u got the money do the konis

**Poppn** · 02-18-2009, 09:20 PM

Pics ftw after the install, we all wanna see how good it looks

Only thing keeping me from lowering is my damn driveway...the incline from the road to the driveway is too steep. I gotta go up crazy crooked to keep it from scraping the bumper

**RaceMyLS1** · 02-18-2009, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by Poppn

Pics ftw after the install, we all wanna see how good it looks

Only thing keeping me from lowering is my damn driveway...the incline from the road to the driveway is too steep. I gotta go up crazy crooked to keep it from scraping the bumper

Install date is March 3rd at 9AM sharp

Will post pics..

**Mr. Luos** · 02-18-2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by RaceMyLS1

KYB shocks & Eibach Pro-Kit springs with a UMI Performance Adj. Panhard Rod.

You are wasting your money on those KYB shocks....
Keeps You Bouncing

Get Koni's or start saving for them if you plan on running those springs. Not much else will keep up with them.

**RaceMyLS1** · 02-18-2009, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

You are wasting your money on those KYB shocks....
Keeps You Bouncing

Get Koni's or start saving for them if you plan on running those springs. Not much else will keep up with them.

KYB is a highly respected brand and their AGX series is nothing to make fun of.. I know quite a few high dollar performance cars around town riding on KYB's.. Even if Koni's are better, I don't autocross nor do I ever plan to. It's only a mild 1.2" drop anyway..

**Eugenio_SS** · 02-19-2009, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by RaceMyLS1

KYB is a highly respected brand and their AGX series is nothing to make fun of.. I know quite a few high dollar performance cars around town riding on KYB's.. Even if Koni's are better, I don't autocross nor do I ever plan to. It's only a mild 1.2" drop anyway..

And I can bet most of those high dollar cars are 1/4 mile setups.
For cornering, the damping curve isn't appropriate for our cars... especially in the single adjustable, cause you have to chose between a decent compression or a decent rebound... while the other one won't be that well set.

**LUV2SK8TE17** · 02-19-2009, 06:01 AM

with 315/35/17 on the back and 275/40/17 on the front. the back does sit a little higher though even with the same profile tires.

**9T8W66** · 02-19-2009, 07:05 AM

Another problem with KYB's is that they won't warranty their shocks when used with lowering springs.

**side2000** · 02-19-2009, 09:31 AM

i've sent my koni's back once already to get rebuilt (lifetime warranty). . .no questions asked they just did it. i have heard others complain about the service, though.

**Joe00SS** · 02-20-2009, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by LUV2SK8TE17

with 315/35/17 on the back and 275/40/17 on the front. the back does sit a little higher though even with the same profile tires.

Do the rear tires rub at all? I have 285/40 17 on the rear but in need of a new set.

**rel3rd** · 02-21-2009, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by 9T8W66

Sorry man I'm not here to argue with anyone.
Most of the Factory F-bodies I have seen have the rears biased towards the Left side. And to properly center them the bars need to be shortened. When I added my staggered wheels I ended up getting an adj PHB even though I was on stock springs.

Just wanted to add my experience with my car.
I know you say "most", but mine was actually biased towards the passenger side at stock height...although I don't recall the exact amount, I want to say nearly 1/2" ? With the Strano springs now on the car, it is actually closer to perfectly centered than it ever was. When the weather breaks and I swap on the 17x11" rims and 315/35 tires, I guess I'll see exactly how close to centered that it is now. I know with a weighted string line taped to each quarter panel and centered to the wheel's center, measuring from string line to rim, it's close enough now that I'd feel confident saying that neither fenderlip is closer to either tire at this point.

**doozjamann** · 02-21-2009, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Pewter_LS1

I swapped all my shocks and springs for best handling and ride..I also added a adj pan hard in the event you need to adjust the rear once you lower it... I didnt have to adjust mine.

Same thing with mine. Used the Eibach Prokit, changed to the UMI non-adjustable PHB, and it's perfect.

**Sam Strano** · 02-23-2009, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by RaceMyLS1

KYB is a highly respected brand and their AGX series is nothing to make fun of.. I know quite a few high dollar performance cars around town riding on KYB's.. Even if Koni's are better, I don't autocross nor do I ever plan to. It's only a mild 1.2" drop anyway..

I sell them and I'll make fun of them. I make no claims that they are anything more than a workable (if not great or long term) solution to damping springs. They have the balls to do it, while they last but they never go about it in a very graceful manner and frankly they are not my favorite option.... In fact you'd be better off performance wise to keep stock springs and put your spring and PHB money to the Koni's.

**RaceMyLS1** · 02-24-2009, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by Sam Strano

I sell them and I'll make fun of them. I make no claims that they are anything more than a workable (if not great or long term) solution to damping springs. They have the balls to do it, while they last but they never go about it in a very graceful manner and frankly they are not my favorite option.... In fact you'd be better off performance wise to keep stock springs and put your spring and PHB money to the Koni's.

All I want to do is lower my vehicle slightly. The proper way to do that is to get a adj. PHB and upgrade the shocks. In my non-racing daily driver situation, spending $1000+ on just shocks alone sounds crazy to me, especially for a 12 year old f-body that would still get spanked in the twisties by some punk in a stock Miata. If the AGX series is good enough for the $55,000 Supra's here in town, then I'm sure I'll do just fine with them driving to the grocery store...

**Sam Strano** · 02-24-2009, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by RaceMyLS1

All I want to do is lower my vehicle slightly. The proper way to do that is to get a adj. PHB and upgrade the shocks. In my non-racing daily driver situation, spending $1000+ on just shocks alone sounds crazy to me, especially for a 12 year old f-body that would still get spanked in the twisties by some punk in a stock Miata. If the AGX series is good enough for the $55,000 Supra's here in town, then I'm sure I'll do just fine with them driving to the grocery store...

No offense intended, but you are continuing to show your ignorance here.

First, Koni's are not $1k+ in fact, they start @ $732 a set. Cheap? No, but that's some 27% less than your $1k+ assumption.

Second, shocks have no idea where you are driving your car. They are dampers, the control weight and in turn your handling and ride are effected. Those of us who compete don't run Koni's because they are Koni's. We run them because they offer the best control and we want the best handling, least upsettable car. These are things many want on the street as well.

As for the thinking that the Supra's do it so it must be great... well, I can't argue with that sort of thinking. It's just not rational thinking.

**Poppn** · 02-24-2009, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Sam Strano

No offense intended, but you are continuing to show your ignorance here.

First, Koni's are not $1k+ in fact, they start @ $732 a set. Cheap? No, but that's some 27% less than your $1k+ assumption.

Second, shocks have no idea where you are driving your car. They are dampers, the control weight and in turn your handling and ride are effected. Those of us who compete don't run Koni's because they are Koni's. We run them because they offer the best control and we want the best handling, least upsettable car. These are things many want on the street as well.

As for the thinking that the Supra's do it so it must be great... well, I can't argue with that sort of thinking. It's just not rational thinking.

So you're saying get Koni's or nothing? There is no competition against them?

that's kinda like saying get a Corvette or nothing if you want a performance car.