I have spoken to many knowledgeable people who I believe are correct when they say aftermarket springs of anybrand that are not matched to the stock dampers are simply not going to perform correctly. I have changed suspension on almost all of my cars and I did on my EVO as well. I did a fair amount of research on spring rates, length etc. and was convinced by many to purchase the Eibach sport springs. Well, IMHO the cars ride quality was terrible. Both in performance and ride quality. Terrible damping, wheels off the road more than especially on fast bumpy roads. The stock springs are back on. I realize coilovers are my answer but for now I cannot believe I can't lower the car and have suitable damping as well. I am looking to lower the car 1.5 front 1 inch rear. I want the car to look balanced when dropped. But with a spring rate that matches and lets the dampers perform properly. Sorry this is so long! Only replies from people who know their **** please.

PS. I have spoken to John at RR engineering but am tired of waiting (8 months so far) I even offered a credit card number and still couldn't get them to start on my car.

 

Check out the Works lowering springs

 

might want to post this in the SUSPENSION section

 

Michael, I would recommend going with Ohlins R/T with their "stock" spring rates along with Ground Control TOP mount camber plates. this combo will allow for lower ride height with similar travel to stock. You will also get better handling without a sacrifice in ride quality. I would stay with the stock rear upper shock mounts for ride quality (again). Have the car professionally corner weighted after the install with a good alignement as well (1.5neg front, .7 neg rear, 0 toe f/r). Ohlins set on 20 front and 8 rear for street use and a few clicks more for the track. If you want less roll (or run on the track) get a set of sway bars (front AND rear).

This set-up is the best from an all around perspective...bar none

 

And if you're looking for more, we offer a number of coilover options: http://www.worksevo.com/store/index.php?cPath=32_26

 

Being a suspension expert myself , I have a B.S. degree with honors in rebound dynamics and mechanical damper Engineering from the California Community College of Technology at Berkeley (CalTech) and a doctorate degree Ph.D. in Quantum Spring Mechanics from ITT Technical Institute, I would like to comment on this topic.

I strongly support your bold idea of lowering your Evo with aftermarket lowering springs especially having an asymmetrical setup....1.5" front and 1" rear.....
I believe your setup will not only better, but outperform, the factory EVO suspension setup which was designed, tested and retested, refined and re-refined and repeatedly proven on the most demanding surfaces around the world for 10+ years with 3 manufacturer wins 5 driver titles by race engineers from the Mitusbishi WRC division.

I applaud your courage and creativity....not to mention your expertise in spring lowering technology.

 

a Ph.D from ITT, LMAO!!

 

Changing the spring rates will change the natural frequency of the unsprung mass as well as change the ride/roll/pitch rates of the vehicle, and many other subtle yet critical suspension parameters. You have to match the spring rate and damping rate to the weight of the wheels/suspensions and also the sprung mass of the vehicle.

Suspension design is too complicated for a post, I suggest reading about it.

Long story short, yes, changing the springs will result in possible poor performance from the suspension. To get the best results, you need coilovers.

If you just change the springs you are either 1. Going to select springs that are too stiff, or 2. Select springs that are too short, so your suspension will bottom out in medium sized bumps. Both are bad.

Changing just the springs is a appearance mod only, and detracts from the performance of the car. Sorry bud, thats just the way cars are.

 

I see my colleague at the University of Birmingham, MI has a different opinion on this. But listen to me, after I DO have Ph.D. on Quantum Springs Mechanics from ITT Technical Institute.

 

Thanks to all that have replied. I do not have a PHD in anything but what I do know is that I am very in tune with how my vehicles feel when driven hard. I have raced too many different vehicles. It is a known fact that spring rates are matched to shock or strut compression rates. Not only are they matched but the stroke of where strut operates in relation to the springs is a huge factor as well. So, I can tell you Eibach lowering springs with stock struts made my car MUCH worse. If you throw bad road conditions in the mix the car was even more bunk. I think you can dance around this subject all day but but I don't think you can really make a suspension set up work by adding ANY spring to the mix that isn''t matched to the strut. I am either going to go with a coilover system or I am going to try to find a used MR complete set that I can transfer to my car. I will not get the lowering handled with that setup but the ride quality will improve and I can work around things with camber plates sway bars etc......

 

Hotchkis springs
perfect drop
good handling
heard nohting but good things about them
oh and get their rear swaybar too

 

i know this is a super old reply but i thought it was funny. i ran into it while searching for something else. this guy says he's from caltech. i'm sure the boys over at California Community College of Technology at Berkeley call it cal tech, but it's not the real cal tech. cal tech is the california institute of technology, haha, not a community college. and throwing in berkeley was nice too, but you didn't go to uc berkeley.

 

if you're tired of waiting for rrc then get some ohlins from paul... and if you're tired of waiting for paul for some reason then try robi for some dms's.

 

And if that doesn't work - start again at the beginning

 

call me crazy...but i think he was joking . At least I hope so...


- Andrew