What springs to get? - Suspension and Brake Forum

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What springs to get?
Thursday, May 10, 2007 11:15 PM
Hey guys, i'm looking for some springs for my wifes cavy. I'm an Integra guy so the limited aftermarket for the cavalier (compared to Integra's) is putting a kink in my search.

Right now it's lowered with MaxSpeeds and the ride is complete @!#$...it literally hurts my back so much I will not drive the car anymore and more importantly, my wife is 8 weeks pregnant so i've been taking her to work and leaving the cav in the garage because i'm afraid the ride is bad enough to cause her to miscarry.

I like how it looks so i want something around 1.8" -1.25" (maxspeeds are 1.5") but i need a spring rate that is much softer. We dont care about performance, we just want it too keep looking good and ride softer.


This is all i found but i doubt these springs will do any better... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TENZO-SPRINGS-95-04-Cavalier-96-97-98-99-00-01-02-03_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33582QQihZ016QQitemZ260116318710QQrdZ1

Help me out guys....thanks in advance.



Oh and a pic of my GSR cause i'ma pic whore


Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 3:48 AM
whatever you get you need to get struts. if you dont get struts it will ride like @!#$



Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 8:27 AM
Yes i know that, but does anyone know of any springs with a soft rate, that's what i'm looking for.
Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 8:42 AM
get the eibach prokit with kyb agx struts. very good combo and ride awesome



Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 8:44 AM
I don't know if you're going to find want you're after, since lowering springs in that height range tend to have high spring rates to avoid bottoming out. Even with this in mind however, It's unusual that it would be quite as back-breaking as you describe unless your struts are leaving something to be desired. What struts do you have currently? I run Sportlines springs, which are widely regarded as a pretty harsh ride, and I get what I think is a good result (nearly stock comfort) with D-Spec struts adjusted to full-soft. If you are using decent struts already without satisfaction, you may need to compromise on appearance and get springs with a less agressive drop.



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Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 8:52 AM
I have H&R lowering springs, 1.6F 1.4R not a harsh ride when paired up with KYB AGX struts. Here is a pic of my car on 17" wheels with the H&R's.




2009 Ford Mustang V6
Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 9:29 AM
Geeky wrote:I don't know if you're going to find want you're after, since lowering springs in that height range tend to have high spring rates to avoid bottoming out. Even with this in mind however, It's unusual that it would be quite as back-breaking as you describe unless your struts are leaving something to be desired. What struts do you have currently? I run Sportlines springs, which are widely regarded as a pretty harsh ride, and I get what I think is a good result (nearly stock comfort) with D-Spec struts adjusted to full-soft. If you are using decent struts already without satisfaction, you may need to compromise on appearance and get springs with a less agressive drop.


I dont know about that...My GSR is lowered with H&R sports 1.75" Front and 1.5" rear with AGX's and the ride is almost the same as stock when set at soft and when set at high it's good enough for auto-x'ing. anything above a 2" drop isn't that bad.

The01Cav: that's what i'm looking for. H&R's are my favorite.
I didn't see any H&R's for the cav or i wouldn't have started this thread...where did you get yours and what was the price?
Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 9:46 AM
Mia Baker wrote:I dont know about that...My GSR is lowered with H&R sports 1.75" Front and 1.5" rear with AGX's and the ride is almost the same as stock when set at soft and when set at high it's good enough for auto-x'ing. anything above a 2" drop isn't that bad.

My point was that a good set of struts can make pretty much any lowering spring livable, and you still haven't said what struts you will be using They're just as important, and arguably moreso, than the springs are in a suspension setup. As long as the answer isn't "stock replacement struts", you'll probably be fine. Even AGXs will probably hold out for quite a while.

For an agressive drop with good comfort, there have been a lot positive comments on Road Magnet springs. Here are a Couple of links to threads discussing them.

Excerpt from that second link -- Review by Darkstars: "My girlfriend told me I can’t go back to the sportlines, she loves the new springs because 'these ones don’t hurt when you hit a bump.'"




Edited 3 time(s). Last edited Friday, May 11, 2007 10:22 AM


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Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 11:53 AM
Oops, what i meant to say is that my Brother also has H&R sports on his 94 GSR but with stock struts and it rides like a caddy. It just doesn't corner as well.

So as long as i get a softer spring i'll be happy, at least for now....my wife and I just bought a house so we have to watch what we spend for the first couple months.
Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 12:48 PM
check www.gravanatuning.com I think that they sell them there.



2009 Ford Mustang V6
Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 12:59 PM
dude, if ur worried about her miscarrying stop @!#$in wit the car and put it back to stock, how sweet will it be when your riding your 1month old around in a lowered cavalier. just be safe and put the stock stuff back on, unless you have a spare 600 bucks laying around for a set up, which could prob be used more wisely at this point in your life.





Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 1:21 PM
Mia Baker wrote:Oops, what i meant to say is that my Brother also has H&R sports on his 94 GSR but with stock struts and it rides like a caddy.

Maybe there are some differences in the suspension for those cars then, because the floaty feel of a Cadillac shouldn't be achievable on an agressively dropped Cavy without a lot of bouncing off of the bump stops. The remaining suspension travel just shouldn't be enough. It's also possible the GSR has better shocks, since the ones on J-Bodies are known for failing quicky on a lowered car. I maintain that regardless of the springs you choose, you will need better than stock struts to do them justice.




Edited 2 time(s). Last edited Friday, May 11, 2007 1:24 PM


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Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 1:36 PM
you cant compare an integras suspension to a cavaliers. their not the same. our struts are complete garbage. they barely handle oem springs. if you been around cars for awhile you would know you cant compare the 2 cars suspension when lowering. you need struts with them whatever lowering spring you get.



Re: What springs to get?
Friday, May 11, 2007 4:11 PM
jWagg wrote:dude, if ur worried about her miscarrying stop @!#$in wit the car and put it back to stock, how sweet will it be when your riding your 1month old around in a lowered cavalier. just be safe and put the stock stuff back on, unless you have a spare 600 bucks laying around for a set up, which could prob be used more wisely at this point in your life.


I would put it back to stock but the old springs are long gone.

I'm thinking it's time to sell the car.
Re: What springs to get?
Saturday, May 12, 2007 9:30 AM
you could go to a junkyard and just get the struts and springs off of another cav or sunfire. I'm sure it wouldn't cost much to get them. You could also post in your locals forum and see if anyone has a set that they're willing to get rid of.



2009 Ford Mustang V6
Re: What springs to get?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 11:35 AM
Heck, when I parted out my suspension, I needed something to put under the car to drive it to it's new owner, and I got factory spring/strut assemblies for all 4 corners for $100.


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Sleeper style, they don't see it coming that way.
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