Eibach Pro Street S coilovers?
Eibach Pro Street S coilovers?
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Discussion

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Saturday 7th November 2009
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Hi Guys,

2 of my shocks are dead on the 22b so I'm considering upgrading to the Eibach Pro Street S coilover. Most coilovers are awful on the road but I've heard good reports about these.

I don't do track days in the old girl, just want to drive her quickly on Uk roads.

Has anyone got experience of using them? The only things I can find on Google are US guys writing 10 words reviews using the word awesome a lot. A more forensic analysis would be great smile

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Sunday 8th November 2009
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Bueller? Bueller?

Edited by Smifffy on Sunday 8th November 14:34

OzCupra

152 posts

202 months

Sunday 8th November 2009
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Not used them on a Subaru as yet. But have them on a customers EP3 and have to say they are very good for non adjustable coilovers (only height adjustable not damping). Much more like a matched shock / spring setup. Some of the options out in the market are just useless on UK roads (unless your lucky enough to have perfect smooth roads in your area)

Only other option I would suggest is spending a few £££ more on some AST sportline's

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

250 months

Monday 9th November 2009
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How about a couple of bilstein dampers with either prodrive or Eibach springs. Perfect for UK roads and will improve your 22b's already sublime handling!!

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Monday 9th November 2009
quotequote all
Yeah, it's got Bilsteins already of course (standard on 22b). The rear 2 are knackered and it's 500 quid just to replace those! So I thought I'd have a look at these. I'm concerned about going coilovers 'cos it could be too harsh, but these are designed to work on street. Scooby clinic said they'd fitted them to a 22b and they were lovely - so I think I might have a punt.

As you say, the other option is Eibach or P1 springs and keep the Bilsteins. I find the 22b very twitchy at the mo which could be down to the harsh springing - the weight seems to initially transfer very well but then seems to swing back suddenly.

The Eibach pro streets are relatively inexpensive at 698+VAT for the kit. They are height adjustable, but not rebound/damping rate.

LaurenceFrost

691 posts

276 months

Monday 9th November 2009
quotequote all
Most coilover kits are only awful on the road because most people with Jap cars buy cheap and nasty kits.

Tein seem to be the flavour of choice in Jap saloons, but with suspension it really is a case of getting what you pay for. Tein and other similar brands do nothing more than firm your car up. A rock hard ride is not a desirable thing to have, but unfortunately only the more expensive kits will give you the quality that makes a car handle well.

You can find out how nice something will be to drive on the road by asking what the spring rates are on the kit. The higher they are, the worse the kit will be on the road (and probably the track too).

If the coilovers don't cost £1,500 or over though, you are probably buying something worse than what the car is fitted with as standard IMO.

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Monday 9th November 2009
quotequote all
I'm not afraid to spend cash on the car (as a quick look at the history will show!) but I'm not for wasting it either smile

Eibach, as I understand it, are a reputable firm with a strong history of suspension development. Essentially this is a matched coilover spring & damper set which I'm hoping will provide a better handling experience for UK roads. My 22b has the stock springs from when it was imported and having recently been to Tokyo I can see why. Their roads are billiard table-like in comparison to the UK.

So yes, I could put 2 fresh Bilsteins back on the car & then use P1/Eibach springs, but really I should replace all 4 dampers at once otherwise I'll have 2 fresh new ones on the rear and older, worn versions on the front. At 1.2k for the Eibachs inc fitting, corner weighting, geo setup it's hardly going to bankrupt me if it's not good, but given the lack of reviews around I was wondering if anyone had specific experience of this combination. Scoobyclinic felt they were a strong setup and the limited reviews I've seen have all been positive. Hmm.

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
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So I went ahead and did it.

Initial impressions here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showServiceHist...

Summary: Early days, but excellent so far

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

250 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
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Now that you've spent all this money on some very nice suspension a geometry check and setup for fast road would be on my immediate list of things to do if it hasn't been done already.

Now you have different dampers geometry will also have changed.

TDIPLC

5,006 posts

232 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
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ScoobieWRX said:
Now that you've spent all this money on some very nice suspension a geometry check and setup for fast road would be on my immediate list of things to do if it hasn't been done already.

Now you have different dampers geometry will also have changed.
Seconded!

I know it's to late for the OP, but as a point of interest Eibach are releasing two new types of coil over kits in early 2010, one for road use and one for track use.

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Friday 20th November 2009
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Yeah, had full corner weighting & geo after fitting - No point doing it otherwise!


drgoatboy

2,008 posts

231 months

Friday 20th November 2009
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I know its a bit late, and may even be a bit annoying but Bilstein do a reconditioning service which is much cheaper than buying new. Did my VX220 shocks for £60 a corner...
They might not do it for all units though and they need them for a few weeks in my experience but if its a second car then it may be worth investigating...

Marf

22,907 posts

265 months

Friday 20th November 2009
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drgoatboy said:
I know its a bit late, and may even be a bit annoying but Bilstein do a reconditioning service which is much cheaper than buying new. Did my VX220 shocks for £60 a corner...
Who did you contact to organise that?

Smifffy

Original Poster:

2,000 posts

290 months

Friday 20th November 2009
quotequote all
Cheers Goaty - but I wanted to change the suspension anyway. Japan has very different roads to here!

drgoatboy

2,008 posts

231 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
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Marf said:
drgoatboy said:
I know its a bit late, and may even be a bit annoying but Bilstein do a reconditioning service which is much cheaper than buying new. Did my VX220 shocks for £60 a corner...
Who did you contact to organise that?
Bilstein Directly in Leicesteshire.
their number is 01455 283407.

Not sure if they offer the service for all their units but it may be worth a go...

Marf

22,907 posts

265 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
quotequote all
drgoatboy said:
Marf said:
drgoatboy said:
I know its a bit late, and may even be a bit annoying but Bilstein do a reconditioning service which is much cheaper than buying new. Did my VX220 shocks for £60 a corner...
Who did you contact to organise that?
Bilstein Directly in Leicesteshire.
their number is 01455 283407.

Not sure if they offer the service for all their units but it may be worth a go...
Cool thanks for that, my MR2 has bilsteins as standard, would be good to be able to rebuild them smile