Coilovers vs. New struts with Lowering Springs

If you plan on keeping it a DD, I would saygo with lowering springs. There are a lot of companies making coilovers that are very well capable of daily use, but since you don't want a large drop...save your money. As for lowering spring opinions...you have tons. Most performance springs have less than a 1.5 drop, so you can get a nice stance while keeping the stock shocks and struts. If its time for shocks and struts...just replace everything at the same time. It will save you the headache of taking the suspension apart more than once.

 

Springs are a nice and cheaper than coils. Your struts are not going to go in 2 years with a conservative drop (1.5 or so). I have RRM GRIP springs which are basically the same as Progress springs. However if i had to make the decision over again i would have gotten coils and still might eventually. The fact that they are adjustable and you will never have to replace any of your suspension parts is a plus. Also, coils just look sick and you can decide how much you want to drop it. Slam it in the summer and then raise it back up in the winter.

 

I agree with both of you. Although if the op is above 90k miles on his suspension and drives aggresive/casual then he may need new shocks as well. Where I have seen the gyb replacement shock are $400 and most name brand springs are 200. That brings him to 600. This is assuming you don't get ebay springs. Coils for a lancer the cheapest I've found are. 879 shipped to your house. True new shocks and struts give you oem feel but coils can also give you that. True they are a bit stiffer. But most setups let you adjust how firm or soft they ride and let you adjust height.

Where as spring/strut setup only let's you adjust your height from oem to what the springs are. Springs/struts are a good buy for the average joe. Coils are for those who drive aggressive. Also, if you have crappy roads like I do the stray away from coils. I got my coil overs and still don't regret it.

Although, the roads of suffolk are mean. I also, didn't like the fact that I had to break my sway bar bushings to get the rears on. But that happened because of rust. So yea.

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+1 with the springs. if you are not going to use the coilovers for its true purpose of rallys and autocross

 

Well, On my original KYB's, I got around 116k out of them when the driver side strut died on me(I just waited too long to replace them). My roads are pretty bad around here as well...so I think they survived pretty well for what I drive on. Shocks and struts need to be replaced every 75k or so anyways. I've changed the shocks and struts on my mom's 03 eclipse twice, and she's coming close to 200k on that thing. I figure spending 350 bucks every 6 years isn't too terrible.

 

It take about 500 miles to actually break in the coils. the first day when you put them on you will see it sits pretty good and high. The night I went to work after I put them on my car sank. I mean it dropped an extra 2 inches. When I got out I was like...."holy shit....did I not tighten something up?" But I was normal. I forgot the springs arent compressed or pre broken into. Sorta like new shoes. The spring break in after one drive. The shocks on the other hand take a bit. Just dont go crazy as soon you get them. Your asking to break em.

Oh and since your doing suspension stuff. I want to warn you about the tie rods for lancers. They normal start going out at 90k. Mostly on the passenger side. So be weary of that. They arent too expensive to fix either.

 

Yes! Make sure you get the right struts and springs. The es/la lancers have different suspension than the oz rally.

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You will use the OEM parts:
Tophat (13)
Upper mount (08)
Bump stop (12)
Dust cover (11)
Lower ring (09)

There is a rubber ring on the upper mount that will probably stick to the spring...just re-install it to the upper mount when you get the new springs

 

Good choice. There are a lot more options for the non-ES lancer. Let us know what you end up going with

 

No, you will need the rears as well.

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Me personally I would do all new but if you get the tophats used it shouldn't make a difference. All the other parts I would get new.

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