Need new Dampers and Springs

[AndrewCowley]

My MY04 GT (non Bilstein) desperately needs new dampers and springs. I've read lots of threads and I've got no idea. Would say I've got no specific requirements other than I'd like to not go too low and comfort is important. I am paranoid about the rear dropping down too low and looking silly. A few of the cars in the pictures thread looked that way to me.

Any thoughts on these options -

a) Factory STI springs and Bilstein dampers from the WheelPower guy.
b) Phat Tein S Techs or Eibach springs, but what dampers?
c) KW V2 coilovers. I almost pulled the trigger on these a while back (eBay from the US) but got cold feet.

I already have Whiteline sways & front strut brace and Phat's front LCA bushes.

Any help would be appreciated.

[teK--]

Eibach if comfort and mild drop is at the top of your list. Will work well either stock KYB dampers or the Wheelpower Bilsteins.

[AndrewCowley]

Eibach if comfort and mild drop is at the top of your list. Will work well either stock KYB dampers or the Wheelpower Bilsteins.

Anyone know if Wheelpower will sell just the Bilsteins?

[teK--]

They do. With the springs (which are worth nothing anyway)

[AndrewCowley]

They do. With the springs (which are worth nothing anyway)

Lol. The Eibach's are that much better that you reckon it makes sense get the STi Pinks and toss them? Anyone got a link to the Eibach's? Wondering how much they cost.

[teK--]

I don't understand. Why would you buy the STI pinks then toss them??

The struts that Wheelpower sell are with stock GTB springs, not STI Pinks.

[AndrewCowley]

I don't understand. Why would you buy the STI pinks then toss them??

The struts that Wheelpower sell are with stock GTB springs, not STI Pinks.

Sorry, was confused there for a moment. Meant to ask this...

If Wheelpower won't sell the dampers by themselves, are the Eibach's good enough to warrant ditching the springs from Wheelpower and replacing them with Eibach's?

[teK--]

Yes.

[AndrewCowley]

Wheelpower charge $550 for their kit. How much are the Eibach springs?

[teK--]

About the same.

[AndrewCowley]

Thanks Tek. Two choices then -

a) Bilsteins (from WheelPower) and Eibach Pros.
b) KW Variant 2 coilovers.

My research suggests that the coilovers have appeal because the front/rear heights can be made just right. Is this right? I really don't want a droopy rear.

I've read some stuff about top hats (same as top mounts?) which I know nothing about. Do they need replacing or changing with either of these options?

Where is everyone, thought I'd get lots of responses on this. Maybe a sign of how prehistoric my car now is!

[imania]

Even on their softest setting the kw's are a lot firmer than the stock ride, they're really comfortable for coilovers, and I have no complaints about mine, but I like a solid feel of the road, so if you're after something more comparable to stock a set of eibach pro's with KYB or billy dampers might be a better setup for you

[teK--]

Thanks Tek. Two choices then -

a) Bilsteins (from WheelPower) and Eibach Pros.
b) KW Variant 2 coilovers.

My research suggests that the coilovers have appeal because the front/rear heights can be made just right. Is this right? I really don't want a droopy rear.

I've read some stuff about top hats (same as top mounts?) which I know nothing about. Do they need replacing or changing with either of these options?

Where is everyone, thought I'd get lots of responses on this. Maybe a sign of how prehistoric my car now is!

If you are worried about droop with the Bilsteins then get saggy butt shims. Bear in mind the rear *is* meant to be lower than the front and people who want their ride height even are doing it at the expense of handling.

Most people get coilovers for the height adjustability; and others for the very coarse range of damping adjustment that they offer. (Adjusting the damping settings is a gimmick until you get to super high end models because on the cheap ones the knobs are inaccurate or even totally wrong/reversed so you'd need a spring dyno to properly set them up each time).

Bilsteins can use your stock tophats if they don't come with them (pretty sure Wheelpower ones do). Coilovers generally come with their own pillowball top hats which you will not want to use unless you want increased NVH.

[coyote]

Option 3 is buy a set of Wheelpower Billies (they come with top hats), get a custom set of springs and have the Billies revalved to suit.

PM Breno over on C&I for an idea of the results.

[AndrewCowley]

Bilsteins can use your stock tophats if they don't come with them (pretty sure Wheelpower ones do). Coilovers generally come with their own pillowball top hats which you will not want to use unless you want increased NVH.

My car is 7 years old with nearly 100,000 km travelled. Wondering if I got the coilovers would I even want to use my top hats? They are worn out, surely? So the top hats would need replacing too. You are correct that the Wheelpower bilsteins do come with top hats. Suppose that's a +1 for that option.