Eibach vs Coilover for 172 MK1

[Kman]

Any opinions? Only interested in moderate look change (closing the gap between wheel and fender) not slamming it, and a somewhat comfortable ride. Heard great things about Eibachs (both handling and comfort), but nothing on comfort with coilovers. The interest in coilovers is that I can adjust the height to what I want. Other 172 owners???

 

[viceroy]

If you want adjustable, you could go for Koni Sport Adjustables. Not as adjustable as the coilovers, but I believe they are quite good

 

[telford_mike]

Eibachs rock, and for around £120 are great value.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Second Mikes comments! Well pleased with my Eibachs (thanks again Mike for your recommendations) now although the drop is nothing dramatic . I had -40mm Evos which were great over smooth surfaces but bottomed out and screwed the handling out on the "B" roads. There is more to handling than just lowering! I personally think -30mm is the max for a 172 unless you are a street cruiser.

 

[Sawa]

I went for KTR springs - lowered about 30mm and my car handles really well - so your choice but Mike is good @ helping with decisions like this

 

[telford_mike]

 

[JJ172]

Its true - Eibachs are utterly superb, especially when accompanied (shameless plug) with geometry mods front and rear....

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Sorry off thread..... but not all of us JJ172 can justify travelling down South to get your geometry kit fitted . Please reconsider a kit of parts so that my local performance centre can perform a fitment / similar test locally? There are others up here in Jockland that are very intested if they can be fitted locally. Also my local performance centre are official Eibach distributors.

 

[Sawa]

Quote: Originally posted by telford_mike on 18 July 2003

dont act so coy

 

[rt172]

I second Flying Scotsmans comments. Ive moving in to a house with a small suspension specialist centre opposite me. I think theyll be able to fit any parts.

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by Rhys on 18 July 2003

Ive moving in to a house with a small suspension specialist centre opposite me.

Thats dedication to the cause Rhys!

 

[JJ172]

Quote: Originally posted by Flying Scotsman on 18 July 2003

Sorry off thread..... but not all of us JJ172 can justify travelling down South to get your geometry kit fitted . Please reconsider a kit of parts so that my local performance centre can perform a fitment / similar test locally? There are others up here in Jockland that are very intested if they can be fitted locally. Also my local performance centre are official Eibach distributors.

If only it were that simple, but Im afraid they wont be offering a "kit" as, although the parts involved are relatively simple, the crux of it is setting the car up properly, which can only really be successfully completed by someone with plenty of experience and knowledge in such things. No offence, but does your "local performance centre" have 20 years experience in suspension settings and the ability to drive/tweak an individual car to best suit the drivers driving style, requirements, etc.? Its not just bolt-on goodies youre buying here...more importantly, its the -knowledge- of how to set the car up as well.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Quote: Originally posted by JJ172 on 19 July 2003

No offence, but does your "local performance centre" have 20 years experience in suspension settings and the ability to drive/tweak an individual car to best suit the drivers driving style, requirements, etc.?

With respect, Falkland Performance (http://www.falkland.co.ukwww.falkland.co.uk) have been racing and developing their own cars, with success, mainly Cosworths and Scoobies now for two generations at Knockhill and other tracks throughout the UK. So I know they are more than qualified to fit and set up camber bolts, shims and test drive the car afterwards to the customers requirements. That is what their centre is all about! So, they are not just the run of the mill "Bolt on, so must go faster" outfit. Are the company thats supplying and fitting these bits worried about copyright by any chance?

 

[JJ172]

Fair enough....but you can appreciate where Im coming from - there are plenty of so-called "performance centres" who havent got the first clue!

As for your comment "Are the company thats supplying and fitting these bits worried about copyright by any chance?" - all theyre worried about is making sure the customer gets a bespoke kit fitted to the highest level of quality possible, and thats not about parts, its about the knowledge used in the setup.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Fair dos mate. Their loss at the end of the day! Im sure companies like K-Tec will cotton on pretty soon and sell similar kits on the market so that they can be DIY fitted (for the mechanically proficient) or fitted by reputable tuning companies. Their camber bolts Im sure are just the start! I accept that knowledge and experience is required to fit such a kit and make it effective but at the end of the day its not rocket science! Without disrespect to others, remember that quite a few of us on here know how to use a spanner and a camber guage and can get more of a kick experimenting with these things themselves. My last words on this subject!

Kman: sorry for hijacking your thread mate! BTW, another possibility is the Eibach Sportline kit. I believe it is a similar kit to the Pros but about -30mm drop. Dont know if anyone on here has fitted them to a 172? Would be interested to hear?

 

[philip]

FS, I have been trying to get hold of Eibach sports but Eibach have not confirmed if the sports kit is available for the 172/cup. I am still waiting to hear from them. K-tec tried calling and were told maybe another 2-3 weeks, I spoke to somebody at Eibach who was meant to get back to me and didnt.

Basically if somebdy has fitted Eibach sports to a 172 I would like to know too, as the Eibach pros on a cup would only lower it 5mm and thats nowhere near enough.

 

[JJ172]

Im sure there was a guy from Holland or Belgium on here whod fitted the Sportline kit on his European 172 Mk2.

FS - believe you me, Id love to get them to produce a kit, as everytime I drive my converted 172 it reminds me how much better it is over the std setup and how everyone deserves such a mod! The amount of times I hear people whinging about the twitchy rear, etc. and this sorts it all out.

 

[Kman]

Im sure I saw the same thread, because he mentioned the color difference, but Im not sure if he had a 172. So the verdict is wait, as no coil-over comments were made. BTW I forgot to mention if I go with Eibachs then I am definitely going with Konis.

 

[JJ172]

Konis are superb, and I believe theyve just developed a kit for the 172. I think R-Sport have fitted rally-spec Bilsteins to their car. IMHO the damping is fairly weak on the 172/Cup and hard springs (AVOs, etc.) really show it up.

Again, IMHO, unless youre constantly doing different track days and demand different setups on the car, fully adjustable suspension is a bit of a luxury. It takes most of us a while to learn one setup, let alone multiples! The only real advantage is ride height adjustment, but theres more to suspension than ride height. In fact, that should almost be the least of your worries!

 

[Kman]

Quote: Originally posted by JJ172 on 21 July 2003


The only real advantage is ride height adjustment, but theres more to suspension than ride height. In fact, that should almost be the least of your worries!

Not if your an image freak from Southern California. No really, great advice. Everything said confirms my thoughts. So will probably wait to see if this other Eibach kit is available for the 172. If not just lower the car a few mm.