WHICH IS BETTER: Coil-Overs -OR- Intrax/Eibachs combined with F/R Strut bars?

1260 Views 44 Replies 20 Participants Last post by VFIB, Nov 25, 2001

JeremyG

Discussion Starter · Oct 30, 2001

Ok, after driving anti-pope's car this weekend and it MAJORLY outhandling mine... it has the TEIN coilovers... I've decided I really need to improve my handling.

I have 2 choices here, and YES money is a BIG consideration:

Choice 1:
Intrax or Eibachs combined with front and rear strut bars. Total cost: Around $225 for springs, $125 for rear and $150 front... total $500 and I can install this myself.

Choice 2:
TEIN coilovers (or similar)... around $1600 new, plus labor because I don't think I can install these.

Ok, I autocross for a HOBBY and it would be great to have a great handling car... otherwise I'm more interested in the daily driver handling and the lowered look. Adjustability is not a big issue, I'm OK with having it low all the time.

Now I need some feedback... can $1100 extra for the TEINS be justified?

Or if I combine the Intrax and strut bars, will the handling be just about the same?

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

unclesam099

· #2 · Oct 30, 2001

hey jeremy, how about the ground control coil-over setup? that's just $400. those are kinda hard riding tho (rode in hans' car once or twice).

i personally like my eibachs. they would do you very well, especially with a set of strut bars. the ECS makes it driveable. i would recommend them to you.

and all of these systems aren't really too hard to put in yourself...

JeremyG

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 30, 2001

Kevin, aren't TEINs actually a "ground control coilover setup"??

What would I buy using your suggestion? Any links or anything?

Nathan94SL

· #4 · Oct 30, 2001

Sorry Jeremy for posting another question instead of an answer, but I've heard RSR Springs have a better/smoother ride than eibachs and intrax. Does anybody know if this is true?

Nathan

Anti-Pope

· #5 · Oct 31, 2001

Jeremy, I had installed KYB struts with stock springs in the front before the TEINS, and the TEINS were actually easier to install because you don't have to compress the springs. Ground Control coil-overs are a similar setup to the TEINS, but they don't include struts. It's just springs with an adjustable perch. Unfortunately, I believe the only aftermarket struts available are KYBs, and I was not impressed with them. One thing about the TEINS is that they have a very harsh ride, even on the softest setting.
If I were you I'd go with springs and strut bars for now. If later on you decide you still need more, you can sell the springs and reuse the strut bars with a TEIN setup.

JagdStealth

· #6 · Oct 31, 2001

www.groundcontrol.com

Check that out Jeremy, I'd recommend that over the Intrax or the Eibach. They use Eibach springs and if you call thme up and tell them what you are interested in they will set you up with what spring rates they suggest!

omnip_1

· #7 · Oct 31, 2001

what about intrax springs with GAB shocks/structs & bars? that would be bad ass... intrax w/ blown stock shocks/struts suck tho. (i know.)

unclesam099

· #8 · Oct 31, 2001

the RS*R springs are not made any more i believe... dave best has them on his car and they are really great feeling.

jeremy, you could just get the ground controls. there are 3 different spring rates that you can get. you could get the KYB GR2 struts to match with them, but i think you could get away with the stock struts for a while.

Anti-Pope

· #9 · Oct 31, 2001

omnip_1 said:
what about intrax springs with GAB shocks/structs & bars? that would be bad ass... intrax w/ blown stock shocks/struts suck tho. (i know.)

I think GAB has gone out of business. They used to be close to $1000 for a set too.

Darktrail

· #10 · Oct 31, 2001

I have the Intrax and I am very happy with them. They offer a little bit lower drop than the Eibach. I have heard that the Eibachs are prone to squeek.
Pictures in My signature are with the Intrax and I am gonna try to post one with a before shot

liutengc

· #11 · Oct 31, 2001 (Edited)

Anti-Pope said:
I think GAB has gone out of business.

Really? Strange thing is on my old GAB strut it has KYB imprinted
on the strut. So I think GAB is actually made by KYB?
JeremyG:
If I were you, I would just save up the money, and go for TEIN
setup, because you do some autocrossing right?
Trust me the TEIN is a much better setup than others,
I had eibach/stock strut, and KGM DRacing/GAB, and they don't
come as close as the TEIN, trust me, if you
look at it long term the cost is actually not so bad.

either way
you're spend big bucks.

TL

omnip_1

· #12 · Oct 31, 2001

lt, how much is the replacement shock/strut for the teins when they wear out?

Anti-Pope

· #13 · Oct 31, 2001

omnip_1 said:
lt, how much is the replacement shock/strut for the teins when they wear out?

They have a lifetime guarantee, so if for some reason they wear out they should be replaced for free. I had one of the adjustment knobs broken off by the guy who did the alignment. They must be ordered in pairs, and the cost for the pair of front struts with shipping was $538 (I'm being reimbursed.)

brainfood

· #14 · Oct 31, 2001

Teins are by far the best... I havnt heared any complaints about ride quality before? antipope is it really bad?

shovel

· #15 · Oct 31, 2001

I have intrax and kybs all the way around, I am very happy, the car handles 10x's better than stock.

Deathsled

· #16 · Oct 31, 2001

ive got intrax and kyb gr2s.

still waiting for the car to drop a little more, but my handling is phenomenal!

already pulled over 1 G in lateral acceleration with the g-tech, now i need my strut and antisway bars, then i'll really be shreddin asphalt....

Anti-Pope

· #17 · Oct 31, 2001

brainfood said:
Teins are by far the best... I havnt heared any complaints about ride quality before? antipope is it really bad?

I guess it comes down to personal opinion. I wouldn't say it's bad, just very stiff. I like it actually. The softest setting seems to be a bit stiffer than the stock ECS sport setting. It's bearable, but I live in Michigan, and we have some of the worst roads in the country.

brainfood

· #18 · Oct 31, 2001

that makes me wonder... when I do my suspension... if I can ever afford to

I will ride in a car with the teins but form what I have heared and read it is the best thing available.

nytemyst

· #19 · Oct 31, 2001

i'm getting me some tiens=)

newfoundglory

· #20 · Oct 31, 2001

Ok, now If I wanted to keep my stock struts (or buy new factory struts/shocks) to keep my ECS, can I still get ground-controls, or even just intrax springs. I want to lower my car, but keep the ECS. So all in all, I guess, do the lowering springs mess with your stock struts? Are they harder on your stock struts?

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

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