I have a 2002 ZX3 with 145000 miles. Its has shitty OBX coilovers wit h stock struts. In the rain and snow its rear end floats. Will this suspension fix it or is there something else i can do so it handles and rides worth a damn?? It sits so low it eats the insides of the tires in the rear. You can feel every damn bump also. I need this fixed without having to spend a arm and a leg

i bought the SVT suspension from Steeda for 300 bucks. cost an arm and a leg to install, but i love the new ride quality. im going from stock, not modded like yourself, but it does fit. i have 17" wheels on mine, but 18's would still allow for plenty of space in my opinion.

What else did you have to buy that made the suspension cost a arm in a leg?? 300 isnt bad

When was the last time that the car had an alignment? How many miles are on said coilovers?

No clue when it had a alignment?? I think theres 100000 miles on the coilovers

No wonder!!!

The straight SVT swap will only drop your car 0.5" from OEM.

I use the SVT dampers on Eibach Pro kit springs for a 1.5" drop.

How to, http://web.archive.org/web/20070814172459/http://www.teamfocus.us/shocksandstruts.htm

Give yourself about 4-6 hours

Complete how to, http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65218

I will move this to suspension forum when I get home tonight.

The SVT kit is the best bang for the buck available. Odds are good that the OBX springs blew out the shocks a long time ago and is the reason for the poor handling. You can get an SVT kit delivered to you from Tousley Ford for less than 300.00. That will include springs, shocks, and a bigger rear sway bar.

I was looking at getting the SVT kit as well.
I found them on Tousley Ford like Geezer did. 250 I think they are.

How feasible is it to do this yourself?
I know I'd need to somehow get the front springs on the coil overs.
And for that I'm fairly certain I'd need a spring compressor.
If I could have a shop throw the coil overs together and then install the other stuff myself, that might be saving a good bit of cash.

didnt have to buy anything else- shocks, springs, struts and sway bar all included with the kit, but it cost me 580 bucks to have it installed. i was short on time, now im short on money lol. i like the stiffer ride though. no more rocking between shifts. [thumb]

the shop i went to was quick too- 4 hours flat.

How stiff is the ride?
Because mine is fairly jarring right now because the owner before me lowered it on a budget.
I'd like to be sporty, but not a hard ride, if you know what I mean.

The ride is great IMHO, the wife's STOCK Civic from '08 has a more jarring ride than my Focus AFTER I went to the SVT suspension.

Handling is improved, and it works fine with stock size SVT wheels as well.

I bought the kit from Tousley that includes COMPLETE assembled struts, but NO replacement rear bar - that way I got all new strut components & didn't have to assemble them.

Get to know your fellow fanatics around u. I install suspension alot for members just cost u a 6pack . Thats alot for an install. Ask about tech days in ur area so everyone can help each other out

Sailor, did you already have a rear sway bar installed, or are you just rocking it without one?

Thanks Demented, I know we have quite a few Foci owners in the central Florida area. I'm still the new guy, haha,

Already had a stock sway bar 'cause it was a ZTS model.

The SVT bar is 1mm thicker than mine, which DOES make a difference - I was going with a recommendation from one of our California Brethren who liked the result with SVT springs & shocks while only changing the rear by adding poly bushings for better response on his sedan.

Figured I could tune it to preference step by step, Poly bushings will be next some day - but it's good as is....

P.S. - My ZTS is a sedan, which changes weight distribution & response a bit compared to hatchbacks....

Yeah, I think I'm going to save a few dollars and get the pre-assembled struts and do the install myself.

How difficult was the install?

Then maybe do a Steeda sway bar later.
What other companies do sway bar kits?

when i said stiffer ride i meant that it was no longer swaying like a boat [histerical]

The stiffer ride is what im going for and not slammed to the ground.

The SVT shocks and springs are a great combo.
It is not jarring or bumpy at all.
I went from stock, to SVT, to eibach, back to SVT springs.
Swaybars don't effect ride quality except while turning, then its body roll only.
Really glad I did eibach swaybars front and rear as well.

I like the look of the Eibach kit with the SVT upgrade kit.

Does the Eibach bar kit run any cheaper than about 240?

I like the look of the Eibach kit with the SVT upgrade kit.

Does the Eibach bar kit run any cheaper than about 240?

That's about what I paid, shipped.
Swaybars are the cheapest, most used, never regretted upgrade.

Sway bars come up pretty often on BST FTW!