Ford Racing handling kit now available - Page 5

felixthecat · 08-23-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic_HedgeHog

Axle back is a waste of money and the time to install it

Totaley ^

SterlingArcher · 08-24-2012, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic_HedgeHog

Axle back is a waste of money and the time to install it

Yeah, truth is there's nothing I've seen that really excites me exhaust wise. I'm sticking with my suspension and style goals, and thats about it. Plus I learned with my other cars that exhaust tends to invite every DB with a 90's era 100hp Civic to want to race me at every stop light, and thats not what I do. I've enjoyed being left alone the last few months since I got the Focus.

nerdrage · 08-24-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic_HedgeHog

Tire Rack now has the Eibach Sport-System Plus Kit up on their site now... $424. Might give Ford a run for its dollars!

I called eibach about this because its not on their website. They are not making dampers for the Focus. Tirerack was supposed to fix this 2 months ago when I saw this kit and tried to pre-order it.

Here is the actual kit on Eibachs website
SPORT-PLUS (SPORTLINE Springs & ANTI-ROLL-KIT Sway Bars

Joey D · 08-24-2012, 10:22 AM

Why would you have a handling kit without dampers? You'll blow the OEM ones really quick, especially if you're lowering the car at all.

TboneZX3 · 08-24-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey D

Why would you have a handling kit without dampers? You'll blow the OEM ones really quick, especially if you're lowering the car at all.

Is that a sure thing? There are several members on here running Sportlines or Steedas with stock dampers, and haven't heard of any issues.

Joey D · 08-24-2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TboneZX3

Is that a sure thing? There are several members on here running Sportlines or Steedas with stock dampers, and haven't heard of any issues.

No issues yet, but the dampers will wear out prematurely. You're using the damper in a way it wasn't intended to, not to mention you're screwing even more with the suspension geometry. Just about every company that sells lowering springs recommends replacing the damper with ones made for a lowered vehicle.

I refuse to lower mine until the proper stuff is made available for the car and I know it isn't cheaply made. Koni yellows and lowering springs are the way to go if you want low without coilovers. The Koni's will last and your ride won't be horrid.

I've owned three lowered vehicles and I ran a 2" drop on my Blazer for a while with OEM struts. They lasted maybe 5,000 miles after I dropped it and the truck didn't have that many miles on it when I did it either. But I ripped everything out, put a 7" drop on it with struts made for a lowered vehicle and ran em for 25,000 miles with no issues. I learned with the other two cars just to do it right the first time.

Zillon · 08-24-2012, 11:24 AM

The only real option right now is to just buy the ST dampers, as I have, since the ST is a half inch lower than other Foci, and those dampers should be up to the demands of handling a higher spring rate and lower ride height.

Konis are a great choice, but I don't think we're going to see a dedicated Mk3 Focus fitment from Koni for a little while. If I had my pick, though, I'd go with Bilsteins.

I've called both companies to get an estimated ETA, and both have given me answers that leave me with no real timeline for expecting product on US shores anytime soon. If anything, we might see something from Bilstein sometime in the next year, as they at least have part numbers listed for the Euro Focus, but good luck finding those parts over here.

The Mazdaspeed3 fitment won't work because the distance from the knuckle to the strut tower is shorter, and the MS3 spring buckets are higher on the strut body. When compared to a Mk3 specific fitment, the MS3 dampers will leave the front of your car sitting higher than it would otherwise.

nerdrage · 08-24-2012, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zillon

The only real option right now is to just buy the ST dampers, as I have, since the ST is a half inch lower than other Foci, and those dampers should be up to the demands of handling a higher spring rate and lower ride height. .

Where'd you get the ST dampers from? Price? Part numbers from Ford?

SterlingArcher · 08-24-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerdrage

I called eibach about this because its not on their website. They are not making dampers for the Focus. Tirerack was supposed to fix this 2 months ago when I saw this kit and tried to pre-order it.

Here is the actual kit on Eibachs website
SPORT-PLUS (SPORTLINE Springs & ANTI-ROLL-KIT Sway Bars

That makes much more sense, there was no way that kit was $424 with dampers. A little odd that tirerack hasn't updated their site, and flat out told me that it does come with dampers. They're usually much more reputable.