Focus Fanatics Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Coilovers or Lowering Spring Kits

Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 45 Posts
#23 ·
I so didn't post a pic of a car with racelands in the dropped thread, either [poke]

someone buy them for me? [:D] PLEASE......
 
#24 ·
go FRPP.....haha just kidding. i say go coilovers, i went with the lowring springs/dampers, and i regret it. i want to go lower. with your budget, you should be able to find a good set of H&R's, which are 1100, and then the camper adjustments, not sure how much they are
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#27 ·
badass3 said:
this is just from my own research on vdub and audi forums and asking around. scion guys there are 2 in lou that have them and they ride pretty good
Click to expand...
Again, that depends who you ask. Its pretty hit or miss even on Volkwagens, Audis, BMWs, and Miatas. If you want to go low then they're great, they just ride like a can of ass.
 
#28 ·
I'd recommend H&R Race with some nice dampers if you want springs and a nice drop.

Although coilovers is no doubt the best mod I have done to my cars.

Geezer said:
The Focus doesn't come with a whole lot of suspension travel. Every inch or part of an inch you lower it significantly impacts available travel, ride quality and handling. A two inch drop looks pretty but the downsides can be pretty significant for all other perimeters. I suggest a drop to no more than 1 to 1.5 inches. I believe this is the best compromise between looks, handling, ride quality and safety. Its about controlling impacts (to the degree possible) from road conditions as well. Do you really want to "creep" over every speed bump or railroad track crossing? Keeping the car off the bump stops helps preserve tires and wheels and maintaining suspension travel is the number one way of doing this.
Click to expand...
Have you driven a lowered car? I hate how statements like this come up everytime anyone asks about lowering a car. I wonder how many people with statements like this actually have daily driven a lowered car for an extended period of time or if they're just outside looking in.

Saw someone post that H&R coilovers cost 1,100, they can be had on tire rack for 930ish shipped all day.

Also probably another outside looking in thing, but on my last focus I ran no camber adjustment at all and had absolutely no problems. Tires wore perfectly. On new car, spc arms were already installed on rear, but no need for camber plates. The way the previous owner had the spc arms adjusted ended up destroying my tires due to fender clearance but I let it happen as I wanted new tires anyway.

To sum it up, I vote coils, and would recommend Ksport personally, but if you must go springs, I vote h&r race with say some koni dampers.
 
#30 ·
I forgot post count meant more real world experience than personal experience...

I dont ignorantly criticize anyone. I checked to see if he has a slammed car and does know what he's talking about, but the only showroom I see is an old rally car that is not a focus, and a bunch of threads about articles on various subjects. Based upon his posted threads it appears he does not own a significantly lowered car, which is why I asked.

Is it more ignorant to post a suggestion with no personal experience or to have a lower post count?

and if you re-read, I asked if he has driven a lowered car (which to me is 3.5 or more inches), and state how I hate that this whole optimal suspension topic and travel room always comes up as if we all track our cars all the time and optimal handling is the only way to go. nevermind that is a focus that generally will see no track use, and though not optimal, a slammed car handles much better than stock (at least that's my personal experience, since I drive a slammed car)

I wonder how many times people will "ignorantly criticize" a new member when said member has good valid real world experience derived advice.
 
#31 ·
im not refering to post count. hes been a member since 2003, and has given great advice for at least as long as ive been here (im sure others would agree). just because you cant see proof that he drives or has driven a lowered vehicle, dosnt mean he hasnt. thats all im saying.

also, the OP is asking about a 2" drop. not 3.5".
 
#32 ·
puppetman said:
im not refering to post count. hes been a member since 2003, and has given great advice for at least as long as ive been here (im sure others would agree). just because you cant see proof that he drives or has driven a lowered vehicle, dosnt mean he hasnt. thats all im saying.

also, the OP is asking about a 2" drop. not 3.5".
Click to expand...
which is why I asked

which is why I suggested H&R race, or coilovers...
 
#33 ·
What happens when you install a suspension that has the same amount of strut travel no matter the height? Something that when at a slight drop has the same amount of travel as when its at a 5" drop from stock? Would you shit bricks when you found out that one does exist?


jakebrewer said:
Is it more ignorant to post a suggestion with no personal experience or to have a lower post count?
Click to expand...
I say it is more ignorant to take someone's advice based solely on post count/registered date rather than from someone who personally has real world experience on the subject.
 
#34 ·
Okay enough arguing. Not everyone wants to go low and thats okay. On the flip side some want more than a 1.5" drop.

Personaly I never wanted a 1.5" drop I knew it wasn't enough. I've had a 2" drop on my car for the last two years and it rides fantastic. Doesn't mean that every 2" drop will ride well, but doesn't mean it won't.


I'm not taking sides, but Geezer does know his stuff. Jake and match you guys also know a ton as well. You guys are just from two different schools of suspension.
 
#35 ·
jakebrewer said:
I'd recommend H&R Race with some nice dampers if you want springs and a nice drop.

Although coilovers is no doubt the best mod I have done to my cars.

Have you driven a lowered car? I hate how statements like this come up everytime anyone asks about lowering a car. I wonder how many people with statements like this actually have daily driven a lowered car for an extended period of time or if they're just outside looking in.

Saw someone post that H&R coilovers cost 1,100, they can be had on tire rack for 930ish shipped all day.

Also probably another outside looking in thing, but on my last focus I ran no camber adjustment at all and had absolutely no problems. Tires wore perfectly. On new car, spc arms were already installed on rear, but no need for camber plates. The way the previous owner had the spc arms adjusted ended up destroying my tires due to fender clearance but I let it happen as I wanted new tires anyway.

To sum it up, I vote coils, and would recommend Ksport personally, but if you must go springs, I vote h&r race with say some koni dampers.
Click to expand...
Have I driven on coilovers? Hell yes. I've driven them on street cars, race cars and rally cars. I have also ridden in cars with $2500.00+ sets vs $500.00 and less sets and there's little comparison.

My Miata is lower and has less suspension travel a Focus does with a two inch drop but also rides and handles so much better because it was done correctly. We started out with a 1.5" drop on our Focus and now its running an SVT kit at the request of my oldest son who got tired of the previous drop and its impacts.

I'll say it again, as you go lower ride quality deteriorates. Simple things like riding or hitting the bumpstops or binding coils do things like that. To prevent these things, you have to use stiffer springs which ends up impacting ride quality. And as I've always advocated here, if you do go coilovers they have to have adjustable length shock bodies versus height adjustment via spring compression. The latter is not the correct (or quality) way to lower a car.
 
#36 ·
norcalfocus01 said:
I'm not taking sides, but Geezer does know his stuff. Jake and match you guys also know a ton as well. You guys are just from two different schools of suspension.
Click to expand...
I have experience on both sides of it. I ran a FRPP suspension for a few years, H&R coils for a while at various heights and now Ksports.

It also must not be possible that I am at a 4.5" drop from stock without camber correction up front and only slightly adjusted camber arms out back and my tires wear perfectly even with my 0* toe. We are only trying to say that the "old" way of thinking isn't the only way to think.
 
#38 ·
jakebrewer said:
As far as I know, Ksport is the only coilover for the focus that offers adjustable length shocks bodies.
Click to expand...
GASP! REVERSE ENGINEERED CRAP!!!

I <3 Ksports.


And FWIW I ran my FRPP suspension for roughly 20k, my H&R coilovers for about 45-50k and now my Ksports for a few thousand. None of the setups rode particularly bad, except for the H&Rs when they were paired with stiffer springs that wore them out at the height I was at but that was expected. And the Ksports at a 4.5" drop and on full stiff all around dare I say ride as good as the FRPP stuff. Firmer, but definitely as good or possibly better. Of course that is IMO.
 
#39 ·
matchbox said:
I have experience on both sides of it. I ran a FRPP suspension for a few years, H&R coils for a while at various heights and now Ksports.

It also must not be possible that I am at a 4.5" drop from stock without camber correction up front and only slightly adjusted camber arms out back and my tires wear perfectly even with my 0* toe. We are only trying to say that the "old" way of thinking isn't the only way to think.
Click to expand...
As does my car. I have no cmaber plates and 0* of toe set by me and have no tire wear issues. 90% of tire wear issues is toe.
 
#40 ·
Last comment, who would really want to drive a car with a 3.5" drop on the street? Everyday driving would become a defensive driving event while trying to looking for anything that would rip the guts out of your car. Those are problems I betting that the majority of people want to avoid. It may look nice at the car show but for practical everyday driving there are reasonable limits.The only way to maintain any suspension travel (especially on a focus) when going that low would be to modify the suspension mounting points (taller shock towers, etc) which is well beyond most peoples mechanical capabilities or skills).
 
21 - 40 of 45 Posts
About this Discussion
44 Replies
19 Participants
Last post:
blkfocuszx3
Focus Fanatics Forum
posts
5.8M
members
203K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to Ford Focus owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about SVT performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Technical Chat Ford Focus Builds & General Showroom MK3 Focus SVT Performance (2002-2004) MK1 Focus