Eibach Front & Rear lift springs + anti roll sway bars

[jason330i]

Yes, it looks more rugged with the lift.

You will see a 1.5" lift all the way around.

With the higher center of gravity, suggest you look at the anti roll sway bars that will flatten your power turns and curvy road ride.

Very nice! Do you know if the guys at the Corona shop will do installations also?

Sponsored

 

[4sallypat]

Very nice! Do you know if the guys at the Corona shop will do installations also?

You can certainly ask.

I know they have limited time available as they schedule a lot of customers vehicles for fitment, testing and media video & photo shoots.

 

[Rickless]

First, let me (again) thank @markboris for his time, tools, and talent. I would not have been able to do this job without him, let alone in 3 hours. If you are going to attempt this install yourself, I'd recommend enlisting a friend or two for help and moral support. If you don't have friends, you might be SOL; just pay to have it done. Per @HuntingPudel, " Replacing the springs on a McPherson suspension is loads of not fun."

A couple quick nuances we encountered during the job:
1. On the front install, do yourself a favor and pick up some 16 mm strut bolts with camber adjustment. These will allow your local shop the flexibility to properly align your car with the lift. If you are lifting a non-GT, you might need to pick up some longer (GT) lower strut bolts as well.
2. On the rear install, the springs are unruly. You will need to use a jack under the lower control arm to have a prayer of re-bolting it to the knuckle. The first side went "smoothly", but the second side took 6 hands and some luck to pin down the extra length/coils of the spring.

As for the ride, this mod certainly leans more into the "SUV" aspect of the Mach E. Although I don't have a quantitative comparison of the OEM springs to the Eibach Lift springs, I can provide an anecdotal summary thanks to the vast construction zones on I-680 headed into the Bay Area and a ride to the hardware store with @JohnFoxeSheets during a recent rear cargo anchor point install meet-up. My pre-lift reference points include my AWD Premium (with stock springs and Eibach sway bars) and John's GT (with Mark's Koni shock upgrade).

"The Bounce" - As I drive the 680 normally, there are a number of heaves/divots/joints in the road that would cause me to grimace and audibly groan while driving. The car would almost jump upon impact with these inconsistencies, causing my dog/parents/groceries/etc. to go flying in the backseat. I was skeptical of any bounciness improvement initially, but I was happily surprised when I traversed the construction area without uttering a single curse at the pavement. The car seemed to handle these bumps with more grace, almost to the same extent as the Koni shock upgrade on John's GT, the effects of which were immediately noticeable for me.

The Handling - There is a sweeping onramp between I-680 and I-880 southbound that I use as a body-roll reference point. Although I usually drive on whisper mode, I tend to push the car around this curve for scientific purposes... Before my Eibach sway bar installation, the car would pull toward the outside guard rail with some conviction. Post sway bar and pre lift kit installation, the car was rock solid. Post lift kit installation, the body roll is back, not quite to OEM levels though.

The Range - TBD. I will need to drive the car on some more long distance adventures before passing judgement on the range effects. I'm sure this mod will result in a decrease, but the magnitude will hopefully be determined soon (TM).

TLDR: If you like the look of a lifted car and are willing to sacrifice some range and handling for utility and ride comfort, this mod is for you. If you are only looking for a bounce fix and are a DIYer, go with the Koni shock upgrade.

 

[markboris]

First, let me (again) thank @markboris for his time, tools, and talent. I would not have been able to do this job without him, let alone in 3 hours. If you are going to attempt this install yourself, I'd recommend enlisting a friend or two for help and moral support. If you don't have friends, you might be SOL; just pay to have it done. Per @HuntingPudel, " Replacing the springs on a McPherson suspension is loads of not fun."

A couple quick nuances we encountered during the job:
1. On the front install, do yourself a favor and pick up some 16 mm strut bolts with camber adjustment. These will allow your local shop the flexibility to properly align your car with the lift. If you are lifting a non-GT, you might need to pick up some longer (GT) lower strut bolts as well.
2. On the rear install, the springs are unruly. You will need to use a jack under the lower control arm to have a prayer of re-bolting it to the knuckle. The first side went "smoothly", but the second side took 6 hands and some luck to pin down the extra length/coils of the spring.

As for the ride, this mod certainly leans more into the "SUV" aspect of the Mach E. Although I don't have a quantitative comparison of the OEM springs to the Eibach Lift springs, I can provide an anecdotal summary thanks to the vast construction zones on I-680 headed into the Bay Area and a ride to the hardware store with @JohnFoxeSheets during a recent rear cargo anchor point install meet-up. My pre-lift reference points include my AWD Premium (with stock springs and Eibach sway bars) and John's GT (with Mark's Koni shock upgrade).

"The Bounce" - As I drive the 680 normally, there are a number of heaves/divots/joints in the road that would cause me to grimace and audibly groan while driving. The car would almost jump upon impact with these inconsistencies, causing my dog/parents/groceries/etc. to go flying in the backseat. I was skeptical of any bounciness improvement initially, but I was happily surprised when I traversed the construction area without uttering a single curse at the pavement. The car seemed to handle these bumps with more grace, almost to the same extent as the Koni shock upgrade on John's GT, the effects of which were immediately noticeable for me.

The Handling - There is a sweeping onramp between I-680 and I-880 southbound that I use as a body-roll reference point. Although I usually drive on whisper mode, I tend to push the car around this curve for scientific purposes... Before my Eibach sway bar installation, the car would pull toward the outside guard rail with some conviction. Post sway bar and pre lift kit installation, the car was rock solid. Post lift kit installation, the body roll is back, not quite to OEM levels though.

The Range - TBD. I will need to drive the car on some more long distance adventures before passing judgement on the range effects. I'm sure this mod will result in a decrease, but the magnitude will hopefully be determined soon (TM).

TLDR: If you like the look of a lifted car and are willing to sacrifice some range and handling for utility and ride comfort, this mod is for you. If you are only looking for a bounce fix and are a DIYer, go with the Koni shock upgrade.

Great write up Eric. I'm kind of surprised the ride is smoother over the irregular road surfaces beings the springs are basically the same spring rate and linear just as the OEM's we took out, only longer. But then that goes to prove what we've said a few years ago that there is not enough suspension travel in this car. With your higher center of gravity, yes the handling won't be quite the same. I'm looking into a revised set of Koni's that are a bit longer to match your springs perfectly. You will get some of your handling back and smooth out those roads even more.

You mentioned the cam adjuster bolts and I've never posted that I use them when changing springs or when you just want more negative camber. I keep a couple of sets in stock all the time as they fit my ICE Mustangs as well as the Mach-E and a few other cars. Justin at our Les Schwab always does my alignments and was happy to see I had installed those in your car. ?

 

[4sallypat]

First, let me (again) thank @markboris for his time, tools, and talent. I would not have been able to do this job without him, let alone in 3 hours. If you are going to attempt this install yourself, I'd recommend enlisting a friend or two for help and moral support. If you don't have friends, you might be SOL; just pay to have it done. Per @HuntingPudel, " Replacing the springs on a McPherson suspension is loads of not fun."

A couple quick nuances we encountered during the job:
1. On the front install, do yourself a favor and pick up some 16 mm strut bolts with camber adjustment. These will allow your local shop the flexibility to properly align your car with the lift. If you are lifting a non-GT, you might need to pick up some longer (GT) lower strut bolts as well.
2. On the rear install, the springs are unruly. You will need to use a jack under the lower control arm to have a prayer of re-bolting it to the knuckle. The first side went "smoothly", but the second side took 6 hands and some luck to pin down the extra length/coils of the spring.

As for the ride, this mod certainly leans more into the "SUV" aspect of the Mach E. Although I don't have a quantitative comparison of the OEM springs to the Eibach Lift springs, I can provide an anecdotal summary thanks to the vast construction zones on I-680 headed into the Bay Area and a ride to the hardware store with @JohnFoxeSheets during a recent rear cargo anchor point install meet-up. My pre-lift reference points include my AWD Premium (with stock springs and Eibach sway bars) and John's GT (with Mark's Koni shock upgrade).

"The Bounce" - As I drive the 680 normally, there are a number of heaves/divots/joints in the road that would cause me to grimace and audibly groan while driving. The car would almost jump upon impact with these inconsistencies, causing my dog/parents/groceries/etc. to go flying in the backseat. I was skeptical of any bounciness improvement initially, but I was happily surprised when I traversed the construction area without uttering a single curse at the pavement. The car seemed to handle these bumps with more grace, almost to the same extent as the Koni shock upgrade on John's GT, the effects of which were immediately noticeable for me.

The Handling - There is a sweeping onramp between I-680 and I-880 southbound that I use as a body-roll reference point. Although I usually drive on whisper mode, I tend to push the car around this curve for scientific purposes... Before my Eibach sway bar installation, the car would pull toward the outside guard rail with some conviction. Post sway bar and pre lift kit installation, the car was rock solid. Post lift kit installation, the body roll is back, not quite to OEM levels though.

The Range - TBD. I will need to drive the car on some more long distance adventures before passing judgement on the range effects. I'm sure this mod will result in a decrease, but the magnitude will hopefully be determined soon (TM).

TLDR: If you like the look of a lifted car and are willing to sacrifice some range and handling for utility and ride comfort, this mod is for you. If you are only looking for a bounce fix and are a DIYer, go with the Koni shock upgrade.

Love the detailed report on your lift!

Thanks from me - I feel the same way - just not as verbose...

 

[4sallypat]

Great write up Eric. I'm kind of surprised the ride is smoother over the irregular road surfaces beings the springs are basically the same spring rate and linear just as the OEM's we took out, only longer. But then that goes to prove what we've said a few years ago that there is not enough suspension travel in this car. With your higher center of gravity, yes the handling won't be quite the same. I'm looking into a revised set of Koni's that are a bit longer to match your springs perfectly. You will get some of your handling back and smooth out those roads even more.

You mentioned the cam adjuster bolts and I've never posted that I use them when changing springs or when you just want more negative camber. I keep a couple of sets in stock all the time as they fit my ICE Mustangs as well as the Mach-E and a few other cars. Justin at our Les Schwab always does my alignments and was happy to see I had installed those in your car. ?

Thanks for doing all work and posting details on Eric's car.

BTW I edited the post to remove "holiday gifts..."

Now it's an "all season" post ?

 

[Rickless]

I'm kind of surprised the ride is smoother over the irregular road surfaces beings the springs are basically the same spring rate and linear just as the OEM's we took out, only longer.

To clarify further, the lift springs took the edge off the bounce in high impact situations, but it didn't cure it (in my opinion). The car is still a Mach E with a stiff suspension, so lifting it WILL NOT turn your ride into butter. You definitely still feel the little bumps in the road, but your passengers likely won't hit their head on the ceiling if you go over a big bump anymore. (True story)

I stand by the conclusion that the shock swap is the most effective means of bounce reduction, but the lesser effect due to the lift springs is a welcome bonus. After bemoaning the ride for almost 3 years, anything is better than the OEM setup for those of us without Magneride.

I'm looking into a revised set of Koni's that are a bit longer to match your springs perfectly.

A shock upgrade on a lifted Mach E... has science gone too far?? Mach E Baja, here we come!

 

[phil]

Great write up Eric. I'm kind of surprised the ride is smoother over the irregular road surfaces beings the springs are basically the same spring rate and linear just as the OEM's we took out, only longer. But then that goes to prove what we've said a few years ago that there is not enough suspension travel in this car. With your higher center of gravity, yes the handling won't be quite the same. I'm looking into a revised set of Koni's that are a bit longer to match your springs perfectly. You will get some of your handling back and smooth out those roads even more.

Hello Mark - I am not much concerned with handling, but would love to soften the bone-rattling ride in my GT (regular edition) to make it somewhat more passenger-friendly. The ride doesn't bother me, but I get a lot of complaints!
I would greatly appreciate your recommendation - the Eibach lift springs (sounds like the Premium version should work)? Koni's? Both? Something different? Thanks

 

[markboris]

Hello Mark - I am not much concerned with handling, but would love to soften the bone-rattling ride in my GT (regular edition) to make it somewhat more passenger-friendly. The ride doesn't bother me, but I get a lot of complaints!
I would greatly appreciate your recommendation - the Eibach lift springs (sounds like the Premium version should work)? Koni's? Both? Something different? Thanks

Hey Phil, well that's a tough one. The Koni rear shocks will greatly reduce the rear end bounce but will give you a more firm ride. You will feel more of the road in the back but you won't be bouncing on freeway expansion joints. The lift springs will give you more suspension travel but not sure you want to lift a GT. You bought a sporty Mach-E and lifting it seems kind of off. The lowering springs are progressive and I felt they give a slightly smoother ride. I am anxiously waiting for Erik to get his lowering springs installed (same as the ones I installed on my car) to see what he thinks. He is more of a suspension guy than I am and greatly value his opinion. He also has the Koni shocks on his car. The sway bars also gave me a bit better ride since they move more freely not having vulcanized bushings attached like the OEM bars have. Tires are also helpful in giving a better ride but not as much as the suspension bits. I would hold off on doing anything until we hear from Erik after he has time time to evaluate his new springs. Not sure when he will be installing them as his car is in the shop but hopefully soon.

As far as Koni shocks for the lift springs, I am working on that right now.

 

[coolshades]

Any idea if these springs are sold in UK?

 

[mkhuffman]

Any idea if these springs are sold in UK?

I would try the Eibach web site and see if they will ship internationally. You might need to contact them directly via the contact form.

 

[Rickless]

The Range - TBD. I will need to drive the car on some more long distance adventures before passing judgement on the range effects. I'm sure this mod will result in a decrease, but the magnitude will hopefully be determined soon (TM).

Short Version: I found a maximum 15% range decrease in range with the lift.

Long Version: I took Mach E on a road trip from the Bay Area to Joshua Tree National Park over the weekend for some car camping. Most of the driving was on highways at around 70 mph (down and back) on CA I-5. When we first set off, I was overly confident in the projected range, but we quickly had to reroute to a closer charging station. Over the course of the day, we started building in a 15% buffer to all of our distance estimates and it kept us out of trouble for the rest of the trip.

On the uphill sections we needed all 15%, but on anything less than driving uphill at 70 mph, the losses were diminished. This is potentially another strike against the lift, but it depends on your trip priorities. For car camping in a National Park in the desert, it was great. The additional clearance increased my confidence driving the uneven and sandy backroads of Joshua Tree. Plus, I think it looks more rugged now, and some bigger/wider all terrain tire might really seal the deal. Of course, this would be more range loss, but again, priorities...

On the camping front, I wanted to give a quick shout out to Galaxy Auto for their Mach E sunshades (for all windows) and Luno Life for their air mattress. These two items, along with the campsite electrical hook-ups, transformed the Mach E into an AWESOME micro-camper for the weekend. Highly recommended!

 

[Rickless]

For all lurkers out there following this thread that are considering the Lift Kit (E30-35-054-01-22) and/or the sway bars (E40-35-054-01-11), Eibach is having a Spring Sale 4/1-4/12/24.

 

[redranger04g]

After reading the full Eibach lowering review by @markboris and this thread by @4sallypat (thank you both!) it seems that the Eibach springs are a real improvement over stock, specifically for the back seat roughness and dreaded bounce. I have a RWD SR and don't necessarily want a 1.8" lift, but I'm strongly considering doing this along with some slightly bigger tires to improve the ride. I realize I'll take a 15%-20% range hit, but I would take that to improve the ride.

Anyone who has talked to Eibach know if they are entertaining producing replacement springs with no lift/lowering? That would be ideal. Though in any case, I'm strongly considering springs, sway bar and larger tires for an improved ride, specifically in the back seat.

 

[markboris]

After reading the full Eibach lowering review by @markboris and this thread by @4sallypat (thank you both!) it seems that the Eibach springs are a real improvement over stock, specifically for the back seat roughness and dreaded bounce. I have a RWD SR and don't necessarily want a 1.8" lift, but I'm strongly considering doing this along with some slightly bigger tires to improve the ride. I realize I'll take a 15%-20% range hit, but I would take that to improve the ride.

Anyone who has talked to Eibach know if they are entertaining producing replacement springs with no lift/lowering? That would be ideal. Though in any case, I'm strongly considering springs, sway bar and larger tires for an improved ride, specifically in the back seat.

While their lift springs offer a very slight improvement in ride quality, the lowering springs offer more because they are progressive instead of linear like the lift and OEM springs. We installed the lift springs on Eric’s car then a month later we replaced them with the progressive lowering springs and there was an even smoother ride. As far as I know, he’s the only one that’s had both on his car. Might want to hit him up and he can give you more details. The springs and bars do give a better ride but they do not help with the rear bounce. For that you need the Koni rear shocks I’ve modded to fit the Mach-E. Start with the springs and bars though and see how you like it. If the rear bounce is not all that often I’d stick with the OEM rear shocks.

Sponsored