Eibach GT Pro-Kit Lowering Springs on a GTPE

[Rickless]

Many of the observations I have with the GT lowering springs after diving back from Mark's house and then down to visit @HuntingPudel to pick up his old GTPE wheels (pics to come) are the same as Erik already mentioned in his post. So, I will second all of his points and add a few more from the perspective of a previously lifted Job 1 AWD Standard Range Mach E:

1. The car has become a genuine pleasure to drive. The ride is noticeably smoother with the progressive springs (not a Cadillac, but the constant jolting is dampened) and I'm hoping the wider tires continue to build on this.​

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2. Going from the +1.5" lift to the -1.0" lowering was a shock. I now have to sit down into the car rather than hoping into it! …maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but check out Mark's pics above; it made a big difference in my opinion.​

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3. I posted that the lift kit provided more travel for the suspension on the big bumps and is an upgrade from the OEM springs if you are looking for a more "SUV" look and capability. The lowering springs are a different beast, but take the suspension up another level thanks to the progressive springs. The handling and efficiency is much improved, but the car is definitely slammed. If progressive lift springs existed, I'd be in heaven.​

Overall, I'm very happy with the results and I think most people would see immediate improvements in handling, efficiency, and ride comfort as well, as long as you don't mind a shorter ride height. Please note that my experience is based on the suspension with the Koni shock upgrade and running the stock Premium wheels/tires. I will also reiterate that this is not necessarily a cheap solution (springs + install + alignment), nor a "gliding on a cloud" suspension upgrade, I'm just a curious engineer that lives driving distance from a Mach-E deity @markboris.

Finally, I'm not sure how the ride would feel with the OEM shocks, but if another forum pioneer wants to take the plunge for the greater Mach-E community, I'm sure the review/analysis would benefit many. Oh, and if anyone is interested in purchasing a set of lightly used Eibach Lift Springs, PM me.

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[HuntingPudel]

@Rickless ’s car looked good coming up and down my street. I would love to do those springs on my car but there are a few places where I think I would drag my front valence if I drop the car a full inch. Since I don’t have 360 cameras (thanks Ford for making the glass roof that I absolutely cannot have mandatory if I ordered this), I think I need to stay pat. It sure looks good though. ??

 

[markboris]

Many of the observations I have with the GT lowering springs after diving back from Mark's house and then down to visit @HuntingPudel to pick up his old GTPE wheels (pics to come) are the same as Erik already mentioned in his post. So, I will second all of his points and add a few more from the perspective of a previously lifted Job 1 AWD Standard Range Mach E:

1. The car has become a genuine pleasure to drive. The ride is noticeably smoother with the progressive springs (not a Cadillac, but the constant jolting is dampened) and I'm hoping the wider tires continue to build on this.​

​

2. Going from the +1.5" lift to the -1.0" lowering was a shock. I now have to sit down into the car rather than hoping into it! …maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but check out Mark's pics above; it made a big difference in my opinion.​

​

3. I posted that the lift kit provided more travel for the suspension on the big bumps and is an upgrade from the OEM springs if you are looking for a more "SUV" look and capability. The lowering springs are a different beast, but take the suspension up another level thanks to the progressive springs. The handling and efficiency is much improved, but the car is definitely slammed. If progressive lift springs existed, I'd be in heaven.​

Overall, I'm very happy with the results and I think most people would see immediate improvements in handling, efficiency, and ride comfort as well, as long as you don't mind a shorter ride height. Please note that my experience is based on the suspension with the Koni shock upgrade and running the stock Premium wheels/tires. I will also reiterate that this is not necessarily a cheap solution (springs + install + alignment), nor a "gliding on a cloud" suspension upgrade, I'm just a curious engineer that lives driving distance from a Mach-E deity @markboris.

Finally, I'm not sure how the ride would feel with the OEM shocks, but if another forum pioneer wants to take the plunge for the greater Mach-E community, I'm sure the review/analysis would benefit many. Oh, and if anyone is interested in purchasing a set of lightly used Eibach Lift Springs, PM me.

Great write up Eric and I kind of wanted to keep those OEM shocks on your car for a month or so to see how they ride then switch to the Koni's but NOOOOO you had to have it all at once.

As you saw, the Koni's have a softer compression but firmer rebound than the OEM's and on your car, we have the Koni's set to the softest setting which I feel is the best with the Eibach progressive lower springs. Since both you and Erik (in AZ) have the Koni's and I have the mag ride shocks, no one yet has tested them (on this forum) with the OEM shocks. The Koni shocks with the softer compression will give a slightly smoother ride than the OEM's. The reason we installed the Koni's is the same everyone else has and it is NOT for the ride but to greatly lessen the bucking rear end bounce. You have not mentioned about that rear end bounce and not sure if you have driven over any roads that induce that but I'm sure when you do, you will need to start adjusting the Koni's to a more firm setting which will reduce the bounce but firm up the ride in the rear. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Great write up Eric and I kind of wanted to keep those OEM shocks on your car for a month or so to see how they ride then switch to the Koni's but NOOOOO you had to have it all at once.

As you saw, the Koni's have a softer compression but firmer rebound than the OEM's and on your car, we have the Koni's set to the softest setting which I feel is the best with the Eibach progressive lower springs. Since both you and Erik (in AZ) have the Koni's and I have the mag ride shocks, no one yet has tested them (on this forum) with the OEM shocks. The Koni shocks with the softer compression will give a slightly smoother ride than the OEM's. The reason we installed the Koni's is the same everyone else has and it is NOT for the ride but to greatly lessen the bucking rear end bounce. You have not mentioned about that rear end bounce and not sure if you have driven over any roads that induce that but I'm sure when you do, you will need to start adjusting the Koni's to a more firm setting which will reduce the bounce but firm up the ride in the rear. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

Eric told me that he hasn’t had the chance yet to hit the washboard section of I-680 in Walnut Creek. I suspect that he will soon since it’s really the main freeway there. It will be interesting to see how the spring/damper combination functions there. ??

 

[markboris]

Eric told me that he hasn’t had the chance yet to hit the washboard section of I-680 in Walnut Creek. I suspect that he will soon since it’s really the main freeway there. It will be interesting to see how the spring/damper combination functions there. ??

I can say right now that it might be better or worse, not sure as the only thing that will greatly lessen it is shocks with a firm rebound and only the Koni Yellow Sport shocks have that and his are set to soft for now. Like I said, can't wait to find out what happens either.

 

[azerik]

I've backed the Koni's all the way down and it's pretty amazing the way the backend doesn't buck and takes the horrible chatter of the constantly patched roads I have. It's looser with them all the way down for sure and it's still pressure dependent. I can tell when my tires hit 41psi (on the dash, which should be really close to 40.5) the back end double bounce is removed. This double bounce is a combo of the front hitting something, then the back but the tire acting like the suspension, then the Koni's not allowing the suspension to recover in time so the rear tires add another tiny bounce cycle. This may well only be felt by 225lb+ people in the premium seats due to weight and cushioning. The reason I notice this is my tires don't hit 41psi until half way through my 8 mile round trip. Any other time 2 miles on the freeway and they're up to temp. But 45mph surface streets and a light every 1/2 mile doesn't let it happen for me. I have a delicate balance to hit for 80% of my daily driving.
So far all the washboard stuff I've hit performed better when softer with harder tires. (Just my experience so far)

I'd also like to point out there's next to no possible way to make less than 5~8mph softer, like in a parking lot. At speeds above that the progressives soak it up. Speed humps I couldn't take at 5mph I can now that at 22 and the car behaves happily.

 

[Rickless]

So I haven't been able to do my normal 680 South gauntlet yet, but on my return trip up the 101 through South San Francisco, I hit a few washboard sections of highway. With the Koni's on the lightest setting, the nose of the car seemed to be absorbing the bumps fairly well (read: I wasn't jostled around like normal). But, when I looked into my rear view mirror, the rear window of the car appeared to be oscillating with a greater amplitude than I was experiencing in the front seat.

An optical illusion, perhaps. Evidence of the continued existence of "The Bounce", almost certainly. However, I was on 225/55/19's at 40 psi.

I'll have to do a couple test roads with my partner riding in the back seat to check the difference between the the shocks on their lightest setting vs fully stiffened with the added effects of the lowering springs. She probably won't enjoy this experimentation very much... "Hey, how does the bounce feel now?!"

 

[scubastevecp00]

Would the lift kit be about an inch with the ER battery instead of 1.5? I may be interested in buying these used ones though and have been monitoring these chats for ideas. Only change I’ve done is move to 235/55/R19 Hankook Ion Evo’s recently and would love to do something to minimize the harshness of the big bumps. The expansion joints don’t both me as much as the harshness of any larger bumps. Sounds like progressive lift springs would be ideal if available.

I love the car and plan to keep it long term, so I’ve been reading advise here and waiting, planning to eventually make several upgrades including shocks, sway bars, and springs, anything to help improve the ride which is really the main complaint I have and I get from passengers.

I drive SF to Cupertino at least 3 days a week and park too often in SF to do the lowering kit (I’m not 100 percent sure but I think an inch drop may hit the doors on some curbs where we parallel park). I take the 101, 280, 380, and 85 each day and it’s been wearing on me, plus every passenger I ever take with me comments how rough the car is over large bumps (think 380 west going over El Camino just west of SFO or 85 north getting onto 280 in Cupertino).
Anyone drive those roads after these modifications?

 

[markboris]

Would the lift kit be about an inch with the ER battery instead of 1.5? I may be interested in buying these used ones though and have been monitoring these chats for ideas. Only change I’ve done is move to 235/55/R19 Hankook Ion Evo’s recently and would love to do something to minimize the harshness of the big bumps. The expansion joints don’t both me as much as the harshness of any larger bumps. Sounds like progressive lift springs would be ideal if available.

I love the car and plan to keep it long term, so I’ve been reading advise here and waiting, planning to eventually make several upgrades including shocks, sway bars, and springs, anything to help improve the ride which is really the main complaint I have and I get from passengers.

I drive SF to Cupertino at least 3 days a week and park too often in SF to do the lowering kit (I’m not 100 percent sure but I think an inch drop may hit the doors on some curbs where we parallel park). I take the 101, 280, 380, and 85 each day and it’s been wearing on me, plus every passenger I ever take with me comments how rough the car is over large bumps (think 380 west going over El Camino just west of SFO or 85 north getting onto 280 in Cupertino).
Anyone drive those roads after these modifications?

Hey Stephen, there are only two members here in NorCal that I know of with these progressive lowering springs and that would be myself and Eric (Rickless). Eric will probably chime in here and give you his impressions again of the lift springs we installed but from what I know, they do not smooth out the ride as much as the lowering springs do since they are linear. Eric's car is a premium and has the full set of Eibach sway bars, GT Pro-Kit lowering springs and the rear Koni shocks that I modified to fit the Mach-E. My car is a GTPE with the Eibach sway bars and GT Pro-Kit lowering springs. My Mach-Ehave the mag ride shocks and much wider tires so the car rides a bit different than Eric's. I would have no problem coming down sometime and meeting up if you want to drive around on all those freeways you mentioned to get an idea of how the car rides.

 

[scubastevecp00]

Hey Stephen, there are only two members here in NorCal that I know of with these progressive lowering springs and that would be myself and Eric (Rickless). Eric will probably chime in here and give you his impressions again of the lift springs we installed but from what I know, they do not smooth out the ride as much as the lowering springs do since they are linear. Eric's car is a premium and has the full set of Eibach sway bars, GT Pro-Kit lowering springs and the rear Koni shocks that I modified to fit the MME. My car is a GTPE with the Eibach sway bars and GT Pro-Kit lowering springs. My MME have the mag ride shocks and much wider tires so the car rides a bit different than Eric's. I would have no problem coming down sometime and meeting up if you want to drive around on all those freeways you mentioned to get an idea of how the car rides.

Hey Mark, thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that when I am back in town. I had thought about upgrading to the GTPE but we love our color, and at this point I have decided to wait for the next Gen, or will keep this Mach-E as our second car the next EV will be something different (Maybe Rivian R2). I spend most of my time on the highways and would love to just smooth it out as much as reasonably possible. If I could do the lowering kit without risking too much I’d consider it, but I’m worried about curbs in the city.

2 years ago we drove from Portland OR to SF, over to Bar Harbor, Maine and back, and out of the entire trip, I swear the Bay Area had the worst roads in the country when it comes to these transitions between road surfaces and having larger bumps, and I am from Michigan where its probably just as bad.

 

[markboris]

Hey Mark, thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that when I am back in town. I had thought about upgrading to the GTPE but we love our color, and at this point I have decided to wait for the next Gen, or will keep this Mach-E as our second car the next EV will be something different (Maybe Rivian R2). I spend most of my time on the highways and would love to just smooth it out as much as reasonably possible. If I could do the lowering kit without risking too much I’d consider it, but I’m worried about curbs in the city.

2 years ago we drove from Portland OR to SF, over to Bar Harbor, Maine and back, and out of the entire trip, I swear the Bay Area had the worst roads in the country when it comes to these transitions between road surfaces and having larger bumps, and I am from Michigan where its probably just as bad.

Yes just let me know and we can meet up. I agree about the curb's could be a problem if they are on the high side. I mean we can test out some of them but also knowing there may be an issue I tend to park in areas where the curbs are normal height.

 

[Rickless]

For any lurkers out there following this thread that are considering the GT Lowering Kit (E10-35-054-04-22) and/or the sway bars (E40-35-054-01-11), Eibach is having a Spring Sale 4/1-4/12/24.

 

[Rickless]

Hey Stephen – To answer some of your questions:

Would the lift kit be about an inch with the ER battery instead of 1.5?

Likely not… Eibach quotes the lift at 1.5” for all extended range Mach-E’s. My standard range variant was probably slightly higher, but I didn’t bother to document the delta. If someone has a stock measurement, mine was 32” to the fender apex with the lift.

The expansion joints don’t both me as much as the harshness of any larger bumps. Sounds like progressive lift springs would be ideal if available.

The lift kit does a good job mitigating the big bumps on the highway as the springs have much more travel. This allows the shocks some additional leeway and certainly improves the ride, but the jostling effects of the stiff suspension are still present as they are still linear springs. Mark and I agreed that the lift springs are a step above OEM, but the lowering spring are a step above that.

I take the 101, 280, 380, and 85 each day and it’s been wearing on me, plus every passenger I ever take with me comments how rough the car is over large bumps

I drive the 101 less frequently now (680 South is my new hell), but I’ve had people in my back seat hit their heads on the ceiling driving to SFO before from the south bay. Driving back to the east bay via the 101 through SF recently was more pleasant with the lowering springs, but I still had some bounciness that I hope to cancel out with some shock adjustments.

I’m also generally available for a test drive on your least favorite stretch of road to compare the OEM vs upgraded suspensions. PM me at your leisure!

 

[Yipee Ki Yay MF]

I just emailed Eibach to offer my car for testing........

Let's see if they take me up on it.

Did they ever take yours in for testing? Curious how it went or if they finished design/testing yet, looking for that Eibach lowering option on my GTPE!

 

[Max21GT]

My first post here guys. But i also emailed eibach offering my car and they replied that they still are not certain if they will be making GTPE specific springs. I thanked them for the reply and said to let me know if they decide to move forward

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