Eibach GT performance springs on a 4xer

[dww]

Had my 2022 Mach E Premium ER AWD for about 2 years. My wifes car is a Lexus ES 350. We just decided to leave her car in Palm Springs and only drive my car in the PNW. Needless to say the ride is not the same. I didn't mind the ride to much, but she is having an issue with feeling all the bumps, especially since she has a bad neck. In fact she wear a neck collar when we drive..

So, we normally keep our cars for a long time but with this one needs to either improve the ride or possibly sell. I''ve been following several forum's and wanted opinions.

- Sell ( I love the looks and handling)
- Move down to 18" rims/tires?
- Install sway bars/shocks?

Trying to keep the upgrade costs in control but have a nice comfortable ride. I'm not concerned about efficiency as most of our driving is fairly local and I charge at home.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

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[markboris]

Had my 2022 Mach E Premium ER AWD for about 2 years. My wifes car is a Lexus ES 350. We just decided to leave her car in Palm Springs and only drive my car in the PNW. Needless to say the ride is not the same. I didn't mind the ride to much, but she is having an issue with feeling all the bumps, especially since she has a bad neck. In fact she wear a neck collar when we drive..

So, we normally keep our cars for a long time but with this one needs to either improve the ride or possibly sell. I''ve been following several forum's and wanted opinions.

- Sell ( I love the looks and handling)
- Move down to 18" rims/tires?
- Install sway bars/shocks?

Trying to keep the upgrade costs in control but have a nice comfortable ride. I'm not concerned about efficiency as most of our driving is fairly local and I charge at home.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

The Koni shocks have NOTHING to do with making the ride more comfortable. In fact they make the rear ride a bit more harsh. What they do is lessen the bounce you may get on certain freeways over expansion joints.

The Sway Bars don't soften the ride either but they control some of the side to side motion which helps some people again depending on the roads.

The Eibach GT progressive lowering springs will soften the ride and has been installed by many members here. However, it will lower the car a bit so if that is an issue then you may not want to go that route. These spring and only these springs will be your best and while it does a great job of softening the suspension, it is not a night and day difference.

You will NOT get the Lexus ride out. of this car. There is not enough suspension travel built in and you have a heavy battery under the car that the Lexus does not have.

 

[dww]

The Koni shocks have NOTHING to do with making the ride more comfortable. In fact they make the rear ride a bit more harsh. What they do is lessen the bounce you may get on certain freeways over expansion joints.

The Sway Bars don't soften the ride either but they control some of the side to side motion which helps some people again depending on the roads.

The Eibach GT progressive lowering springs will soften the ride and has been installed by many members here. However, it will lower the car a bit so if that is an issue then you may not want to go that route. These spring and only these springs will be your best and while it does a great job of softening the suspension, it is not a night and day difference.

You will NOT get the Lexus ride out. of this car. There is not enough suspension travel built in and you have a heavy battery under the car that the Lexus does not have.

Thanks for the input

I don't get bouncing just a rough ride. Not looking for a Lexus ride, just a little better. I had a 2000 Ford F250 SD 4WD for 10 years, so I know rough....although that one was more bouncy since I had wider tires.

I don't have access to do this work myself (in a condo now), any idea of what this would cost?

Do you think the 18" tires/rims are worthwhile to pursue?

Again , thanks for the help

 

[markboris]

Thanks for the input

I don't get bouncing just a rough ride. Not looking for a Lexus ride, just a little better. I had a 2000 Ford F250 SD 4WD for 10 years, so I know rough....although that one was more bouncy since I had wider tires.

I don't have access to do this work myself (in a condo now), any idea of what this would cost?

Do you think the 18" tires/rims are worthwhile to pursue?

Again , thanks for the help

You're welcome Doug and I'm not sure how much 18" tires with taller sidewalls would help with the ride. I am sure a bit but not as much as the springs. I would see if Erik might comment on this. Him or Steve as they know suspensions very well.

I don't know how much it would cost to install the springs as I have done all of them myself. Wish you lived a bit closer. ? You will need to get an alignment afterwards for sure.

 

[phil]

any idea of what this would cost?

I paid $475 for labor on installation of the springs. Plus the parts plus an alignment afterward.

 

[azerik]

18's with the right tire can help smooth out minor imperfections. But things like manhole covers and expansion joints will still be there. What you can gain with 18’s and a slightly lower pressure will probably cost you range. Not much but some. Dsw06+’s are low cost and ride great, at the cost of range. They’ll mellow out expansion joints but if it’s the toss side to side that’s the problem a lower tire pressure will only make that worse as the tire sidewall will allow the car to wobble side to side. This thing is a lot of weight to try to control. I’d suggest if you can, to see if anyone in PNW has a set of 18’s with tires that you could try for a week.

 

[Dysan911]

18's with the right tire can help smooth out minor imperfections. But things like manhole covers and expansion joints will still be there. What you can gain with 18’s and a slightly lower pressure will probably cost you range. Not much but some. Dsw06+’s are low cost and ride great, at the cost of range. They’ll mellow out expansion joints but if it’s the toss side to side that’s the problem a lower tire pressure will only make that worse as the tire sidewall will allow the car to wobble side to side. This thing is a lot of weight to try to control. I’d suggest if you can, to see if anyone in PNW has a set of 18’s with tires that you could try for a week.

Speaking of tire pressure. Erik - can you comment on what PSI you recommend again? I know you've experimented with different psi. Which one did you feel was the most effective? Currently when I tap the PSI button to see where mine is. It's lately been at 40psi (hot). Maybe 38 cold. I did have it at 38.5 thinking it's not quite the 39 recommended and not 38 in case that's too low.

 

[PalsyWalsy]

Your impressions? What wheels are those and size? Yours looks like it lowered more than mine with the GT sportline (but mine is on a GT). The wheel wells look close to the tire.

I put mine on about a month ago and waited to get plenty of drive time in before posting about it. will post pictures and info later.

So my springs were installed about mid May and wanted some time while I calibrated my buttometer (because I have nothing fancier for use to measure success of the springs for the intended use/purpose) to give opinions.

Also to note, I never had that big of an issue before the change but was still looking for improvements as I enjoy the car so much.

Bottom line: Happy camper.

I think it takes some time for the springs to settle just a tad, but there is s difference for sure. I went over a few roads that have definite issues before and after the springs were installed. The ride is more manageable now.

Make no mistake, these are still firm, so do not expect some luxury ride, as that is not intended. It is a heavy vehicle and meant to be sporty, so the firm ride still exists.

Only other caveat is that I added new sway bars too (which I recommend everyone doing). That has helped with the side to side, as the cornering feels great. Helps with the overall drive, perhaps.

Next up: I am widening the stance a tad as I decided to add 15mm spacers (to avoid poke)because I actually like the GT wheels after I greyed out the machined metal aspects of them. I will then replace my tires with a slightly wider 255 setup. This may allow me to have a bit lower tire pressure and improving the ride just a wee bit more.

Thumbs up from this guy.

Before:

After:

 

[Dysan911]

Next up: I am widening the stance a tad as I decided to add 15mm spacers (to avoid poke)because I actually like the GT wheels after I greyed out the machined metal aspects of them. I will then replace my tires with a slightly wider 255 setup. This may allow me to have a bit lower tire pressure and improving the ride just a wee bit more.

Definitely post an update when you get the spacers on. I too was thinking about some 15mm but worried the back wheels viewed directly from behind would look like an old western-covered wagon. lol

 

[azerik]

Mentally, widening the stance will help soften it a bit more as the leverage points are moved outward allowing them to move the springs easier. I've just not come to terms with spacers on a 5000lb car. I had them on my CanAm and snapped one off, wasn't thrilling. It'll be interesting to see if you can feel much of a change with the spacers installed. I know getting rid of my Conti RX's and going to the Pzero AS+ Elect made a very happy difference for me. I'm still toying with pressure but the Pzero's hold the car side to side even at 35psi (something that required 40+ on the RX's).

 

[PalsyWalsy]

Mentally, widening the stance will help soften it a bit more as the leverage points are moved outward allowing them to move the springs easier. I've just not come to terms with spacers on a 5000lb car. I had them on my CanAm and snapped one off, wasn't thrilling. It'll be interesting to see if you can feel much of a change with the spacers installed. I know getting rid of my Conti RX's and going to the Pzero AS+ Elect made a very happy difference for me. I'm still toying with pressure but the Pzero's hold the car side to side even at 35psi (something that required 40+ on the RX's).

Yes, I am going to keep an eye on them (the spacers) for sure. I had one snap on a Jeep Cherokee I had that I lifted. You are correct, it was not fun.

I will likely peek in on them time and again to see if all looks well and they remain torqued correctly.

Definitely post an update when you get the spacers on. I too was thinking about some 15mm but worried the back wheels viewed directly from behind would look like an old western-covered wagon. lol

I went 15MM because I wanted to fill the well just a bit better but not stick out. With 15MM it did what I wanted and the move to 255 will further it leaving it even or just inside the fenders, which is what I wanted. You can see in the pics it was subtle, and that is what I was looking for.

Here is how they look:

Before:

AFTER:

 

[azerik]

Looks great! I don't think those mudflaps will keep up though. I hardly get rain in Phx but this week in Flagstaff I've gotten rain daily, though the car is down in the garage in 110+ phx lol.

 

[Dysan911]

Yeah wow those don't look bad at all!. 15mm seems to be a good choice!.

 

[mkhuffman]

So my springs were installed about mid May and wanted some time while I calibrated my buttometer (because I have nothing fancier for use to measure success of the springs for the intended use/purpose) to give opinions.

Also to note, I never had that big of an issue before the change but was still looking for improvements as I enjoy the car so much.

Bottom line: Happy camper.

I think it takes some time for the springs to settle just a tad, but there is s difference for sure. I went over a few roads that have definite issues before and after the springs were installed. The ride is more manageable now.

Make no mistake, these are still firm, so do not expect some luxury ride, as that is not intended. It is a heavy vehicle and meant to be sporty, so the firm ride still exists.

Only other caveat is that I added new sway bars too (which I recommend everyone doing). That has helped with the side to side, as the cornering feels great. Helps with the overall drive, perhaps.

Next up: I am widening the stance a tad as I decided to add 15mm spacers (to avoid poke)because I actually like the GT wheels after I greyed out the machined metal aspects of them. I will then replace my tires with a slightly wider 255 setup. This may allow me to have a bit lower tire pressure and improving the ride just a wee bit more.

Thumbs up from this guy.

Before:

After:

Dude, we have so much in common regarding the appearance of our GTs, from the pin stripes to the wheels. I have considered greying out the silver, just like you did, but have never done it. Now I get to see what it looks like! Great minds think alike! Did you use vinyl?

I also have 255s, and so was wondering what lowering would look like. Now I know!

Thanks for sharing! It looks great!

 

[PalsyWalsy]

Dude, we have so much in common regarding the appearance of our GTs, from the pin stripes to the wheels. I have considered greying out the silver, just like you did, but have never done it. Now I get to see what it looks like! Great minds think alike! Did you use vinyl?

I also have 255s, and so was wondering what lowering would look like. Now I know!

Thanks for sharing! It looks great!

So for the wheels, I used Vinyl for now. I wanted something I could apply while I decide if I want to powder coat them in the color. Kind of a test run as I wanted the rest to stay black. I like the two tone of the wheels with the Dark Matter Grey.

The Vinyl cost me $60 for a full set. I actually bought two sets in case any go bad and I can replace as I go. Made sure I cleaned them up good before applying and they have lasted well, even through Chicago winters with the salt. Only changed one (and I mean individual decal not the whole wheels set) out so far in about 12 months. The color was gunmetal. I will likely keep doing it for a while as it was cheaper than powder coating for now and looks good.

Bought it from https://www.brainexplodermerch.com

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