disappointed with eibach coilovers

[Type K]

the countless amount of times i came across eibach coilovers being highly rated on this forum while i was searching what coilovers to get was unreal and today i changed from BC RACING to Eibach Pro street s coilovers. My oh my was this a bad choice, they first caused me an issue with my wheel alignment to the point my car was undriveable due to both wheels sticking out in opposite directions when the steering was straight and then once i got this sorted and got on the road the car just felt all over the place. I know this will be down to the geo set up but in general i feel like they are harsher than the bc racing coilovers even though they were set at a higher level meaning the car was lower on bc racing coilovers they seem to be worse at absorbing bumps.

Doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me, if i got the geo set up done it surely wont effect how the bumps are absorbed or harsh the ride is will it?

 

[Lewis93]

This isn't a good post for me to read. I have a set of Eibach coilovers awaiting to go on!

 

[dotty]

Are they new? You haven't really given them a chance if your geo has not been adjusted accordingly..

Mine are fine, in fact they are very good and only a little bit harsher on the road than the eibach springs I had on previously, I had new bushes fitted to the coilovers before they were fitted.

 

[dotty]

I'm actually amazed that you drove the car fitted with different coilovers and not having a geo done. Something sounds terribly wrong with them, I'd like to know if they are new or used.

 

[Wingnuttzz]

You can't expect to change out a major suspension component and the wheel alignment to be OK. It's just part and part that the alignment will need some properly by a specialist. You might also require front camber bolts to get the settings you require as the BC coilovers will have had camber adjusting top mounts but the Eibach (i think,) don't.

 

[maxvr6]

They definately dont have camber adjustment, the only adjustment on those coilovers is height IIRC. There will definately be a significant difference after the geo is done so i would reserve judgement until thats been done.

 

[dave c]

You either have damaged coilovers or you've fitted them wrong somehow.

Gotta agree with dotty, why are you driving the car without geo?

 

[Type K]

I had lazer alignment done following some frsu figures I found on the forum, it wasn't a full frsu set up and was mainly done to get the wheels back to correct position so it was drivable. The eibachs do have camber bolts and these were also adjusted.

As for why I drove without full alignment simple answer is to get a feel for the suspension although I know the proper geo will get the car planted on the road it surely won't effect the way it absorbs bumps as this is down to the dampers isn't it?

The Coilovers are used but a very minimal amount,under 1000 miles and you can tell this by looking at the condition of them.

 

[ckh]

eibach's are the most comfortable road comfy coilovers i had, sounds like you need them set up properly or if they are new wait for them to settle or if they are old you should look into changing the bushes maybe

 

[Crazylegs]

Mate, I had a similar panic moment when I took my coilovers off and replaced them with OEM dampers and Eibach springs, the car was all over the place - like driving on ice.

The lads on here said it will be massively different once the alignment is done and it was. It's like night and day.

Get the alignment sorted and I'm confident you will see a massive difference in terms of grip and how it absorbs bumps etc. Trust me.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[beppe786]

i hated them too.. people love them on here.. country roads car used to bounce around, were too hard.. cornering didn't feel confident these were setup at tgm as-well..

 

[Type K]

I am looking into gettin a geo done and i hope it resolves it as I don't want to end up having to go back to the bc Coilovers and then getting another geo set up done again I just can't understand how it will effect the comfort with bumps as that's down to dampers but I hope I'm proven wrong and not in same situation as beppe.

Also the place I'm planing on going to won't have any idea about FRSU so il probably have to end up getting it done again sometime in the future

 

[maxvr6]

Cant you go somewhere else then? Sounds like you're probably going to end up wasting your money otherwise, where abouts are you based?

 

[Type K]

im based in rotherham, from what i know grinspeed is the closest garage to me who will know about FRSU.
my other option is to try finiding some previous FRSU numbers and ask them if they can set it to that but i am correct in beleiving that wont be right either as each set up is done to the drivers specification

 

[maxvr6]

Setups can be done to the drivers specification if you know exactly the settings you want, or you've already had a setup and decide for example that you want to induce more oversteer, turn in, stability etc your geometry guy should be able to interpret that into some settings and change your existing setup accordingly.

Generally speaking you want about -1deg negative camber all round for a FRSU, zero toe on the front and a touch of toe in at the back, this should provide good stability and handling. But have a search around on here, i cant find them atm but TGM's basic FRSU settings are quoted somewhere.

Everyone is different and have different driving styles and uses for their cars, some might say you should have a touch of toe out at the front on an FRSU, this will benefit you by improving turn in but then your car may suffer bump steer if its lowered past a certain point.

 

[Crazylegs]

im based in rotherham, from what i know grinspeed is the closest garage to me who will know about FRSU.
my other option is to try finiding some previous FRSU numbers and ask them if they can set it to that but i am correct in beleiving that wont be right either as each set up is done to the drivers specification

Grinspeed is a no brainer as you're only an hour or two away from Leyland.

There's no point getting a geometry set up done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing only to have to go and fork out another £90 odd pound for another.

Give Stevie a call at Grinspeed, he's sound and knows what he's doing having worked at TDI North. He's shit hot with Honda's too mate.

 

[dave c]

I can't help but think you have an issue with your coilovers. Why did the previous owner sell them with only 1000miles, maybe they had a crash and decided to flog them?

Even if the eibachs had a huge amount of milage on them you wouldnt nessecerly be able to tell as they are stainless steal and therefore clean up very well / easily.


IMO the eibachs are beautiful on country roads, especially compared to something like ohlins (I had these previously), I haven't tried any others on the DC5 but have sat in a few and I reckon they are the badgers nadgers.

I think its fair to say that the eibachs are actually fairly hard sprung but certainly not harsh so they could feel a little firmer than the BC's depending on individual spring rates.

"Adjusted by camber bolts" sounds like you've got all the right kit so either there is an issue with them or you have somehow fitted them wrong.

I'd agree with everyone else and say, save yourself the hassle and reserve judgement until you've had them setup by a pro.

Hope you get it sorted

 

[Type K]

Hmm I don't see them being damaged as I did have a good look over them and all seemed well and not quite sure how they could have been fitted incorrectly as they wouldn't go on with the position that each side connects to the track rods.

I wish I could sit in a dc5 that has them on to compare but as stated before the bc Coilovers were set lower and not as harsh as these, I manage to find a frsu from tgm on the forum and will be taking it to someone local to see if he can do it if not il make arrangements with grinspeed.

 

[dave7368]

Eibach's were ok, but like driving on sponges compared to my current set up... get the geo done properly!

 

[Rom]

The feel is down to spring rates, and damper valving / rebound setup.

Geo will help the overall feel, if the front camber is close to 0, it will probably feel skippy. Mine does anyway.

As for FRSU, this is a term used. Its basically a specific bunch of settings different places recommend. From what u gather, TGM race some cars, so have some decent knowledge im sure.
But its just numbers. Any decent geo place can align a car to the settings you provide. I mean i dont think TGM are taking tyre temps and adjusting the settings to get equal temps on everyones car etc.

But yes, changing anything really, you need a full geo. Until you have it, forget comparisons. If its pulling, and wheel isnt straight, i wouldnt be driving it 2 hours to get a geo done.