I've heard these are made by Eibach. Are they basically the same things as the Pro Kit springs? I think the PFS literature at the time said they were custom made for PFS, but I usually mark this kind of thing off as marketing-speak for "We got 'em off the shelf and renamed them."

jds

 

Nope... they were custom made, progressive rate (contrary to popular belief, regular Pro-Kits for the FD are NOT progressive rate like most other applications in the pro-kit line)

They also are a little more conservative in the lowering (Peter hates lowered cars)... only about 3/4"

If you match them w/ konis, you can lower a bit more for looks, and alot of folks LOVE them for the street. They aren't really heavy enough for serious track use.

 

Are you SURE the FD Pro Kits aren't progressive? Most everyone seems to think so, and then every now and again someone says they're not.

jds

 

They are wrong. I was told directly by an Eibach engineer over the phone.

 

That's so weird...even the Eibach site says the Pro Kits are progressive. Hmmm.

jds

 

Peter doesn't hate lowered cars, his race cars have been lowered. I would imagine that he doesn't like improperly lowered cars.

 

Correction.. he hates OVER lowered cars... told me so himself when he drove mine (over lowered at the time). What constitutes over lowered is somewhat of a matter of opinion however.. but i did respect his and raised it a bit.

The Eibach site states that most pro-kit springs are progressive. For what ever reason, the actual FD application isn't. Go figure. I called them once to get the actual spring rates, and had this discussion with one of their engineers.

 

I've seen people also state that the H&R springs for the FD are progressive. Is that true, do you know?

jds

 

I have them on my car and the lowering is so subtle that I didn't even know they were lowered when I bought it.

 

No idea on H&Rs.

Yup, PFS lowering is conservative... a true street spring... at the time, he also sold the prokits for more extreme applications... remember, his business originally catered to the 40-50 year old average buyer of this car when new. Most guys pair 'em w/ konis, and lower them a little further w/ the perches.

By the way... that guy can DRIVE...

 

PFS -- historic mucky info

My old '96 PFS catalog lists the comfort sport springs as progressive with 3/4" drop. Initilly softer than stock, then 20% stiffer at higher compression. The pic for them shows closely spaced coils at one of each spring. PFS also listed Eibach Pro-kit for race use. The pic for these erroneously was the mirror image of the comfort springs (reversed photo negative?). This image now erroneously remains on the PFS web site for the pro kit springs. The web site also now lists H&R as linear and shows a linear spring ... I think this is wrong. The H&R is a progressive replacement for their comfort sprorts (customs from eibach).

Stock ... Linear ... 280 F, 200 R, lb/in

Pro Kit ... info from Eibach ... linear rates, 366 F, 274 R, 1" drop

H&R .. info from H&R ... progressive, stock rate initially, 25-30% stiffer at higher compression. 1.25" drop

Most 'Progressive' springs really are dual rate, initially soft 'till the closely spaced coils go into bind, then they are at the stiff rate.

Other linears:

Sus'n techniques ... 403 F, 256R, 1" drop

HKS ... 435 F, 313 R, .6" front drop, .9" rear