Need help w/ Eibach install (possibly gone wrong)
 

I just had a shop install my Eibach Pro-Kit, and I've noticed that the front sits quite a bit higher than the rear (yes it's only been about 12 hours since they were installed, but it's a big difference--front has 3 fingers gap and rear has about half that). I know springs should settle, but will they settle that much in the front over the next 2 weeks?

I couldn't read the numbers on the back springs because of the way they are turned, but the fronts both read:
4043 002HA

Is this correct??

I can't help with numbers, but they should be settled by now. Afaik, the fronts have different part numbers, the rears are the same, so if that is the part number, the shop probably installed the springs wrong. Sounds like they weren't installed correctly - either front to back or the preloads weren't done correctly.

Son of a gun----if the front and rear were swapped and the rear springs are currently on the front of my car and vica versa, could that do any harm to my car--I've driven about 20 miles since install including interstate speeds (80+ mph)?? Or is it a simple switching the front/rear springs around to the correct location and all will be OK??

Would this be why my front and rear gaps are so far off?

It's either the spring are swapped from front to back or they didnt preload the suspension before they tightened all of the bolts up on the front.

just like others said, sounds like front and rear springs were swapped.

Thanks guys that's definitely the problem--just contacted the shop and they are switching them around
They said they couldn't find a designation on which ones go front vs. rear, so they had put the shorter ones on front since the front usually drops a little more than the rear, which makes sense to me as well
Why is it that the front springs are actually suppose to be a little taller than the rear springs?

Be sure to post pics once it's corrected. I want Eibachs once my snow tires/wheels come off. You on stock shocks?

yep on stockers--my car only has 9k miles on it so I figured I'd be good w/ the stock shocks for a long time

I'll post pics once its corrected!

When they are done, you should have about 2.5 finger gap at most. If its bigger than that, the shop didn't preload correctly.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=m...img=243177&md=1

Hope this helps :tipwink:

This should have helped your mechanic out..

The "HA" behind the number stands for a German word "Hinterachse" this means "REAR AXLE"

On the front springs you will find VA or in German: "VorderAchse" ( Front axle )


ALOT springs uses these german abbreviations, remember the Offset "ET" value from your rims? ET is another German word that means EinpressTiefe, or the distance the rim will go inside the wheel well...

Stupid mistake from the installer, they should have know ;)

THe shop just contacted me and said they got the springs switched around, and now everything looks even front to back
Thanks for the help!

I'll post pics when I get the chance

Post before (installed backwards) and after pics

I unfortunately didn't think to snap any pics when the springs were on wrong.....Just imagine about stock wheel gap in the front w/ 1.5 finger gap in the rear and that should about do it :LOL:

Measure the sping thickness.

OEM, and Eibach, use thicker springs in the rear.

Sounds like the preload wasn't done correctly. Tire Rack states IN THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION that if the preload is not done correctly, it will result in a LIFT.

sounds like a combination of things that needs to be checked

1) front vs rear spring: get the PN and call eibach

2) preload on spring

3) spring seat: make sure the end of the spring sit on the very end of the spring perch

spring need some ride time to settle, letting it sit in a garage will take a long long time to "break in", when you measure ride height, measure it from the center of your center cap straight up to the fender, "finger gap" measurement changes if you have a different profile tires, improperly inflated tires or just by having a small/large hands.

and lastly, and i am sure you know this: the eibach prokit was design off the early ap1 suspension, the spring rate on it probably will not match your late ap2 damper value.

The same thing happened to me and at first the shop said the springs had to settle but a week went by and nothing. So I did some research here on this forum and found out the springs were swaped front/back :banghead: . I called the shop and then they swaped them out but I was so pissed. I have not used that shop since.

Thank God for S2ki!!!

Lu Dawg

Eibach's with stockie's for Ap1

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...9d3259fb81.jpg

reading fail.

It of course rained today on my clean car just in time for the pics :rolleyes: :thumbdn:

The front and rear gaps are about 2 finger widths

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...2a426086f0.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...8c2ec3a4bf.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png

That looks horrendous. The springs should be settled after 1/4 mi of driving and then re-tighten everything up. Did the shop even loosen the rest of the suspension when it did the install? Wait, are those 16" rims or 17" rims?

That still looks like a bit too much gap. Maybe with time.

That still looks like it has alot of gap front and back! :eek3:

I think you all aren't seeing what I'm seeing--look more at the straight on shots of the wheels (they're 17's in AP2 spec tires)--the gap is only 2 fingers front and rear, it use to be more like 4 front and rear, so it's definitely lower and looks more in line w/ what I've seen from other S2000s w/ Eibachs

SakiGT--weren't you the one that said it should be 2.5 finger gap or less? Well it's actually less than that in the pictures, and I have skinny ass fingers so it may only be like 1.5 finger gaps

Remember, Eibachs aren't meant to slam the car (and that's NOT what I was wanting, this is my DD so I want a ride and height I can live with), they're only suppose to give a 1" drop, and I'd say I've gotten that much or more. In person it's obvious, so maybe the pictures don't do it justice I guess

I'll be installing Eibach's on my AP2 this spring. Would enjoy hearing your handling impressions as research has shown these springs were originally designed for the AP1.

as far as comfort goes, I don't notice the ride being any more harsh at all, if anything it's maybe even a tad less rough than stock

regarding handling, it's hard to say so far since they've only been on a couple days, but it does feel tighter in corners. I don't think you'll notice a dramatic improvement in handling from just changing the springs no matter what brand though, you'll probably need coilovers, etc for that. I thought the stock handling was fantastic though, so I didn't care about improving on that too much; I was really only going for an improvement in aesthetics

comparison photos (granted this is only 2 days after install, so they may settle more, but it's definitely different than stock--my camera angle may not be the best though for showing what it looks like in person)

rear before:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...42b7803e8d.jpg

rear after:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...8c2ec3a4bf.jpg

front before:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...5c1b8c151b.jpg

front after:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...2a426086f0.jpg

Thanks for the reply. Like you I'm installing them for asthetics. But, I'm concerened with the spring rates. From my research the spring rates on the Eibach's are higher in the rear than the front, whereas the spring rates on the stock springs are higher in the front than the rear. I'm worried this may make the car even more tail happy.

Fwiw, here's what my gap looks like on Eibach Pros with Koni sports - I believe they are on the low perch, meaning I could go lower, but I have what looks like a lot less gap than you. Are you on the OEM Showa shocks? Maybe the perch with Konis makes the car sit lower.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...0db16c0057.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...2ad9adcf93.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...ca5bc31bcd.jpg

[QUOTE=Saki GT,Feb 3 2010, 11:13 AM] Fwiw, here's what my gap looks like on Eibach Pros with Koni sports - I believe they are on the low perch, meaning I could go lower, but I have what looks like a lot less gap than you.

:thumbup:

thanks for all the help!

Saki, The koni's on the higher perch lower the car another 1/2 an inch(used to have the eibach/koni combo myself.

Here's a pic of my car with the eibachs:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...66c44394a6.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...089d93be79.jpg

No pics of my car with eibach/koni combo because I had the the koni's on for about 2 weeks until I decided to get coilovers and sold the koni's to a friend with espiril springs.

Updated pic with Coilovers(Picture whore time)...

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...08ae4c2c3a.jpg

LOVE those painted AP2 rims, your ride is looking nice!! :thumbup:
Picture whore all you want! :LOL:

Rubn1, do you have spacers on your wheels, the car looks great, i just had my wheels painted STI gold, and the car is berlina, installing skunk2 springs, hope it looks anything close to yours, great looking car man

" Saki, The koni's on the higher perch lower the car another 1/2 an inch(used to have the eibach/koni combo myself. "

Hey guys, I'm going to buy a set of Espilars and the Koni Yellows and I'm confused about Rubn1out4GudLuk statement. The higher koni perch actually lowers the S2K an additional .5 inch? Just want to confirm this is correct before I install. I was thinking the lower perch will lower the car an additional .5 inches. Sorry for the noob question. Thanks.

The lower perch will lower your car another inch on top of what the espirils lower it already(You will be tucking on this setup).

OP, it still looks too high.
I had eibach on my ap2 on stock shocks, and it was definitely lower than that.
Sorry, I don't have a pic for this, but mine looked more like Saki_Gt's on eibach+koni combo.

Thanks Rubn1. I think i'll stick with the higher perch then!

:tipwink: No problem...I know two peeps with the same spring and shock combo. One is dumped with the setup on the lower perch. The other one was on the lower perch but we put it up on the higher perch this last sunday and added the ground control sleeves and turned them into coilovers(highly recommend it).