Okay,

Maybe this is a short-sighted question, but I've been looking to lower my S2000 without changing the stock handling characteristics at all. I know that lowering on the stock shocks will increase the unpredictability of the rear end, largely due to the increased spring rates.

Now, what if the lowering springs was the same (or very close) as the stock spring rates. The springs will lower the car 1.5" Wouldn't that have the benefit of lowering the car while keeping the stock handling?

Please advise if I'm being short-sighted. BTW I'll be running stock wheels.

TIA!!

 

Yes, except when you lower the car by that much, then you will have different alignment because of the camber/toe change.
Another thing is that when the car is lower, the shock is closer to the edge of it's travel and doesn't perform as well as when the shock is more closer to the center.
The only way to do it properly is with coilovers. JIC makes a set that has an adjustable shock body that allows you to raise or lower the car without affecting the spring rate.

 

If I were to lower the car by changing the springs and shocks will i need to have it aligned?

 

First off there are no lowering springs I know of that have rates equal to stock.HR are ~30% stiffer and kg/mm sports are almost twice.The car does need to be realigned after lowering.A shorter spring without much thought to damper or shock capability is an experiment.The problem of oversteer or a loose rearend has many variable but the one you make worse with lowering and shocks not matched to the new springrates is bump-steer a potentialy dangerous condition on the street if you are prone to spirited driving on less than perfect roads,search the topic.Remember when you have reached full compression the efective spring rate aproaches infinity.

 

If you go with new springs that lower the car, you will want to go with a stiffer setup. This is because when you lower the car, you lessen the suspension travel and you need stiffer springs to prevent the suspension from bottoming out.

 

What are the stock spring rates anyway?

 

front:219lb/in rear:290lb/in

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nsxs2000
[B]front:219lb/in

 

3.9kg/mm,5.3kg/mm. you can calc your self knowing that there are 25mm/in and 2.23lb/kg.

 

You can order Eibach springs in nearly any rate you want, with adjustable perches, from Ground Control. They are pretty cheap too.