struts and springs

F

FXMAN

Member
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Hi All,

I've got a 03 FX35 - in need of new struts and thought about lowering since I had to remove the struts anyways. Any thoughts on KYB Struts - I am told they come with a lifetime warranty.

I read some other posts on lowering springs - sounds like the H&Rs are softer and the Eibachs are stiffer. I am looking for a modest drop nothing too low, I haven't done much shopping around yet, but I was thinking a 2 - 3 inch drop would be lots. Any thoughts? My FX is higher mileage and I think still handles reasonably well, but would really like to step up the handling.

thanks...
 
You won't go lower than 1.5" with either spring, if even that. Eibachs usually are the lower of the two. Many people use the KYB's and like them as an alternative to the OEM struts.
 
how noticable is a 1.5 " drop? Doesn't sound like much - Is it worth it? How much better does it look? Any pics I can see?

Another question to add - dealer says I need new bearings at 125,000 km, but tire shop (Kal Tire) says the Bearings are fine - they think my struts are worn throwing out the alignment and have cupped the tires causing excessive noise. I seem to agree with Kal Tire. It seems to make sense. Anyone have any past issues with bearings?

Thanks...
 
I can tell the difference in how the bumps on the usual streets I drive on feel before and after install. The stock rear springs also had a bit of give when I sat on top of them and the H&Rs didn't. Age of my stock springs, break in period for my new ones...are those factors? Maybe. But hey, I didn't know there was a debate nor am I looking to fuel one. In any case, I'm happy with the new stance and handling.
 
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I don't know, most people say H&R is softer. I rode around with stock front, H&R rear, and it seemed like the rear was softer going over bumps. Now my stock springs had like 30k miles, and the H&R's were used, that could make a difference, too.
 
The HR's ride a bit stiffer than OEM but the ride is just better.....less shoulder roll in corners, overall a better feeling of control. IMO the 1.5" drop makes a big visual difference in our rides. Many spring threads on the Forum but most members will say DO IT.

Add and STB to your spring install and you will be measurably pleased, when you tie the two shock towers together it definitely improves the ride, not softer but even less roll and frame shudder when you corner or hit bumps and potholes.

No experience with KYB's, never an issue with bearings on my ride.
 
StuLax18 said:
I would like to see scientific testing to prove this, otherwise it's just opinion. And one which most people will disagree with you on.
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I believe it was either (or both) Viet or John that tried/ridden on both H&R and Eibachs. Either way, the person who switched/tried both commented that H&R are softer than Eibach – and note that's just on smooth roads.

Eibach and H&R both have progressive springs, so the more they compress, the more "stiff" they become. I believe H&R start out "soft" and "stiffen" very quickly, which is why on turns or large bumps, the H&R are not soft feeling at all. Where the Eibach seems to be stiff throughout the entire compression.

What I stated above is all opinion and the overwhelming majority seem to agree that H&R are softer than Eibachs for the most part, so hopefully there is some truth to it.

Numbers don't lie, so I do agree StuLax18 that it would be great to put some proof behind the speculation. But don't know who's going to fork out the $$ to do it or if someone has the time to call up H&R and Eibach and get the full specs to compare.

The difference to me is small so I'd be happy with Eibach or H&R, but just happened to buy H&R (I think I made this choice because the front drop was greater and also that they have more certifications (Germany and US), but I could be wrong, been few years since I did my research).

I might be a one-off scenario, but my H&R drop is pretty dang low when I see others with H&R's. I don't know how long the springs will last, but 100k miles no problems. I might switch out my struts and shocks at 150k.

I'm happy with the OEM struts and shocks, but depending on the price difference, might steer me to KYB. DR2k has them on his FX, maybe he can chime in on how he likes them.
 
KYB are nice if your stocks are blown. they will give you the OEM feel once installed. currently there are no after market shocks struts in the US.

IMO H&R rides much better and not as stiff and much less stiff than stock. but if you want to sit lower Eibachs will be lower. (some owners of Eibachs in the east coast has gas springs failures)
 
Babluwee is the only member I know that has had both the eibachs and h&r's. He commented that h&r's are softer riding for more comfort but eibach's were superior in performane handling.

Kyb's are great and problems so far. Gave a good increase in ride quality when I replaced out the oem earlier this year with 75k miles. FX was bottoming out in the rear with the worn oem shocks but now that is gone.

Ed, I believe the reason why you see your fx so much lower with the h&r's is due to the heavier weight of your 45. My eibach's are pretty low and I have almost no wheel gap. I am very happy with how my fx looks with the current drop eventhough the ride quality is pretty hard.
 
doc, how much worse is your ride comfort when you switched from oem to eibachs?

i'll be switching out my oem shocks/struts soon and thought it'd be a good time to switch springs too, but i'm not willing to sacrifice comfort for handling.
 
The ride quality did not suffer at all since I already had the sport package. I could not really tell the difference. Perhaps a tad stiffer but there was a tsb way back when there was some mixup and some sport package model fx's did not have the sport shocks and struts. My fx happen to be one of them but the suspension was stiff enough so I opted not to have it changed out and pocketed the $500 compensation infiniti paid out for this error.
 
first of all, ALL fx's come from the factory with kyb's, kyb is the manufacturer for infiniti. if you look closely at the original struts you will see nissan stamped on there & you will also see kyb stamped on there. on the production line there may have been slight differences in the valving of these struts from model to model, but the valving is so similar & the differences so insignificant that now that kyb has released to the aftermarket there is only one standard valving offered hence one kyb part # for all... you would pay 2-3 times as much from infiniti for oe & really wind up with the exact same strut so yeah, kyb's are the only real choice here

as far as springs go, there you would expect there to be a differentiation between a 6 cyl 35 & a heavier 45, but no, even the spring manufacturers choose to adress this with just one part fits all on aftermarket aplications, which is why you'll notice a 45 with drop springs is a bit lower than a 35 with the same springs usually, also the springs can & do vary from install to install so there is no set exact drop that they will provide, but the H&R's do seem more consistant than the eibachs in the drop they provide, eibachs can be anywear from just a little lower to quite a bit lower...

as far as stiffness, I think some guys are confusing stiffness with bouncyness, aftermarket lowering springs are stiffer than the oe's for sure, but they are less bouncy too. just about everyone who has done H&R's will sware that it rides "better" overall, but that's because it's a little more stiff, so less bouncing around, a little less body roll, etc... eibachs are even stiffer than H&R, so the general concensus there is they handle better but sacrifice a little more on the ride quality side. eibachs are also known for spring fatique & spring falure too, they do get progressively lower with age (not supposed to though) & there have been several failures with springs actually snapping on some fx's, so take that for what it's worth...

I'd usually recommend the H&R over eibachs just because of the quality & consistancy over eibachs, but the guy who wants maximum drop or maximum sporty stiffer ride will usually choose the eibachs, if your looking to make the least ride quality impact then again, H&R's are the way to go...
 
Thanks to you all - you guys are a wealth of knowledge. I see that Eibach offers an alignment kit in addition to the springs - is this necessary for installation of the springs? Are any other mods necessary inorder to accommodate these springs. So far from what you guys are telling me, I will probably go with the kybs (no other choice except oe) and probably the Eibachs as I am big on maximum handling capability. Thanks again.
 
turbocad6 said:
first of all, ALL fx's come from the factory with kyb's, kyb is the manufacturer for infiniti. if you look closely at the original struts you will see nissan stamped on there & you will also see kyb stamped on there. on the production line there may have been slight differences in the valving of these struts from model to model, but the valving is so similar & the differences so insignificant that now that kyb has released to the aftermarket there is only one standard valving offered hence one kyb part # for all... you would pay 2-3 times as much from infiniti for oe & really wind up with the exact same strut so yeah, kyb's are the only real choice here

as far as springs go, there you would expect there to be a differentiation between a 6 cyl 35 & a heavier 45, but no, even the spring manufacturers choose to adress this with just one part fits all on aftermarket aplications, which is why you'll notice a 45 with drop springs is a bit lower than a 35 with the same springs usually, also the springs can & do vary from install to install so there is no set exact drop that they will provide, but the H&R's do seem more consistant than the eibachs in the drop they provide, eibachs can be anywear from just a little lower to quite a bit lower...

as far as stiffness, I think some guys are confusing stiffness with bouncyness, aftermarket lowering springs are stiffer than the oe's for sure, but they are less bouncy too. just about everyone who has done H&R's will sware that it rides "better" overall, but that's because it's a little more stiff, so less bouncing around, a little less body roll, etc... eibachs are even stiffer than H&R, so the general concensus there is they handle better but sacrifice a little more on the ride quality side. eibachs are also known for spring fatique & spring falure too, they do get progressively lower with age (not supposed to though) & there have been several failures with springs actually snapping on some fx's, so take that for what it's worth...

I'd usually recommend the H&R over eibachs just because of the quality & consistancy over eibachs, but the guy who wants maximum drop or maximum sporty stiffer ride will usually choose the eibachs, if your looking to make the least ride quality impact then again, H&R's are the way to go...
Click to expand...

i wonder if the added weight from a FX45 has anything to do w/ the eibachs snapping...i know it shouldn't but i'd be interested to see how many of those snapped eibachs were on a 45....thanks for bringing that up turbo, thats reason enuff for me to avoid eibachs.
 
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