Springs in OZ, Kings, Lovells and Eibach

[speedyblue]

After a bit of a web search and ring around it appears these are the few that still make them for the old Z.

So I am asking for opinions from those of you that have used these springs.

I know a few of you have King Springs, and the cost is about $165 per pair, but have no info on the Lovells, ride wise or price wise, or the Eibach's.

Pictures would help also, so I know how much lower the car would sit.

Also info on what shocks you used as well. From what I cangather, the local options for them are Gabriel, Munroe and Pedders, without going into the extreme price range of Koni's

Oh yeah, and I'm talking about a 73 240Z.

Thanks

Scott

[Alan Pugh]

Scott,

I hear good things about King springs from guys that use them but have never bought a set myself. I have been buying and using Lovells for all my rebuilds over the years and swear by them. I also use Gabriel shocks as I think the quality is great for a reasonableish (is that a word) price.

Different driving styles from different people in the same car will always differ so you have to get as much info as you can and then bite the bullet and buy what you think will suit you.

Hope that helps a bit.

Alan

[HKSZ]

I've found Monroe Sensa trak good value on other cars I've owned, as for Pedders well I think they're made by Monroe and painted white, apparently even their rally cars use Bilstein.

[260Zed]

I went with the lowered Kings and Monroe shocks. The old stuff was well and truely cactus when I got it so I didnt have much to compare them to. I'm happy with them though. Not too low, but still have to crawl over speed bumps.

I haven't got a really good picture of the ride height. Unless I was feeling cashed up, i'd go with the same set up again.

Luke

[speedyblue]

Found another company yesterday, and had a chat to them at the fast Fours Jamboree. Fulcrum also make a set of lowered springs that will lower the car 30-35mm below stock. Cost of $147 a pair. Asked him the spring rate but he didn't know, which is fair enough, but normally they are 50% heavier than stock.

Gabrial shock were the ones I was leaning towards at the moment, due to them having the only reasonable price so far. The pedders price seemed a bit far out there for shocks.

Luckily, I'm not up for racing the car as such, just something a bit stiffer for the road, and perhaps a bit of drifting.

Alan, would you have any pictures of a car set up with Lovells springs?

Thanks

Scott

[Murph]

260Zed: How do you like the monroe shocks? Do they match well with the kings lowered springs? How do they go damping small high frequency bumps and also how are they when you hit a big bump in the road?

I have the same spring, but KYB shocks. Can't say I'm particularly happy with the KYBs, but can't afford to go to something like the Konis.

[mrdatto]

Scott,

I have just been throught this whole process myself. I ended up going with king springs on the recommendation of a mate who has them on his car. I havent installed them yet, so sorry I cant comment on ride or height.

With the shocks, I found it really hard to source a reasonable set for close to a reasonable price in Oz.

Monroe no longer make them for the front, they stopped in 1999, but the rear are readily available. I steered clear of Gabriel, again on the advise of someone else, but I have them on my ute and am not overly impressed with them. They are stocked as choice brand of 'super cheap auto' but draw what you like from that good or bad.

zworx put me on to the only Aust distributor/wholesaler for KYB shocks and he priced me a touch under $300 a pair.

Anyhow, I ended up ordering a set (all 4) of Tokico's from www.shox.com for $249 US, plus $49 freight. So a good price compared to locally. They have KYB's for $129 for all 4 if you want those which is also heaps cheaper than local. They do springs too.

That was the best I could find after a lot of searching. Hope you get something useful out of all my babbling

[speedyblue]

Was there any extra import duty on the shocks once they arrived? I don't know how all that works, but I would assume there would be some cost once they arrive in the country, unless they send the invoice separately or no one checks it.

Just got an email from Lovells Springs.

The CALCULATED spring rate for them is:

Front: 150lb/in

Rear: 160lb/in

So that may vary by about 5% in reality.

What do you guys think about that spring rate as far as handling/street driving?

Also just for info, my quote for the Gabriel shocks was $89 each, plus a $15 order in fee, because the suppliers don't keep them in stock.

[atomrat]

Does anyone have an opinion on Suspension Tech Springs?

[speedyblue]

We don't get Suspension Tech springs over here. Only the local made stuff, and the big name stuff like Eibach. And even the local companies are starting to drop the 240Z off their list due to not enough interest.

[260DET]

My '77 has springs in the high 200's, still tweaking around there, but with Koni Yellows. Quite comfortable to drive on the road, stiffening the body helps, but I wouldn't go anywhere near that without Koni's or Bilstein's.