2009 Sedan (G37x) Lowered on Eibach Springs - Informational Post
07-09-2013 | 09:51 AM
#1
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From: Boston, MA
2009 Sedan (G37x) Lowered on Eibach Springs - Informational Post
Did a lot of research on this site before going through with this. Seems a lot of owners are conflicted regarding which Eibach springs to use on their x sedans, so wanted to post an update on my experience. This will help other x sedan owners who are thinking about a modest drop for their car (mine is a 2009 without S package).
I ended up buying the 6399.140 springs via EBay (seller was JCWhitney) for $239.14 with free shipping. Came in about 4 business days.
I figured since I was doing the springs I might as well also replace the brake rotors and pads, so I also got some slotted/drilled rotors and pads for front and rear. Bought via EBay (seller was BrakeMotive76), for $178.75 with free shipping. Came in about 3 business days.
Finally got some time away from kids and wife and tried to install everything myself. The brake rotors and pads are an easy change if you've done them before; hardest part was getting the old rotors off (basically had to use a sledge hammer from the back of the rotor).
Well, turns out it's a pretty bad idea to change the springs yourself unless you have a professional spring compressor. The rear springs are easy enough - just remove the wheels, fully remove the bolt holding the control arm, push down on control arm with your foot and pull out the spring. To put the bolt back in, you'll have to jack up the control arm until it's level with the bolt hole. The front springs are a total PITA. I found it impossible to even get the strut out. Had to unbolt the bottom of the strut, unscrew top nuts, remove top two bolts of upper arm (PITA given position of spring), etc. Still couldn't get strut out of assembly. So 3 hours later I put it all together and took it to a local shop; paid $150 for them to do it all. Mechanic told me the front springs required serious compression to get them off the strut, and suggested that my $30 spring compressors probably would have broken or simply not compressed enough.
Anyway, once the springs were on, I immediately noticed the rear sag issue. The drop on the front was really nice, but the rear sagged a bit more than I would like. Here is a picture:
So, I went to Energy Suspension Parts and bought a set of coil spring isolators:
Part Number: 9.6112
Product Name: Coil Spring Isolators - Style E - 96112
Quantity: 1
Unit Price: $16.99
> > > Color : Black
--------------------------
Order Total : $16.99
Shipping : $4.88
Grand Total : $21.87
I installed these on the bottom of the rear Eibach springs, and they pushed up the back end by about .25-.50" which helped a lot with the sag. Here is a picture with the isolators installed:
Pretty leveled off now. Will get some wheels soon, just haven't found the right deal yet. Want stock 19" wheels and tires with TPMS...
I hope this post helps anyone with a 2009 x sedan looking to lower the car, worried about rear sag, etc.
I ended up buying the 6399.140 springs via EBay (seller was JCWhitney) for $239.14 with free shipping. Came in about 4 business days.
I figured since I was doing the springs I might as well also replace the brake rotors and pads, so I also got some slotted/drilled rotors and pads for front and rear. Bought via EBay (seller was BrakeMotive76), for $178.75 with free shipping. Came in about 3 business days.
Finally got some time away from kids and wife and tried to install everything myself. The brake rotors and pads are an easy change if you've done them before; hardest part was getting the old rotors off (basically had to use a sledge hammer from the back of the rotor).
Well, turns out it's a pretty bad idea to change the springs yourself unless you have a professional spring compressor. The rear springs are easy enough - just remove the wheels, fully remove the bolt holding the control arm, push down on control arm with your foot and pull out the spring. To put the bolt back in, you'll have to jack up the control arm until it's level with the bolt hole. The front springs are a total PITA. I found it impossible to even get the strut out. Had to unbolt the bottom of the strut, unscrew top nuts, remove top two bolts of upper arm (PITA given position of spring), etc. Still couldn't get strut out of assembly. So 3 hours later I put it all together and took it to a local shop; paid $150 for them to do it all. Mechanic told me the front springs required serious compression to get them off the strut, and suggested that my $30 spring compressors probably would have broken or simply not compressed enough.
Anyway, once the springs were on, I immediately noticed the rear sag issue. The drop on the front was really nice, but the rear sagged a bit more than I would like. Here is a picture:
So, I went to Energy Suspension Parts and bought a set of coil spring isolators:
Part Number: 9.6112
Product Name: Coil Spring Isolators - Style E - 96112
Quantity: 1
Unit Price: $16.99
> > > Color : Black
--------------------------
Order Total : $16.99
Shipping : $4.88
Grand Total : $21.87
I installed these on the bottom of the rear Eibach springs, and they pushed up the back end by about .25-.50" which helped a lot with the sag. Here is a picture with the isolators installed:
Pretty leveled off now. Will get some wheels soon, just haven't found the right deal yet. Want stock 19" wheels and tires with TPMS...
I hope this post helps anyone with a 2009 x sedan looking to lower the car, worried about rear sag, etc.
The following users liked this post:
krava (07-10-2013)
07-09-2013 | 10:10 AM
#2
RiceHead, what a great first post. Welcome to the site BTW 
Glad you were able to DIY those springs & brakes. I've done it on a RWD but not an X so there are a couple differences, and the fronts are a bit of a PITA, luckily the decent DIY threads helped w/ a few tips.
Drop looks perfect once you added the spring spacers, glad you're happy w/ the result. There's some 19s in the marketplace right now for a nice deal, might be worth a look. Thanks for the helpful thread, you might also want to post this in the suspension section.
Cheers!
Glad you were able to DIY those springs & brakes. I've done it on a RWD but not an X so there are a couple differences, and the fronts are a bit of a PITA, luckily the decent DIY threads helped w/ a few tips.
Drop looks perfect once you added the spring spacers, glad you're happy w/ the result. There's some 19s in the marketplace right now for a nice deal, might be worth a look. Thanks for the helpful thread, you might also want to post this in the suspension section.
Cheers!
07-09-2013 | 01:17 PM
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From: Boston, MA
Thanks guys, glad this might be helpful for some.
There are pros and cons.
As a pro, body sway is dramatically reduced with the Eibachs, making for much more confident turn-in and keeping the center of gravity lower overall. It is much more fun to drive around turns, and I think the braking and acceleration responses are overall a little crisper due to less body sway/movement.
As a con, the ride certainly suffers relative to stock. I fear dips/bumps/potholes much more than I used to. Not necessarily thinking that I will bottom out (haven't yet) but that it just seems so harsh on the car to be slamming over these things. There just is very little dampening relative to stock so you really "feel" the road much more than before. I'm assuming that what's happening is you're running into the firmer range of the variable spring rate, which makes the ride a little harsh.
Also, the ride is a little bit bouncier with the Eibachs; you know when you see some dude driving a slammed 1991 civic down the road with a cherry bomb muffler and bondo on the quarter panels, bouncing around over every bump? It's a bit like that, but of course not as extreme. The struts are working a little harder to prevent bouncing on rebound from bumps. I suspect that over the long term, the struts are going to wear out much faster than with stock springs. I don't think it's noticeable from the outside, but you will likely notice the difference (especially now that I've mentioned it).
So overall, I think the car looks much better with the modest drop. I feel much more confident in turns and in braking and acceleration. However, I feel less stable over bumps overall, and even on highways the bumps can come out of nowhere so it's not something I can avoid.
There are pros and cons.
As a pro, body sway is dramatically reduced with the Eibachs, making for much more confident turn-in and keeping the center of gravity lower overall. It is much more fun to drive around turns, and I think the braking and acceleration responses are overall a little crisper due to less body sway/movement.
As a con, the ride certainly suffers relative to stock. I fear dips/bumps/potholes much more than I used to. Not necessarily thinking that I will bottom out (haven't yet) but that it just seems so harsh on the car to be slamming over these things. There just is very little dampening relative to stock so you really "feel" the road much more than before. I'm assuming that what's happening is you're running into the firmer range of the variable spring rate, which makes the ride a little harsh.
Also, the ride is a little bit bouncier with the Eibachs; you know when you see some dude driving a slammed 1991 civic down the road with a cherry bomb muffler and bondo on the quarter panels, bouncing around over every bump? It's a bit like that, but of course not as extreme. The struts are working a little harder to prevent bouncing on rebound from bumps. I suspect that over the long term, the struts are going to wear out much faster than with stock springs. I don't think it's noticeable from the outside, but you will likely notice the difference (especially now that I've mentioned it).
So overall, I think the car looks much better with the modest drop. I feel much more confident in turns and in braking and acceleration. However, I feel less stable over bumps overall, and even on highways the bumps can come out of nowhere so it's not something I can avoid.
07-09-2013 | 03:18 PM
#7
I have the same springs on my 2009 G37X sedan... i didnt get that sag in the back.. i have an even drop all around,
i would consult who ever you bought the springs from, may have been some mix up in the set.
i would consult who ever you bought the springs from, may have been some mix up in the set.
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07-09-2013 | 03:21 PM
#8
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6
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From: Boston, MA
Strange.... the codes printed on the individual springs were all correct for the kit. Wonder if they changed the springs over the years?
07-09-2013 | 03:59 PM
#9
I've seen a few Eibachs w/ the lower back springs, really common w/ Tanabe. Just like alignment specs, seems like very vehicle reacts a bit different to the suspension changes, or there's a quality control issue?
07-09-2013 | 05:50 PM
#10
Ride is looking good!
Yeah those fronts are a pain! Took a friend and I all day, and we ended up taking them to a shop to swap out the spring once we got assembly off the car.
How do you like those brakemotive rotors so far?
Yeah those fronts are a pain! Took a friend and I all day, and we ended up taking them to a shop to swap out the spring once we got assembly off the car.
How do you like those brakemotive rotors so far?
07-09-2013 | 06:26 PM
#11
Nice RiceHead!
Thanks for sharing your results with the Eibach Pro kit 6399.140 lowering springs.
The issue with the rear sagging was one of the main reasons why I didn't go with Eibach...plus previous issues I had with the manufacture on my FX.
The appearance after the coil spring isolators is very similar to the drop on my Swifts...looks good.
The difference in handling seems more uneven due to the additional "bounce" that the Eibach over the Swifts.
By going with Eibach/Energy, you saved $40 compared to the Swift price...not sure if it was worth the difference...my $.02.
Please let us know how they stand up over time.
Thanks for sharing your results with the Eibach Pro kit 6399.140 lowering springs.
The issue with the rear sagging was one of the main reasons why I didn't go with Eibach...plus previous issues I had with the manufacture on my FX.
The appearance after the coil spring isolators is very similar to the drop on my Swifts...looks good.
The difference in handling seems more uneven due to the additional "bounce" that the Eibach over the Swifts.
By going with Eibach/Energy, you saved $40 compared to the Swift price...not sure if it was worth the difference...my $.02.
Please let us know how they stand up over time.
07-09-2013 | 06:31 PM
#12
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 670
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From: Ma
Thanks guys, glad this might be helpful for some.
There are pros and cons.
As a pro, body sway is dramatically reduced with the Eibachs, making for much more confident turn-in and keeping the center of gravity lower overall. It is much more fun to drive around turns, and I think the braking and acceleration responses are overall a little crisper due to less body sway/movement.
As a con, the ride certainly suffers relative to stock. I fear dips/bumps/potholes much more than I used to. Not necessarily thinking that I will bottom out (haven't yet) but that it just seems so harsh on the car to be slamming over these things. There just is very little dampening relative to stock so you really "feel" the road much more than before. I'm assuming that what's happening is you're running into the firmer range of the variable spring rate, which makes the ride a little harsh.
Also, the ride is a little bit bouncier with the Eibachs; you know when you see some dude driving a slammed 1991 civic down the road with a cherry bomb muffler and bondo on the quarter panels, bouncing around over every bump? It's a bit like that, but of course not as extreme. The struts are working a little harder to prevent bouncing on rebound from bumps. I suspect that over the long term, the struts are going to wear out much faster than with stock springs. I don't think it's noticeable from the outside, but you will likely notice the difference (especially now that I've mentioned it).
So overall, I think the car looks much better with the modest drop. I feel much more confident in turns and in braking and acceleration. However, I feel less stable over bumps overall, and even on highways the bumps can come out of nowhere so it's not something I can avoid.
There are pros and cons.
As a pro, body sway is dramatically reduced with the Eibachs, making for much more confident turn-in and keeping the center of gravity lower overall. It is much more fun to drive around turns, and I think the braking and acceleration responses are overall a little crisper due to less body sway/movement.
As a con, the ride certainly suffers relative to stock. I fear dips/bumps/potholes much more than I used to. Not necessarily thinking that I will bottom out (haven't yet) but that it just seems so harsh on the car to be slamming over these things. There just is very little dampening relative to stock so you really "feel" the road much more than before. I'm assuming that what's happening is you're running into the firmer range of the variable spring rate, which makes the ride a little harsh.
Also, the ride is a little bit bouncier with the Eibachs; you know when you see some dude driving a slammed 1991 civic down the road with a cherry bomb muffler and bondo on the quarter panels, bouncing around over every bump? It's a bit like that, but of course not as extreme. The struts are working a little harder to prevent bouncing on rebound from bumps. I suspect that over the long term, the struts are going to wear out much faster than with stock springs. I don't think it's noticeable from the outside, but you will likely notice the difference (especially now that I've mentioned it).
So overall, I think the car looks much better with the modest drop. I feel much more confident in turns and in braking and acceleration. However, I feel less stable over bumps overall, and even on highways the bumps can come out of nowhere so it's not something I can avoid.
Interesting. Does anyone know is Swift springs have this issue vs. Eibachs?
07-09-2013 | 08:02 PM
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