Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension I'm new to this suspension stuff...

I searched to no avail, so beat me senseless for it. I don't care.

So here's my deal. I have enough cash thrown under my pillow for either this Eibach kit, or a new set of wheels. Nothing fancy as far as wheels and tires go though.

Bottom line: Will I get a better handling benefit from the springs or upsizing my rims by two-three inches. I'm on OEM 5-spoke aluminum 14s at the moment.

Thanks in advance guys.

As long as your on good tires, you get more benefit from suspension.

I disagree with kremit, but only by a hair, and tentatively.

This is actually a tough question.

If, say, you go to a 16 x 7.5" wheel that weighs, or 15 lbs or so, you could mount a wider, stickier tire with lower profile, and you will notice much difference in handling, braking, accelerating, and steering response over your high-profile, squirmy little tires.

And then you will also notice the limitations of your suspension.

If you upsize to heavier wheels, though, you'll kill it.

Tires are the first thing I'd change on a vehicle, but there just aren't any really good performance tires in 70-profile.

So in the end, the best thing is wheels and suspension.

I'm going for the suspension first I s'pose. It's 223-something bucks which is less than it would be to pay for wheels/tires and then to mount and balance them. At least for now.

SAV-ZX2
what exactly are you getting for your $233 dollars?

Yeah, you're gonna want struts. Don't wanna go back in there a second time (trust me), especially if I'm helping you.

for $233.00 (are u sure u don't have couple of odd quarters in your old jeans somewhere?) I wouldn't bother w/ the big stuff. seriously. my guess is that like every car w/ stock suspension zx2 understeers like a drunk pig (may be zx2 is actually more sober than most). so I'd do some research and get poly bushings in the back and may be look into a sway bar. it will make your car neutral and most likely will be perceived as a serious impovement in handling. enough so that you will be beating living crap out of your tires on every curve. so w/ that installed, I'd put leftover $100 towards better tires.

may be if your tires are really sucky, I'd go the other way round. you simply won't appreciate suspension improvements on pep-boys special $99 for a set (I'm not in any way implying that's what you have), while decent high performance all season can be had for $200 and change and will tremendously improve your handling.

my $0.02

I think you should just work more and get springs,struts,rear sway bar,front and rear strut tower bars, and get lightweight 16"s with performance tires. It can be done, even with low paying jobs (I did it, well except I got 17"s with all seasons).