GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I'm contemplating lowering my '03 vibe and I'd like to hear what people have to say that've already done it. Is it worth it? How much difference is there in turning, mileage etc.? Thanks!

you can buy a set of S or H techs for about $130. then get together with some friends and do the install yourself with a 6 pack of beer and maybe some pizza.

I got the same questions.

I have the Teins S-Tech's spring in my ride and I'll tell you cant go wrong for the $. I would not contemplate a bit in doing it again if I had another Vibe. As for turning no problems at all and handeling is great, rides better than stock and for gas mileage, has nothing to do with lowering or maybe it does depends on your lead foot when your hauling (removed) down the roads to see how good it rides and handles. Try it you will like it..... nuvibe

Im not the most savvy guy when it comes to installing springs and I'm only 17 so it might be a bit of a challenge getting the six pack... so has anyone had it professionally done?

I got hotchkis springs on my fwd base vibe and saw about a 2 inch drop. no change in...wait, i drive fast around corners so my avg milage dropped to 28 but i get like 32-35 when driving nice in the summer. I paid $80 for mine new on ebay. they are great for handling.

how complicated is the installation process?

Over on the Matrix site there is a set of instructions. I read them and looks pretty straight forward. Will need a spring compressor but should be available as a "loan tool" from Autozone.

I had help and used the pics and instructions from the Matrix sight. It wasn't that bad at all. I'm sure at 17 you can find a friend's dad that has done it before and would help. I fell I could do it myself now. Oh, and don't forget to get re-aligned after about a week.

Quote, originally posted by nuvibe »I have the Teins S-Tech's spring in my ride and I'll tell you cant go wrong for the $. I would not contemplate a bit in doing it again if I had another Vibe. As for turning no problems at all and handeling is great, rides better than stock and for gas mileage, has nothing to do with lowering or maybe it does depends on your lead foot when your hauling (removed) down the roads to see how good it rides and handles. Try it you will like it..... nuvibe what he said. as far as installation. I did it in my driveway with hand tools. follow the instructions on matrixowners.com http://matrixowners.com/forums...ringsand its no problem. the local auto parts store (hires here in indiana) mounted the springs on the struts for $20.00 each.

this morning i mentioned this potential mod to my dad, who always does his best to shoot down all my ideas for mods (his salsa vibe is 100% stock), and he actually semi-agreed that this one might be ok. He did make one decent point though. Will I still be able to put chains on for driving in the snow when I go to the mountains without the chains hitting the car?Btw, does anyone have the exact model number for the lowering kit they used?

you should have no problem with cables... Not too sure about the chains.

Quote, originally posted by sagekai »Btw, does anyone have the exact model number for the lowering kit they used?SKL06-AUB00 Tein S-Tech Get them from http://neverenoughauto.com/, he's excellent to deal with.

Brad's got a set of springs up on ebay now if anyones interested in it.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1

how much do you guys reckon I should drop it? I was thinking 1.5"? maybe 2?And anyone have any idea if chains will work?Also, at the moment I've just been using the little jack from in back with the spare to do stuff around my wheels, brakes etc. - should I get something more solid?

Brad would be the best person to talk to regarding the Tein S-Tech Springs a realy nice and helpful guy. Also let him know that your from the Genvibe Crew and he would know exactly who we are.... nuvibe

Quote, originally posted by sagekai »Im not the most savvy guy when it comes to installing springs and I'm only 17 so it might be a bit of a challenge getting the six pack... so has anyone had it professionally done?ok, forget the six pack of BEER and go with Mt Dew or Dr Pepper. if you have any friends with airtools and a spring compressor (pick up a set for $50 at Sears), then you are good to go. there are some step by step instruction on here somewhere (forget the link) that will guide you how to. to pay someone to do it, most shops will charge anywhere from $120 (low end) to $300 (high end) for something that will take you 2 -3 hrs to do. hell, if you were up here, i'd say bring your car over and we'll slap those on for you. we installed Mav's springs, my LGT springs, our buddy's trix springs, and a whole lot of other people's springs on their cars. one of the techs here at the dealer will usually charge about $120 for him to do it if you don't want to do it yourself. $100 goes to him, and $20 for rental of our garage. otherwise, it is the recipients duty to order and pay for the pizza as we work on their car. LOL

Quote, originally posted by sagekai »Also, at the moment I've just been using the little jack from in back with the spare to do stuff around my wheels, brakes etc. - should I get something more solid?yes, jack stands.

I paid $180 for my Hotchkis springs and had them installed for, I think $200 at Tires Plus, if I remember correctly. The handling is much stiffer and the car corners much better, but the ride is fairly choppy. The lower you go the stiffer the springs will be. Took me a few weeks to get used to parking farther away from the curb. No effect on the fuel economy, though I wasn't expecting it to. As far as problems just a few minor alignment issues which might lead to premature tire wear. I plan on rotating my new tires more frequently so it shouldn't be to big of a problem. Only a slight scare about 2 months back. Which I think is now resolved. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... d?id=25983

How far was your drop redlava?

if your really interested in tein i can get them cheaper the neverenough has them let me know ill have to call for my discount tho. let me know and you can check out info at mimousa.com ignore the price on there i have a dealer account with them. im giving all genvibers and mo's my price. im not making money off yall.

i got my eibach sportlines for $275 brand new..usually $400 or so brand new for sunfires..felt a definite feel difference..can corner alot faster and it's alot more responsive compared to my stock springs..also i find i can brake faster due to the weight being distrubuted to the front..but since the springs are stiffer..u dont get that feeling like ur gonna flip over

I paid the "walk into performance store, order parts and they order them including markup and freight" of about $400CAD for my TIEN Stech.night and day difference in handling.

and look too..mines 2 inches lower then every other sunfire im beside on the road..unless it's someone i know from my old club

Oh yeah it looks great with the 2 inch drop. though a Vibe with 2 inch drop sits about stock height of a sunfire lol.

Quote, originally posted by RedFire2K »i got my eibach sportlines for $275 brand new..usually $400 or so brand new for sunfires..felt a definite feel difference..can corner alot faster and it's alot more responsive compared to my stock springs..also i find i can brake faster due to the weight being distrubuted to the front..but since the springs are stiffer..u dont get that feeling like ur gonna flip over Wow that'd be awesome. I looked on the sight and none of the suspension items list an Pontiac vehicles at all...? Also with those same springs, it says the drop is up to 4"- is there some way to control how much the drop is? Is all I need to buy the springs or do I need more than that? Thanks!PS. Heres the link to the page I was looking athttp://mimousa.com/home.asp?dir=products&cat=7&sub_id=29

Most of the time AM parts are listed for the Matrix. And as far as I know the biggest drop you can get from springs is around 2" from the S-techs

hey sagekainot to knock neverenough or our fellow viber ralvis, but i agree with mavrik. i also went to a local place. got to talk to the guy who'd be installing and got to see what i was buying. the s-techs ride great and tight. the label on my box said it was for the 03 and up matrix.

Quote, originally posted by sagekai »How far was your drop redlava?Somewhere between 1.75 and 2 inches. Can't be sure, didn't measure before the install.

so i just want to confirm... all i need to buy are the springs, right?

i think the majority of us here stayed with stock struts and just replaced the springs. correct me if i'm wrong here, guys.

Stock struts here still.

tein s techs "say" 2.3 in the front and 2.1 in the reartein stechs are $134 plus shipping through me

OK I'm ready to roll. How can I get the money to you Ralvis? Paypal?

teins are good springs..they had some for my car but they were only a one inch drop..and the eibachs are like the ideal spring for the j-bodies..teins are the ideal springs for vibes

pm sent

Quote, originally posted by AKLGT »to pay someone to do it, most shops will charge anywhere from $120 (low end) to $300 (high end) for something that will take you 2 -3 hrs to do. hell, if you were up here, i'd say bring your car over and we'll slap those on for you. we installed Mav's springs, my LGT springs, our buddy's trix springs, and a whole lot of other people's springs on their cars. one of the techs here at the dealer will usually charge about $120 for him to do it if you don't want to do it yourself. $100 goes to him, and $20 for rental of our garage. I was quoted $300-$400 to have my Stech's installed. Not sure if that includes the alignment, but thats still high. It's too cold outside to install them myself. No heat in the garage at all. Not sure if I trust myself. Body kits and exhausts, brakes and rotors, things like that, yeah. Springs? Not sure. LOL

have any friends with a garage and airtools? like i said, too bad we're up here and you are down there. no probs helping doing installs. in fact, we got home about an hour ago from helping put coilovers and a front swaybar on one of the guy's STI. looks nice! he's a bang up guy for sure, so we don't mind helping him out. unfortunately, up here the vibe community is just about null. with the exception of phil, myself, and our one friend, JC with a trix, no one seems too interested or even comes on this site. what a shame too. there are a ton of vibes and matrixes!

It's not too hard to do.It just takes a little time.I just got finished last week installing S Tech's.I bought the spring compressor for $26 at princess auto,a few hours and voila.It cost me $95 for an alignment.It made a huge difference in handling,drives like a car now,not a bus.I will have to take it for a front wheel alignment in a week or 2,but that will cost much less than the first time.

i installed my springs thro a buddy of mine..cost me $100 and about an hour of my time..no complaints here

I just dropped my Vibe with Tein H-Techs... took about two hours on the lift at school (would have been less if we could grab our own tools). I doubt it would have taken much longer in the driveway. Definately not a hard job, but not my first time dropping a car either. The problem with having a shop do it is unless it's a shop you frequent a lot they're going to go by the book, which I believe is around four hours for this job. It doesn't matter that they can do it in two, they want four hours labor... A shop you go to a lot may give you a break.If you drive this car in the snow covered mountains I don't think I would go with a big drop... I personally would go no more than 1.5 inches. I think 2+ is just asking to get stuck...

i've dropped 2 inches all around and i've yet to get stuck in snow..but then again i got $600 worth of snow tires aswell

Will these work for spring compressors?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1

Yeah, they'll work. Autozone and others offer spring compressors as free loaner tools. They also sell them for around $20 so you're paying the same price on eBay except you don't really get to see them before you buy. Be careful using them though... springs can be very dangerous... better to be cautious when compressing springs.

just got the stechs today in the mail and i'm getting them installed this weekend. stoked!

suweet!you'll love the difference. post pics when you're done!!!!

Remember to post as " New to the Drop Zone" with pic's. Cant wait to see your ride. Do you have wheels already or just stockers? Would be kool to slap both springs and wheels at the same time..... nuvibe

I'll definately take some before and after pics. I've already got these Voxx rims, which I'm hoping will look a lot better without the wheel gap http://www.discounttiredirect....VOXMG+

hehe..yea, take some before and after pics. As for me, my Matrix has got hotchkis springs with stock struts. I was shocked after a few weeks cuz my car settled down a good 2.5inches. I still have yet to get stuck. Here in MN, chains are illegal, so all i got are some WinterForce winter Tires...really good actually, for the cheap price I paid, i'm surprised at there overall performance on snow/ice. Good Luck on ur modding.

is there anyone in the Houston area that has done this either themselves or had it done ?