Advice on lowering springs

[Kincaid]

So, I really want to get lowering springs on my 2009 Vibe 2.4L as soon as they are available. I checked around the wheel wells and there seems to be tons of room for the suspension to drop. As I'll be keeping the stock wheels, I'm not worried about any interference.It looks like even an agressive 2 inch drop will still leave about a finger width of gap at the top. I have a 1.5 inch drop on my Civic, using Eibach Pro-Kits and Tokico Illumina adjustable shocks.Question - if I get lowering springs to drop the car 2" will I need to get aftermarket shocks/struts? Do I risk a blow out or is that more on old shocks that suddenly can't take the new drop? I only have 300 plus miles right now (but who knows when springs will be available).Opinions from those who know are wanted. Thanks!

[Sublimewind]

2" is a bit much fro the stock struts, but you can run that way till they blow.. replacing them with a KYB AGX or Tokikos is a good idea..

[keithvibe]

I'm running just about a 3inch drop on my kyb's No issues yet.The old matrix springs will fit the new 09's FYI

[Kincaid]

I'm leery of using pre-2009 springs - seems kind of like always starting off with several heavy guys in the car - the springs will always be compressed more just because the 2009 is heavier.I'd like it if Eibach would come out with Sportlines and a 2" drop. I wish the TRD springs were available for 2".

[keithvibe]

Get the canuck springs that I am using that are made for the awd LOL that is if you got the independent rear suspention.They have a higher spring rate

[Kincaid]

Nope, mine doesn't have IRS.

[vibedrivermatt]

As far as I know you CANNOT put lowering springs on an 09 vibe equiped with VSC. but.... I think TRD springs for the 09 matrix will work for this application if you can find someone to calibrate the VSC system. These springs are designed for the the 09 matrix. They provide a 1/2" drop front and 1 1/2" drop rear. The VCS (vehicle stability control or stabilitrak), needs to be calibrated after installing lowing springs. Only the dealer can do this so you'd have to bring the vibe in have the calibrate the system. edit: I just called afew GM dealers and asked some techs about TRD springs and VSC calibration. All they said was "installing after market parts on your vibe will void its warranty". I also went ahead and called a Toyota dealer and asked about having these put onto a 09 matrix. They said yes, they do install these at the toyota dealer and that the VSC does need to be calibrated to adjust for new ride height. They also said they won't do the install on a vibe. ehhh bummer... new edit: As of 08/03/10 Im using TRD springs on my 09 base and the VSC has not been problematic. I've still got it to turn on a few times though hehe

[Kincaid]

Good information. With so many new cars these days getting VSC I hope that Eibach, H & R and other suppliers can get installers trained to do the recalibration simply and easily. Those TRD springs are just not a big enough drop for me.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Kincaid »Question - if I get lowering springs to drop the car 2" will I need to get aftermarket shocks/struts? I have an 03 I lowered it when I got it in sept. 02 i still have original shocks and struts. no problems

[keithvibe]

I know a guy in Canada with an 09 matrix dropped.. he hasn't had any issues with his car... vsc or warranty work

[Kincaid]

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »I have an 03 I lowered it when I got it in sept. 02 i still have original shocks and struts. no problemsSo, you dropped it two inches? When I dropped my Civic (just 1.5 inches on Eibach Pro-Kits), people said I didn't need to replace the struts (which I did anyway because they had about 80k miles on them) but seemed to feel that if I dropped it 2 inches on the Sportline springs that it would definitely need new shocks or risk a blow out.

[Kincaid]

Just doing a little checking on the status of 2009 Vibe lowering springs. Looks like nothing still from Eibach or Tein. H&R has springs but the drop is only about 1.5 - not as much as I want.

[ramenboy...]

since the vibe and matrix are virtually indistinguishable under the skin, you can check out these springs for the 09-10 matrix.http://www.brandsport.com/trd-....htmli'm running teins on my o4. they advertised i think 1.25-1.5 drop, but when everything settled, like everyone else said, the car was levelled out at around 2". i replaced a leaking front strut before changing the springs. been on them since.you might be the first to drop a 2nd gen vibe! keep us posted

[scherry2]

I have pics of measurments when I lowered it with teins s and it was a 2.5 inch drop and I haven't had a blow out yet.

[Kincaid]

Wonder if a Toyota dealer would calibrate the VSC because they are TRD springs?

[vibedrivermatt]

well no actually. I called them and asked already. They said they're toyota and don't do pontiac. Im sure there's still someplace that could do it though.. just don't know where yet..heck maybe you could just install the lowering springs and not worry about calibrating the vsc...but, who knows if that would cause a problem or not?..

[Kincaid]

Geez that ticks me off.I suppose when it's time I will get the springs put on and see if I can get a local GM dealer to recalibrate the VSC (or see if a Toyota dealer will do it). I am not concerned if the GM people want to "void my warranty". I don't think that will ever come back to bite me. I suppose maybe no one will want to do it because they might be worried about liability issues should you ever crash. If I have to, I'll run with an uncalibrated VSC.As an aside, if no one ever comes out with a 2009-2010 specific spring with a drop of 2", I will then go ahead and put on 1st gen springs - probably Eibach Sportlines.BTW, that is a pretty good price from Sparks.

[vibedrivermatt]

yeah sure... I may to just go ahead and intsall lowering springs as well. Its might be easier to convince one of the dealerships to calibrate the vsc after the springs have been installed.