NEW Affordable! Gen 3 Adjustable Lowering Kit!

A couple of months ago, I decided to lower my Gen 3 coupe and in doing the research on feedback from various individuals about the current options out there I found that there is a big performance / price variance. My findings were as follows

Caps
- $150 - $200 plus shipping depending on vendor,
- No determinate spec on quality of product
- Lowers car .5 inches, some claim more but the facts are the facts
- Unadjustable
- DIY-able - yes
- Install labor $300 to $500

Eibach Street Kit
- $329 - $500 plus shipping depending on vendor
- Lowers car approx 1 inch
- ride quality - Bouncy
- DIY-able - yes
- Unadjustable
- Install labor $300 to $500

Combination of Caps and Eibachs
- $479.00 to $700.00 plus shipping depending on vendor
- Lowers car approx 1.5 inches
- Ride quality bouncy
- Unadjustable
- DIY-able - yes
- Upgradeable ability NONE - sell or throw away and go with complete new high end system
- Install labor $300 to $500

KW Variant 2's, Moton Club Sports, Penskes.
- $3500 - $6000 plus shipping depending on vendor
- Lowers car approx 0 - as low as you can go
- Ride quality Stiff but Good (race car like)
- Adjustable height
- Adjustable dampening
- Adjustable rebound
- DIY-able - not usually
- optimal Spring rates 500lb front - 800 lb rear
- Install labor $300 to $500
- Allows corner weighting

Most people that can afford or justify the $4K - $6K for the high end systems do in fact go that way, but a lot of these people never "adjust" the rebound and dampening after original set up etc. they just drive

Given the above and the fact that I have owned and tried tried all 3 of the high end systems, I set out to "get the best of both worlds, as much as I could put together, with an upgrade path to the "high end" and as much adjustability as one could expect for the price.

What I came up with is a set up that specs as follows

VIPAIR PERFORMANCE KIT
- VCA price $995 plus shipping
- Pro Kit which includes helper springs $1295 plus shipping
- Lowers car approx 0 - as low as you can go
- Ride quality Stiff but Good (race car like)
- Adjustable height
- DIY-able - YES
- Upgradeable - keep the springs for use on High end systems
- optimal Spring rates 500lb front - 800 lb rear
- Install labor $300 to $500
- Allows corner weighting
- Lowers weight per corner
- All components made from T6 6061 Aircraft quality Aluminum and anodized for evtra surface strength

Here is before and after shots of the car with and without the kit. The car can still go down an inch or so but I have a steep driveway and a large splitter on the front so I can only go sooooo low.

Before


After


Here is a pic of the standard adjustable kit


Here are some pics of the kit installed on the shocks


Here is a pic of the "PRO" Kit which includes the helpers to keep everthing in place


Rear prototype installed


Front Prototype installed


Rear new weight


Rear Stock Weight


Front New Weight


Front Stock Weight

WOW..looks good.

wow, this really came together well. I'd like to do my suspension next summer, and this seems like a great option. Thanks for all the info, and don't be surprised if I'm contacting you next season. I'm anxious to see how they perform for you this summer.

Man I can't wait to get a set of these!

Looks awesome!

Andy Wheeler

Great job

What keeps the threaded sleeve from turning on the shock body when adjusting the spring perches?

Takes care

Shadowman

I am waiting for a set of theese! Will be great!

I'm thankful there is finally an "in between" option now.

Looking forward to purchasing this product!

Shadowman said:

Great job

What keeps the threaded sleeve from turning on the shock body when adjusting the spring perches?

Takes care

Shadowman

Click to expand...

Shadow,

Great question,

With the acme thread on these things, the nut does not like to move at all with any force on it. That is why I:
1) went with higher spring rates so that there is no need to pre-load like the stock suspension
2) The sleeves are super tight slip fit and the fronts are a different ID than the rears as teh shocks are slightly different OD between front and back
3) I placed 2 set screws on the bottom of each sleeve to hold it in place
4) the rear shocks actually have a slot in them that the set screws fit in on one side (slot is for install and remove from the black fork)

Hence they do not slip when loosened or tightened ( I also encountered this on the protypes so I made adjustments to avoid this very thing.

Thanks for the question!

AbsolutHank said:

I'm thankful there is finally an "in between" option now.

Looking forward to purchasing this product!

Click to expand...

Hank,

Just PM me or email me [email protected]

I think I need to make some more of these things!

thansk

Steve

sleeplezz_swe said:

I am waiting for a set of theese! Will be great!

Click to expand...

MArtin,

You are going to love your splitter too!

That is going to be one beautiful convertible ACR clone you'll have there!

Steve,

I'm very interested, have you tested these on the track yet?

Thanks,
Robert

SFViper said:

Steve,

I'm very interested, have you tested these on the track yet?

Thanks,
Robert

Click to expand...

Hi Robert,

No I have not, but that is why I went with the spring rates that most Moton guys go with. I think that the only way you will do better on a track than with these is to part with another $3K+.

You are damn close to me, any time you want to meet up and show me what you can do at Infineon with a set of these, I would be glad to meet you and I have a good relationship with a performance shock place at the track there that helped me make my prototypes that would help us get some track settings right.

PM me or email me some time

Thansk

Steve

Steve, you should sell a bunch of these. I always wondered why no body had come out with a kit like this. Finally an affordable alternative to full blown coil overs.

How does that threaded section attach to the front shocks?

What is the benefit of the "Pro" kit? Won't all those items just bunch together once installed on the car anyways?

I would like a set.

cool.

what is the spring rates on the eibachs? I thought it was the same as what you include in your kit?

Nine Ball said:

How does that threaded section attach to the front shocks?

What is the benefit of the "Pro" kit? Won't all those items just bunch together once installed on the car anyways?

I would like a set.

Click to expand...

Nine Ball,

YES,

It all bunches together,, it only really helps if you are jumping your car, which according to Chuck Tator, he has a customer that does just that!!!! and it also helps for those who jack their car up lots, other wise just make sure everything is centered and lower the car and it will all line up fine, I don't have the helpers on my car, but some people like the extra stuff, even people with Motons, some use the helpers and some don't.

Hope that answers your question.

Tiago said:

cool.

what is the spring rates on the eibachs? I thought it was the same as what you include in your kit?

Click to expand...

500 lb fronts
800 lb rears

That is what I had on my Motons when I had them and that is what is on my proto's on teh car now and they feels pretty damn good

ILLSMOQ said:

Steve, you should sell a bunch of these. I always wondered why no body had come out with a kit like this. Finally an affordable alternative to full blown coil overs.

Click to expand...

ILLSMOQ,

Thanks, Your positive opinion means a lot, I know you have done most of your own work and I respect your opinion.

Thanks!

GTS-R 001 said:

500 lb fronts
800 lb rears

That is what I had on my Motons when I had them and that is what is on my proto's on teh car now and they feels pretty damn good

Click to expand...

I think Tiago meant what rates are on the standard Eibach lowering kit. The OEM spring replacement kit. If the spring rates are the same as this kit, how does that change the ride quality?

Nine Ball said:

I think Tiago meant what rates are on the standard Eibach lowering kit. The OEM spring replacement kit. If the spring rates are the same as this kit, how does that change the ride quality?

Click to expand...

The Eibach Street kit .....

Good Question, Nobody knows, Eibach will not disclose and the street kit springs are progressive not linear, so the spring rate changes as the spring compresses. The suspension in the viper is made and tuned to work best with linear spring rate springs, not progressives. This is probably why some people don't like the ride with the Eibach Street kit,

GTS-R 001 said:

Shadow,

Great question,

With the acme thread on these things, the nut does not like to move at all with any force on it. That is why I:
1) went with higher spring rates so that there is no need to pre-load like the stock suspension
2) The sleeves are super tight slip fit and the fronts are a different ID than the rears as teh shocks are slightly different OD between front and back
3) I placed 2 set screws on the bottom of each sleeve to hold it in place
4) the rear shocks actually have a slot in them that the set screws fit in on one side (slot is for install and remove from the black fork)

Hence they do not slip when loosened or tightened ( I also encountered this on the protypes so I made adjustments to avoid this very thing.

Thanks for the question!

Click to expand...

Thank you for the answer

Your system is very well thought out and looks stunning

All the best

Shadowman

GTS-R 001 said:

Nine Ball,

YES,

It all bunches together,, it only really helps if you are jumping your car, which according to Chuck Tator, he has a customer that does just that!!!! and it also helps for those who jack their car up lots, other wise just make sure everything is centered and lower the car and it will all line up fine, I don't have the helpers on my car, but some people like the extra stuff, even people with Motons, some use the helpers and some don't.

Hope that answers your question.

Click to expand...

FYI I use the helpers on the Penske systems and I like them because when the suspension is unloaded the spring remains on their perch; a detail nit however mechanically it makes no difference.

Takes care

Shadowman

Glad to see this. I did exactly this on my Gen 1, but had to machine the upper shock bushing loop and upper spring "hat" on the body. Both were too large diameter to fit the threaded sleeve over. After that, however, same as this project: stock shocks with adjustable height and pick your springs.

I have 550/800 on my Gen 1.

Awe Damn can't wait to get my set and do a full wright up on them!

Andy Wheeler

When will you be ready to sell these? What colors can be ordered?

VicTxV10 said:

When will you be ready to sell these? What colors can be ordered?

Click to expand...

Selling already,

I have red sleeves with Gold caps and Gold nut, with the eibach red springs

or Blue sleeves with Gold caps and Gold nut, with the eibach red springs

I am shipping sets out on either Tuesday or Wednesday coming up.

I have had a lot of activity on these so contact me ASAP to make sure you get yours on this first production run

I would like to order the pro kit, can you pm me with all the details. Thanks

zrt1465 said:

I would like to order the pro kit, can you pm me with all the details. Thanks

Click to expand...

PM sent about the pro kit!

Wouldnt these work on a gen 4 also? (non ACR of course).

More importantly to me, what is the stock spring rates vs these? If this is just about lowering the car, I dont really want to lower my car anymore. Corner balance is nice, if I can find a local shop that can do this, but most importantly I am wanting to get rid of that 'softness' that exists in the stock setup when doing rapid turning menuvers.

So again, if this is just to lower the car and corner balance the car, not that big of a deal to me. If its stiffer springs, that help roll-over/leaning, then I am interested.

Thanks!

Jon

2002_Viper_GTS_ACR said:

Wouldnt these work on a gen 4 also? (non ACR of course).

More importantly to me, what is the stock spring rates vs these? If this is just about lowering the car, I dont really want to lower my car anymore. Corner balance is nice, if I can find a local shop that can do this, but most importantly I am wanting to get rid of that 'softness' that exists in the stock setup when doing rapid turning menuvers.

So again, if this is just to lower the car and corner balance the car, not that big of a deal to me. If its stiffer springs, that help roll-over/leaning, then I am interested.

Thanks!

Jon

Click to expand...

Jon,

Stock Spring rates as follows:

2003-2006 SRT-10:
Front: 200 lb/in preloaded by 3+inches = 600 lbs preload (approx)
Rear: 500 lb/in preloaded by 1.5 inches = 750 lbs preload (approx)

2008-2009 SRT-10:
Front: 210 lb/in preloaded by 3+inches = 630 lbs preload (approx)
Rear: 525 lb/in preloaded by 1.5 inches = 787.5 lbs preload (approx)

I say approx because the initial compression of teh spring is slightly less that teh rates above.

The rates of the springs that are included in the kit are the SRT10 club sport settings of 500 front and 800 rear, this gives you a stiffer ride than stock (just as on motons etc.) but is well within the operating capacity of the stock shocks due to the pre-loading of the stock springs.

So to effectively answer your real question about will it give you stiffer handling in the twisties - DEFINATELY, is it bouncy - NO, does it feel better - YES, do I have a biased opinion - OF COURSE,

I can only tell you that my 06 coupe now handles better than my 2000 GTS with a full penske race suspension and it "feels" like a race car on the street, and I can raise or lower it in my driveway with a jack and a spanner wrench in a matter of minutes. In fact it takes longer to drive teh car onto the ramps I need in order to get the jack under neath the car than to adjust the suspension for the height