Springs: Eibach vs QA1 vs Summit?
 

Anyone have any experience with "Summit Brand" coil-over springs?

I've wanted to try heavier rate springs for a while now and after trading emails with Shaikh @ FCM, it looks like I'm good to 500/325 (+/-) with my current valving. Both front and rear are 7" tall springs with 2.5" ID. Here's what I found on summitracing.com:

Eibach:
0700.250.0500 - $79.69/ea
0700.250.0325 - $79.69/ea

Eibach is known for making good stuff, but damn its expensive! Plus the Eibachs are universally backordered errywhere until the 22nd-25th and my track event is on the 31st... add shipping and I have no time to get them installed and the car aligned.

QA1:
7-550 - $37.95/ea
7-350 - $37.95/ea

QA1 also has a good rep but the rates are higher than what I'm shooting for. Bonus points because they are cheap and in stock.

Summit:
SUM-72-5500 - $34.95/ea
SUM-72-5325 - $34.95/ea

Summit has exactly what I'm looking for, plus its cheap and they claim to be made in MERIKA! but are completely unknown. There is some FUD on the interwebs that claims QA1 actually makes these for Summit, but it has yet to be confirmed.

I'm open to other options/recommendations/brands as well.

What do? :hustler:

I've also heard that QA1 makes springs for Summit and the pricing on them shows it. I've got a set of Summit springs (550/400) and they look exactly like my QA1 springs did except for color.

Hyperco or Sprint.

I wasnt fond of the QA1 springs I ran. They seemed so closely wound together and thick for the rate compared to others, this led to coil bind issues.

I would do a WTB ad or look on ebay for used springs.
I got a pair of new eibach 400lb for $80 shipped and sold another pair of 300lb springs for same amount.

springs are springs, new or used.

Urban: Good to get some first hand feedback! How long have you been running them? Did you ever run into any of the bind Brain was talking about?

Hustler: Hyperco = Hypercoil? Just to confuse things I also found "Hypercoils" as well :facepalm: I just did a cursory search and it does not look like Hypercoils or Sprint has rates anywhere near what I want, but everyone seems to like them.

Brain: Bind is bad :( I'd not heard this about the QA1s previously. I've actually got 275# QA1's in the rear at the moment with no bind, I can't imagine a 325# would have that much thicker material. How tall of a spring and what rate were you running?

Soviet: Good call on eBay. Been dropping part numbers and generic terms into eBay all morning, along with "-decal -decals -sticker -stickers -frame -jdm..." WTB is not a bad idea either, might do that in a bit.

Found http://pitstopusa.com through a search here on MT, looks like they have pretty decent pricing and lots of selection. They also have the Eibachs in the rates I want, in stock, and $22 cheaper per spring than Summit. If I can't find used, I may give them shot.

springs are springs. the different rates will have different coil spacings. lower rates = more coils. if you want to run low rates, you gotta run longer springs.

swift springs break this mold.

If you want absolute lightest spring with least amount of coils - Swift is the way to go.

As for Summit springs, I still have not had a chance to install them. Waiting on my shocks to be finished. They do look a little thick but I doubt I will run into any binding issues since I'm running 550/400 rates.

ready to blow your mind?

swift springs use material that is less "springy" than steel. ie lower modulus of elasticity.

I bought my springs from these guys. http://www.bluecoilspring.com/

I ran QA1's before and these feel better in my hand (build quality wise) and have more spacing in the coils. Although that's not really anything to go on.