Should I align?
 

Quick question - I just installed stock MSP springs on my 03 LX, do you think I would need an alignment? The drop wasn't much, not really even that noticeable. My handling also seems to be fine, it still drives in a straight line when I take my hands off the wheel. What do you think? I have no problem spending the money on an alignment if I need one (I would cry if my tires took any serious damage), but if I can avoid this that would be great. Any help will be appreciated.

is there a reputable shop that will give you a free alignment check? (though even if it was dead on, they'd likely say you need an alignment to make some money)

msp springs are a .75" drop...thats like driving with a fat kid in the car. Don't sweat it unless you're anal about tires.

Good answer.

OK so today I ran into some problems. Yesterday I installed just the front, and today I was going to do the rear. After spending an hour or so disassembling one side (damn endlink!), it would appear that the struts are too long for the springs. Even after screwing the top plate on the strut, the spring is about 1"- 1 1/2" away from touching. DAMMIT! I guess on the plus side, I have an excuse to get some Tokico blues now. So a question to everyone who has upgraded struts - if I buy these, can I be sure the springs will fit?

i think you've messed up the install.. You sure you put the right springs on the front?

Oh yes.... the front springs are significantly larger than the rear. I'm pretty sure its right anyway.

Also, what is the difference between the struts used on an LX vs ES vs MSP?

the msp uses tokico blues but the other models all use the same struts.

Something sounds really wrong here...how do the new ones compare to the stock ones, height-wise? Got pics?

I wish I had some pics, but unfortunately I have no digi cam. Here's the best way I can describe it: I pulled the rear strut off, compressed the stock spring, and removed the top plate. I stood the stock spring and the MSP srping beside eachother, and the MSP spring is quite a bit shorter. If I had to guess, I would say maybe 2 inces or so. I am able to put the MSP spring on the strut and tighten the top plate down without even having to compress the spring. After the plate is on and tightened all the way down, the spring is still loose enough to spin and wiggle around freely. I really don't get it. The front springs went on just fine, and the stock spring went back on the rear just fine. Has anyone else installed MSP springs on an LX? I was thinking the struts on an LX and ES were slightly different, I remeber reading that the LX struts lack the tabs to mount sway bars (or they are just weaker or something). Any other ideas?

That doesn't sound right. I have Eibach springs with my stock struts and they are more of a drop than the MSP springs and I didn't run into that problem. I really think something is going wrong with the install.

that is ODD....I've got MSP springs on a p5 and they looked exactly like the oem pieces.

could you tell if the springs were cut? this is common for amatuer modders

Hmmm never thought to check if they had been cut. I will check that out later when I get home.

That is exactly what I was thinking but I didn't realize they weren't new...