Since I couldn't find any threads of this when deciding on Sportlines or the Pro Kit, here are some before and after pics. I hope this will help people in the future:

Front Before:



Front After:



Back Before:


Back After:


I can tell a difference. They look great with the 17 inch rims. I am happy with them. Did all the work myself and saved a few bucks. Now to get that alignment...

 

nice.

 

should have went with the sportlines for a little more drop, but your car looks good.

 

Nice job, but I'm too scared of the springs to put them in myself...

 

ditto! but the pros handle better

 

I didn't want that much drop. I like the way they look with the 17's. There is an even amount of space all the way around. If I do get 18's, there will still be even space.

Plus I don't have to worry about curbs, parking lot curbs, and driveways as much.

 

true, how long did it take you to install, took me and a buddy about 3 hrs. (we didnt know what we were doing) but now its easy.

 

Looks GREAT!

I'm not a fan of really low drops so to me this looks perfect. I will be getting the Prokit after the winter.

Can you tell me some more about how it handles? Do you have any other suspension mods?

 

Backs took about 30 minutes total. Those were easy.

Fronts took some time because I had no idea what I was doing either. The first attempt, I didn't know how to get the strut bolt off to take off the spring. Once I used an impact wrench, it took about 45 minutes per strut total.

 

The handling is supposed to be better than the Sportlines. I have not had the chance to test out handling yet. I have been just drving to work. I wish I had them on when we had the meet driving around the GM proving grounds...


I also have the Ingalls ETD.

 

Since when was it a fact that the sportlines dont handle better than the pro kit? this is the first time ive heard this and i dont really understand the reasoning behind it. I thought that the lower the center of gravity is the better the handling would be... I just wanna know for sure since i had my mind made up on the sportline kit since i thought it handled better.

 

Are those pics right after the install or a few days after so the springs has settled in and the drop is more pronounced?

Looking at the pics of the rear it doesn't look like it dropped much, but maybe its just the angle of the picture.

 

i just paid 200 bucks to have my prokit installed with an alignment . I love the handling. The drop isnt as much as I wanted but the sportlines i heard put more of a hurtin on the struts. The springs settled about another 1/3 inch about a week after install anyway so it looks great.

 

The backs are about a week after. the fronts were two days. the backs seemed more of a drop than the front.

 

That is just what I read on reviews. The sportlines are more for looks and lowering. the pro kit are less of a drop, but are better springs for handling and suspension.

If you ask me, eibach are good either way. Having your car lower makes sense that they would perform better. They are both the same price. Sounds like they both have their goods and greats!

 

A lower center of gravity on a car doesn't always mean better handling. If the role center is still above the center of gravity then the car will handle better, but if not then the car just has a lower stance... and since the COG drops much more rapidly than the RC it's hard to get a truly affective drop. In this case, the lower A-arms must be modified to lower the RC. I forget how to measure this but give me a while and I'll explain it, or at least try to make a diagram.

 

What is the claimed and actual amount of drop?

Looks nice BTW! You should post a pic of the whole car.

 

Can we see a before/after shot of the whole car??

Comparing wheel gap on a black car isn't exactly easy on the eyes.

 

so in the cobalts case, are you agreeing that the pro kit is the better handler?

 

What struts/shocks are you using?

 

I have sportlines and would consider a trade straight up.

 

Stock struts. Shocks = Springs? If yes, then Eibach.

 

Stock struts should hold up with the Prokit, idk about Sportlines though.

 

Struts and Shocks are the absorbing parts of the suspension. Springs are what determines the height of the vehicle.

 

Your stock struts are only meant to handle the OEM springs height, not any lower. You're taking a risk at making your suspension not absorb properly by lowering on a absorbing system that's not meant for that low a height.

It's your cars but this is my take on whats going on.