Sprint Springs

[El Tano]

After a month of installation, I decided to leave my feedback about the SPRINT springs.

After 300 Miles after the spring were installed in my XLE 4 cyl, I can say that the car feels really jumpy on the front and the car and not stable at high speed on uneven freeways. The Sprint Spring has only one product for all the 07 Camries and I think they used a V6 or SE for the prototype. The company states that the springs will lower you car 1.75 back and 1.75 on the front. In my case the springs lowered my car 1.75 left back 1.25 right back and 1.25" left front and 1" front right. They told me that the spring have to set, but since I'm driving by myself a guess the springs settle down more on the left. I called Sprint and talked to one of the techs and he told me that they never had a problem and that the difference on the V6 is only 200 pounds so it shouldn't make any difference ( I guess he doesn't know what happens when you put springs on the Hybrid with the 200 pound battery). I measured the car 3 times, different days before replacing the springs and the car was setting even at 28 1/8 all around from the floor to the top of the wheel opening. The tech says that's impossible because all the car seat higher on the front, specially the ones with front wheel drive (I think that's baloney).
The car looks nice with this springs, but you can tell It's seating uneven, even my neighbor asked me if I had something on the trunk. I'm thinking removing this springs and wait untill a company comes out with a good product. Mean while I just wanted to share my experience with you guys.

Click on links to see pictures

http://server5.pictiger.com/img/7220.../dsc-02354.php

http://server5.pictiger.com/img/7220.../dsc-02352.php

http://server5.pictiger.com/img/7220.../dsc-02353.php

[wireless]

Why not use the TRD springs?

[El Tano]

Because TRD doesn't offer a 1.75 drop and I think I found the reason why, hahaha.

[repocop]

sounds like one of a few things:


1) Springs are just trash and have totally wrong rates for the car, and non-uniformity of rate, part to part

2) You have a seriously bent or damaged suspension member, be it a conecting arm, strut, or whatever

3) Whomever installed the springs somehow managed to get the Driver's Front and passenger's rear springs switched, meaning a Front spring in the back right, and rear spring in front left. This would cause the strange variance in amount of drop, AND.. AND AND... it would make your ride, especially on the freeway, ridiculous. you would be teeter-tottering back and fourth across the 2 correct wheels as your driver rear wheel bounces the car forward and to the right every chance it gets.


The springs are dramatically different in appearance and construction, so I find the idea that this has happened quite amusing, hopefully you paid a shop to do this, and if this is the case, they will fix it free of charge.

If you are able to jack the car up and visually confirm that the 'skinny springs' are in the back and the 'short tubby ones' are in the front, then it sounds like you have one of the other problems i listed.


Good luck, whatever the case may be...the more I read the more I think the 199 plus tax for my TRD springs was worth every penny...

[repocop]

and yes, most likely the springs were developed on the heaviest platform available, which is going to be the V6 models.

and the SE's are just better suited to the springs in the first place.

(while a hybrid may be heavier, its weight distribution is atypical of a FWD platform car, so I would think they would probably stick to a more common configuration.)

[wireless]

Originally Posted by El Tano

Because TRD doesn't offer a 1.75 drop and I think I found the reason why, hahaha.

I'm glad you have a sense of humor about it. I was going to say there is probably a reason for that.

I remember back in the day (I'm going to date myself here) we took an acetalene torch (yea, I know) and cut out the coils from my buddy's 1985 Grand Prix. It was sitting on a small jack when we did it. Long story short, we burnt a hole in one of the struts and it exploded.

We replaced the strut and he drove around for about a year with no springs. Replaced the bump stops about 4 times I recall. What a bumpy nasty freakin' ride. Hey, but he got his hooptie slammed.

For those wondering, at no point did anyone say "Hey, watch this"

[repocop]

hehe that reminds me of mine and my friend's ideas as to what our last words will be.

Will go something like this:


What's the worst that could happen?

Hey guys, wanna see something cool?

and then my line:

Guys, I really don't think this is a smart idea...

[El Tano]

Thanks Repocop for your input. I don't think they put it fordward, they are way different, and thsi is the Drop Zone shop DZmotorsports.com and that's all they do, they have a good reputation around here, but again I could get the guy who just started working there, who knows...

I put my money on #1:Springs are just trash and have totally wrong rates for the car, and non-uniformity of rate, part to part.

I mechanic that I know, told me this morning that the struts are working fine and you don't break them a least that you are going over bumps like crazy. I drive very very carefull and I went to Palm Spring and came back on a billard type of freeway (very smoth).
I called DZ and the guy wasn't in, let's see what he says if he calls me back...

[Brandon402]

I was hesitant to say anything when i first read a few posts about sprint and tanabe springs, because being the "new" guy, it was probabley better to not make a name for myself early in the game. But...... sprint AND tanabe are junk. Tanabe should stick to their exhausts and sprint.... lol, sprint should stick to phones... (thats a joke, i know its not the same company).

I come from the honda side of things and i know from experience, and from friends experiences, that sprint springs have NEVER performed like they were supposed too. They are cheap junk and shouldnt be put on any car, let alone something expensive like an 07 xle. I understand you wanted to go lower than the TRD 1.25 but.... eh....

The ONLY springs I would even consider putting on any of my cars would be either Eibach (ground control, TRD... etc) or Tein. Sorry about whats going on with your ride though. I would highly suggest you pull them off and get your money back though. Just my .02.

[El Tano]

Thanks Brandon402, I will call Sprint tomorrow, but for what I got from the last conversation, they said that they sold like 400 spring without any complaints, bla bla bla...I love the way the looks, but not happy at all with the ride. Right now It's not a big deal because I only use the car like 4 miles at day and some on the weekends, but in January I'll start to drive more and I want to get this fixed by then..
Thanks for your input...

[Brandon402]

Originally Posted by El Tano

Thanks Brandon402, I will call Sprint tomorrow, but for what I got from the last conversation, they said that they sold like 400 spring without any complaints, bla bla bla...I love the way the looks, but not happy at all with the ride. Right now It's not a big deal because I only use the car like 4 miles at day and some on the weekends, but in January I'll start to drive more and I want to get this fixed by then..
Thanks for your input...

Again, thats just my opinion. Im sure sprint has tons of customers who will deny what I say and all that. All i know is what ive seen and all ive seen from sprint springs is plenty of unwanted ricer hop. And im also not saying that DZ is a bad place either. Im just suprised that they wouldnt have steered you toward a tried and true spring like eibach.

I've just never heard of anyone having anything good to say about sprint.

[El Tano]

I had a conversation today, and they told me that even Eibach has the same effect, because they only have one product for the 07 Camries. They also said that I have to let my springs settle and they don't know how long...
Anyway
I went to the Eibach website and confirmed what the guy said, Eibach has the same part number for the 07 Camry V6 or I4 and the Solara, but the lowering rates are different.

Eibach:
07 Camry 2.4L I4 Part# 8273.140 1.0 front 1.4 Back
07 Camry 3.5L v6 Part# 8273.140 1.0 front 1.4 Back
04-07 Solara Part# 8273.140 1.4 Front 1.6 Back

Sprint:
07 Camry Part# 8077 1.75Front 1.75 Back


I don't know how it will lower the same when you have a 220Pounds difference in between the V6 and the I4????

I'm not trying to prove anything just to make people aware of the facts...I'm already stuck with this but it may help somebody who is thinking on putting springs..

NOTE:TRD springs are manufactured by Eibach

[akira751]

Originally Posted by El Tano

I had a conversation today, and they told me that even Eibach has the same effect, because they only have one product for the 07 Camries. They also said that I have to let my springs settle and they don't know how long...
Anyway
I went to the Eibach website and confirmed what the guy said, Eibach has the same part number for the 07 Camry V6 or I4 and the Solara, but the lowering rates are different.

Eibach:
07 Camry 2.4L I4 Part# 8273.140 1.0 front 1.4 Back
07 Camry 3.5L v6 Part# 8273.140 1.0 front 1.4 Back
04-07 Solara Part# 8273.140 1.4 Front 1.6 Back

Sprint:
07 Camry Part# 8077 1.75Front 1.75 Back


I don't know how it will lower the same when you have a 220Pounds difference in between the V6 and the I4????

I'm not trying to prove anything just to make people aware of the facts...I'm already stuck with this but it may help somebody who is thinking on putting springs..

NOTE:TRD springs are manufactured by Eibach

So what are you going to now? I put about 3000 miles on my TRD springs and no issues.

[El Tano]

I'm gonna deal with what I have and pray that some reputable company comes out with adjustable coilcovers or until I blow a strut... I mean, It's done..That's it...

[Brandon402]

Originally Posted by El Tano

I'm gonna deal with what I have and pray that some reputable company comes out with adjustable coilcovers or until I blow a strut... I mean, It's done..That's it...

Hmm.... well its your choice after all, but Im suprised you dont have them take them off and get your money back. You're the customer, you're not satisfied with the product, end of story. You deserve your money back.

And as for Akira, its because of his example that I plan on going the TRD route. I plan on going an inch larger with my wheels though.

I hope it all works out for you in the end though Tano.