I wanna lower my car... pls advice.

[andylawcc]

before anyone start the flame... no I am not ricing out my car. I have no stickers, my exhaust is stock, my wheels are 14' steel with hubcaps, and no bigass bodykits; AND, I intend to keep it that way.

I do want to though, is to lower the car just a bit and stiffen up the suspenion coz the bodyroll is quite excessive; and yes, who I am lying to, I want to make my car look better.

well, I have 3 options,
1) cut the stock springs
2) get new springs
3) get new springs AND new shocks

so, I asked around, and the general concensus is 1) is SUPER bad, so forget that.
Some say it is a more elegant way to go with 3) coz the "damping rate of the stock shocks will not be able to handle the new springs and eventually breaking the stock shocks." while the other say it's okay to go with 2) since I am not going to drop it aggressively.

so 2) or 3)? I don't want to throw in extra 300 buck unnecessarily for the new shocks when the springs can pretty much archieve what I want.

 

[SWirth86]

What car?

 

[Amused]

If money isa problem, go with two and start saving for new shocks ASAP. Itherwise, go with option number 3.

Number one is not even an option.

BTW, What car is it?

 

[Maverick]

here's some advice....don't do it

I know a girl who did and speed bumps are her #1 enemy. Not to mention every other hill that makes her car bottom out.

 

[HappyPuppy]

The only way to do it right is #3, new springs and shocks.

If you cut the stock springs or get new "lower" springs you will be decreasing the downward travel of your shocks and increasing the likelihood that you will be bottoming the stock shocks out. This will destroy the existing shocks fairly quickly.

Your best bet is to do it right the first time rather than doing it wrong and paying twice.

 

[mztykal]

I say either number 2 for now if you don't have a lot of cash. And get new struts/shocks later on when your stocks blow. Or if you have enough go for number 3. If you do number 1, I'll personally fly to your house and put the car on jackstands till you buy real springs.

 

[andylawcc]

oh, this is my car


so should I just save up to do both ( 3) ) the same time coz it will save me the labor cost?
well, the bigger question is, are the shocks absolutely necessary?


and thanks Mztykal, I am cutting 'em springs with a butter knife right now, I can't wait to see you fly here...




edit to fix link

 

[m2kewl]

do not choose option one, i know ricers who did this and totally fvcked up their cars; you will get into accidents too.

 

[Zorro]

Remove the tires that should lower the car.

 

[Heisenberg]

Definitely #3. I suppose you could do #2 if you had to but I would just wait if you can't afford it now. Do not under any circumstances do #1.

 

[slikmunks]

the link isn't working for me... what kind of car is it?

 

[prodigy]

fixed link

 

[NutBucket]

Please #3. I assume you'll be at the meet next week so I can show you what I threw on my car, Tokico shocks/springs. Five way adjustable damping and a mild 1.25" drop using sport springs. Total cost, about $550 with labor done myself. Well worth every penny. Car handles excellently considering i'm still using stock sized rubber.

 

[earthman]

If you want to improve the handling of this car get some bigger wheels and wider tires with more grip. It will make FAR more difference than messing with the springs (which you will be sorry you did) and your car will look better as well. You don't have to spend a fortune, you can get some wheels from a salvage yard, and maybe some usable tires as well. Lowering your car, no matter how you do it, will shorten your suspension travel and cause problems both with the ride quality and just driving on normal (bumpy) streets. It should only be done as a last resort. You could also add some larger sway bars if that is really a concern.

 

[andylawcc]

nutbucket: I definitely look forward to meet you and James (again).

earthman: you are tHE FIRST one who ever told me that, and i like it but I am talking about Bodyroll, not handling capabilities (well, I would want to improve that too)

 

take off the tires

 

[NutBucket]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention those sway bars I put in. Stupid polyurethane bushings. Ugh, if I knew they would always squeak I would have figure out some other way.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Oh yeah, forgot to mention those sway bars I put in. Stupid polyurethane bushings. Ugh, if I knew they would always squeak I would have figure out some other way.

They greased? I have polly bushings, and mine do not squeak.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: earthman
If you want to improve the handling of this car get some bigger wheels and wider tires with more grip. It will make FAR more difference than messing with the springs (which you will be sorry you did) and your car will look better as well. You don't have to spend a fortune, you can get some wheels from a salvage yard, and maybe some usable tires as well. Lowering your car, no matter how you do it, will shorten your suspension travel and cause problems both with the ride quality and just driving on normal (bumpy) streets. It should only be done as a last resort. You could also add some larger sway bars if that is really a concern.

I agree 100%, I'd do this before dropping it any. Don't forget you can get some much stiff (or adjustable like Koni) shocks in the stock length. Even without wheels, just shocks and roll bars can make it feel like a new car.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Oh yeah, forgot to mention those sway bars I put in. Stupid polyurethane bushings. Ugh, if I knew they would always squeak I would have figure out some other way.

They greased? I have polly bushings, and mine do not squeak.

I greased them. Started squeaking again after 2 months or so. What kind of grease are you using?

 

[Ns1]

ah a tiburon


#3 is the only way to go

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
nutbucket: I definitely look forward to meet you and James (again).

earthman: you are tHE FIRST one who ever told me that, and i like it but I am talking about Bodyroll, not handling capabilities (well, I would want to improve that too)

Sway-bars are your friend...will GREATLY reduce body-roll....I'm talking a night and day difference here.

Also: aren't polyuruthane bushings a good thing compared to stock rubber bushings? They flex much less so its good for handling.

 

[rubenswm]

option 3

check out www.groupbuycenter.com

coximports.com has a GBC special on koni reds/eibach prokit (1.25" drop)

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
ah a tiburon

WHAT? I find that as an insult!

haha

maybe this pic will do justice.

http://www.alltrac.net/events/051901/dsc01982.jpg

okay, mine is that minus the AWD, minus the turbo and 100 hp, and divide 3 time for the looks.



and thanks Rubenswm for the links... (but tirerack.com is still abit cheaper though, i am suprised)


anyways, about the bigger wheel thing,
I am hesitant to go thru that upgrade route because
a) if I want bigger rims, I want nice ones, and I am quite picky because it will make or destory the looks on a car. case of point, those spanish rice civics with chrome bling-blings or Accord with 100-spokes lowriders rims, as seen in the movie Baby Boy.
b) bigger rims = $$$ (i can get 16' standard OEM steel rim from tirerack for 50 bucks a piece though), but, big rims also = big tires = $$$$$$$. with the way I drive, I generally chew up tires in a year. also, my car is very very underpower, (108hp), with larger rims mean more unsprung weight mean crappier acceleration. and my car's zippier acceleration is only pathetic attribute I can take pride of. (since my car is light, 2500lb, I enjoy tossing it around)
c) lowering looks better unless I got these wheels...
http://www.toyota-trd.com/en/strt/wheel.html



hum, maybe I should start out with Tower Bars first huh? they run like 150 bucks a piece right? but tirerack nor groupbuy nor coximport sell them...

 

[StageLeft]

I want to make my car look better.

What's that cooking? RICE!!!!