Lowering the Imp
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Lowering the Imp I purchased a set of 18" SM Tach wheels from Tirerack and mounted them onto 255/45/18 tires and would like to lower her an 1" or so. I never lowered any of my casr in the past and would like to know what's all involved in the process...whats the recommended products out there for our cars?
Thanks
Thanks
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Waterloo, Illinois
Yea, you would more than likely rub with the 255's when you hit a decent bump; however, it really depends on how far the wheels and tires stick out.
If you do rub after you lower your impala, you may be able to roll the fenders to stop it.
If you do rub after you lower your impala, you may be able to roll the fenders to stop it.
One of two big mistakes I made was to put 255's on my wheels. Rubs on the lip of the QP pretty badly, and rubbed on the spring perch as well. When I lowered it, it rubbed even MORE. Also, I'm surprised TR allowed you to put 255's on the 8" wide wheels...that's the bare minimum width, and it's not always recommended.
Regarding lowering the car, reuse the stock struts (or buy new OE struts*), install the SSC's, install camber alignment bolts, install anti-pogo washers, and, depending on how many miles you have on her, consider replacing your strut mounts.*
If you're doing this yourself, buy (and promptly resell afterward) a fender rolling kit. You can also rent them from places on ebay and elsewhere. You're probably going to need to do this even if you don't lower it, since you put the 255's on. It may only happen on bumps or when the trunk is loaded, but it's a nasty sound to live with. Shops may charge $200 to do this for you, and they still may crack the paint.
*I'd do the mounts and replace the struts only if you have more than 50k on her, and for a 2008, me thinks that would be tough to achieve.
Regarding lowering the car, reuse the stock struts (or buy new OE struts*), install the SSC's, install camber alignment bolts, install anti-pogo washers, and, depending on how many miles you have on her, consider replacing your strut mounts.*
If you're doing this yourself, buy (and promptly resell afterward) a fender rolling kit. You can also rent them from places on ebay and elsewhere. You're probably going to need to do this even if you don't lower it, since you put the 255's on. It may only happen on bumps or when the trunk is loaded, but it's a nasty sound to live with. Shops may charge $200 to do this for you, and they still may crack the paint.
*I'd do the mounts and replace the struts only if you have more than 50k on her, and for a 2008, me thinks that would be tough to achieve.
IIRC, the Eibach kit is 1.2" F/R, and the only other setup is by Sprint, and I don't recall anyone ever going that route.
Someone pointed me to spring spacers a while ago...they recommended them b/c I didn't like how much lower the rear appears. It's just the shape of the rear QP that makes it look that way, though. I haven't R&R'd the rear springs yet, but will likely install the spacers when I do so.
Someone pointed me to spring spacers a while ago...they recommended them b/c I didn't like how much lower the rear appears. It's just the shape of the rear QP that makes it look that way, though. I haven't R&R'd the rear springs yet, but will likely install the spacers when I do so.
Trending Topics
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 622
Likes: 1
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
One of two big mistakes I made was to put 255's on my wheels. Rubs on the lip of the QP pretty badly, and rubbed on the spring perch as well. When I lowered it, it rubbed even MORE. Also, I'm surprised TR allowed you to put 255's on the 8" wide wheels...that's the bare minimum width, and it's not always recommended.
I'm lowered 2.5" in the front (255/45-18) and 2.0" in the rear (225/50-18) and don't rub whatsoever.
My GXP has about 52K on it and I never really thought about lowering her until recently. If I do end up lowering her, would you recommend that I replace the struts also?? I ask because word of thumb is: replace the springs, replace the struts 
SSC Springs are 1.7/1.5 for 2006-2008 Monte Carlo SS #21-2921
1.6/1.6 2006-2008 Implala SS #21-2721
1.7/1.7 2004-2007 Grand Prix #24-5221
http://www.superiorsportchassis.com/..._app_guide.pdf
1.6/1.6 2006-2008 Implala SS #21-2721
1.7/1.7 2004-2007 Grand Prix #24-5221
http://www.superiorsportchassis.com/..._app_guide.pdf