Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

lowering and wheel selection?

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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 03:47 PM
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Default lowering and wheel selection?

I am thinking of lowering my car and getting some new wheels for it. Currently it is bone stock. If I were to get the Koni 4/4's and Strano's Lowering Springs, would there be an effect on my choosing of new wheels for it? I am planning on getting some c6 z06 rims from oewheels that are 18"X9.5 front, 18"X10.5 rear.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 06:14 PM
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An adjustable panhard rod and rear lower control arms would help a lot to keep everything centered up and limit the amount of "massaging" you'd need to do to keep from rubbing. Most of it is in the offset of the wheel, though - if it's wrong, there won't be much to be done to make it fit.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 06:17 PM
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I have 18x10.5 in the rear and I'm dropped more than an inch. Just get a big hammer And pound out the inner well. And grind the bump stop
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 06:50 PM
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according to the info with the rims it says it has a 56mm offset, and after reading up on the wheels forum and the guides there it says I will need a bfh. All that means is I need to pound out the wheel well on the trunk side of the car, right?
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 07:55 PM
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Yep. Best way to do it is to install the wheels and see where you need to BFH. One thing to also keep in mind is that you may not be able to jack the car up using the chassis with the wheels on, because of the bump stops.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 08:34 PM
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I have never used a hammer mod to make any of my wheels fit... just get the correct set.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 09:08 PM
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Ok maybe someone can point me in the right direction or explain it. These rims( http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...heels-Chrome_3 ) are the ones I am looking at, they have the +56mm offset. Would I need a wheel spacer to move them slightly over? What is a good spacer to use?
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 10:03 PM
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I've 315's on a 56mm offset zr1 in the rear and I use a spacer. I don't remember the exact size but it pushes the wheel out of the well at least a good 1/4 to 1/2 inch. When my Koni/Strano's come in I'll see what happens with the drop. otherwise it's BFH time.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 10:06 PM
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to the best of my acknowledgment those would fit without any problems, I have the same wheel set up on my 97 Z28 18x9.5 front and 18x10.5 rear. The only way you would have problems is if you go to wide of a tire in the rear. I have bf goodrich kdws 295/35/18 in the rear and i have no rubbing problems. I also have BMR lowering springs and koni 4x4 shocks, I also went as far as trying a 305 a buddy of mine had and that still didnt rub. though you will hear this many times over and its true, every car is different.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 10:15 PM
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No spacer is a good spacer to use. I don't know any of the suspension vendors that recommend them, let alone sell any. If I recall right, 50-56mm is the correct offset for Firebirds; I think the Camaros are a little different, but I can't remember which way.

Regardless of the offset, I'd do the BFH far before I'd run a wheel spacer.
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Old Aug 6, 2011 | 10:39 PM
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Alright, all this info has been quite helpful...and quick. Now to just move my moneys around so I may get these things.
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Old Sep 19, 2011 | 11:46 AM
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Ok, I now have a new question. Pertaining to Strano Springs and lowering. When the springs are installed does it lower the car to low to use a lift to raise the car up and do maintenance on it? I know when I took it to a self service shop and changed out my axle seals the guy that was there complained about how hard it was to get the lift arms under the car with its current ride height. Any inputs would be helpful.
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Old Sep 19, 2011 | 12:58 PM
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^^^If it's a four point lift just get a couple of 2x4's and roll the car up on those for the lift clearance. Just make sure they're not to long towards the door or the bars will hit the 2x4's. I use 1' long 2x4's for the front wheels and a 3' 2x4's for the back and just let the excess hang out towards the rear of the car.
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Old Sep 19, 2011 | 05:10 PM
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cool, so now I just have to order those parts and I will be done with mods for a while. Just went and spent almost 5k on parts.
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