lowering the car
lowering the car So I just got my HP evos, and I am thinking about lowering the car. I dont want to lower it more than an inch. I dont even think I want to lower it that much. Is cutting the stock springs a good idea? Right now my ride height is 27.5 front and 27 rear. If I do lower the car, is an adjustable panhard bar a must? IS it true that lowering the car pushes the rear to one side? Can I cut the stock springs and still be safe. I like the idea of being able to lower it however much I want, and I dont have the money for adjustable stuff, so dont suggest that.
Is it safe to do it. I am not going to go adjustable yet, because I am still in school. Maybe in like 5 years, but for now, I want to lower it. Do I need an adjustable panhard bar? Can I just cut my stock springs?
Ok, so my question is, how is doing this any different than buying lowering springs? To me the only difference seems to be the rate of the springs. If I do this I will only be doing it for apperance reasons. I want the tire/wheel to be able to fill the wheel well more. I never autocross, and rarely go to the strip. I have been 1 time in the last year. Is it safe?
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Verdad Gallardo The panhard bar/rod is a must, without it the rear wont be centered under the car. Lower control arm relocation brackets are optional, but are recomended if you want to regain suspension geometry after lowing the car. For shocks, at the verry least get bilstiens, I live in college station too and most the roads just plain suck. I have bilstiens and the ride still sux, but it would be all out horrible with anything less. I know shocks are expensive, but they are like a cam for you suspension. The cam is what decided how the motor works and makes power, the shocks decide how the car rides and handles, dont skimp out on these. The ground control coil overs are a good choice because you can choose your rate, and choose your ride heigth, but like you said earlier, you realy arent looking for any kind of performance, so this might not be the best choice for you price wise.
So what would yall suggest to lower the car? The ground control coilovers sounded good because I could choose the height. Im not sure how low I want to go. I think I am going to have to get the wheels put on and then decide on how low to go. Can I get away with lowering the car without having to get new shocks?
blu98ta, I'm going to go against the grain here a little and tell you to go ahead and cut your springs. It isn't the disaster that a lot of people think. I have done it twice, but have the GC kit now. The Ground Control kit would be better, but you can get by with this just fine. Keep in mind though that it will be just as much work as installing the CO's, which you will eventually get anyway, so you will be doing all of this twice. The car will bottom out on the bumpstops easier, so you will have to drive more carefuly.
Remove about 3/4 coil from each front spring and 1.25 coils from each rear spring. That should drop the car slightly less than an inch all the way around. I wouldn't remove any more than this because the stock springs aren't stiff enough to handle the lower ride height.
Now use the money you saved on the CO's to get a set of Koni shocks. The stock DeCarbons will be toast after about a year on a lowered car. Koni's are expensive, but you can save some money by just putting them on the front, with revalved Bilstiens on the rear. Sam Strano can set you up with what you need.
Remove about 3/4 coil from each front spring and 1.25 coils from each rear spring. That should drop the car slightly less than an inch all the way around. I wouldn't remove any more than this because the stock springs aren't stiff enough to handle the lower ride height.
Now use the money you saved on the CO's to get a set of Koni shocks. The stock DeCarbons will be toast after about a year on a lowered car. Koni's are expensive, but you can save some money by just putting them on the front, with revalved Bilstiens on the rear. Sam Strano can set you up with what you need.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Lumberton, TX
Yes you can keep your stock shocks and new springs, however don't cut the stock springs. New lowering springs are only 200-230 bucks.
However, don't plan on ever hooking up or using that cam you got, unless you get lower control arm relocation brackets. Like they said above, lowering it will throw your geometry off.
Now you can get away without the adjustable panhard bar.....but those nice new wheel will look like ****. Everyone will be asking you why one wheel sticks out further than the other side. And they'll all laugh at you...
Trust me and anyone else who has done this before, do it right.
However, don't plan on ever hooking up or using that cam you got, unless you get lower control arm relocation brackets. Like they said above, lowering it will throw your geometry off.
Now you can get away without the adjustable panhard bar.....but those nice new wheel will look like ****. Everyone will be asking you why one wheel sticks out further than the other side. And they'll all laugh at you...
Trust me and anyone else who has done this before, do it right.
Ya I think I am going to go ahead and wait until I get the wheels on before I decide if I am going to lower it or not. Who knows, I might be able to live with it not lowered long enough to save money to do it right. We'll see.
Thanks for all the help guys!!
Brandon
Thanks for all the help guys!!
Brandon