I've got the Koni SA's on the lower perch and heater hose mod. I went this route because I didn't want to worry about every little bump in the road. Unfortunately, even minor speed bumps are a PITA to get over. I've already destroyed my cats.

Is this normal?

 

Wow what kind of speed bumps are you going over? It takes a good one to even hit my dumped duals with turndowns. My car has the WS.6 4x4 offroad suspension option though so thats probably helping.

 

Any time you lower, you've got to change your driving style or learn to enjoy scraping. At stock ride height with stock cats and y-pipe, I scraped on some speed bumps. After lowering, I had to learn to avoid them altogether. I'm much more aware of driveways, speed bumps and bumpy roads.


-Mike

 

Yeah, I know you/re right. I don't know how you guys who really slam your cars can even drive them. I'm lowered a grand total of 3/4", and speed bumps > me.

Oh well. I'm getting some 18" Z06's soon. Hopefully that'll help a little.

Thanks for letting me vent. (I had just taken a non painted speed bump @ 15mph)

 

Going 18's will make alittle worse because taking sidewall out the tire and it will lower the car alittle more.

 

Not quite.
Its the overall diameter of the tire thats of concern. You can have 18" wheel and tire combo with the same overall diameter as the stock 16" wheel and tire combo.

 

Hey Captain, I'm about to do this myself (Koni SA's and heater hose mod). Can you please tell me what the actual drop is on your car? I also have an '02 SS. Thanks!

 

I didn't do a 'before' measurment. If you like, I can go out tonight and measure to the tops of the wheel wells for you.

I can tell you that even with this irritation, the mod was WELL worth it. Car handles like a totally different animal.

 

That's what I want to hear! My front (stock) sits at 27 1/2" to the fender-lip, and the rear sits at 28 1/4". Any info you could pass along to me, would be a great help. I had considered the Hotchkis springs, but feel like the Koni's will still accomplish what I want.

 

With 285/40/R17 tires (bald) My front sits at 27 1/8", and the rear sits at 27 3/8".

So it wasn't much of a drop from stock I see. Just enough to make speed bumps annoying. :shrug:

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks Captain, that helps a lot. I was on the phone today with Sam Strano, discussing the way to go with this. I'm probably going to go Koni SA.

 

Hope I helped.

 

Yes, you did. I drove a friends car last night, that has a Pro-kit and the SLP version of the Bilstein's...not the re-valves I "thought" he had. To be brief, didn't like it. But...he called an acquaintance that has a Koni SA 4/3 set-up, and I'll drive that tonight.

 

I have hotchkis springs with 4th gen koni's all the way around. I have only scraped one time going over a speed bump. The front scrapes the driveway but it is not that bad. It scraped before when I had stock springs.

 

Oh yeah, I bet you didn't like that setup much, and that's why I recommended against you going with a set of lowering springs. I just don't think they are a match for what you are looking for.

Does this other guy have stock springs or not? Remember, you have take all the differences into account. Hopefully his car is stock but for the shocks so you can get a good idea. Even then, the shocks can be changed, you'll only be feeling them @ a particular setting, but I'm sure you'll find it much better regardless of what it is.

 

The Kalifornia type!
Here in SoCal, they make speed bumps that only trucks can get over.

 

Whats the differnce in the to perch settings,1/2 or more.

 

Most folks say it's about a 3/4" drop in front.

 

Yeah, it's about 5/8"-3/4" or so on the lower perch.

 

If you using a lower spring thats say a 1.3 drop you would do better to use the top setting,unless you want the front slammed.Can you change perch setting with the shock on the car.