Lowered car today
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Lowered car today Finally got the chance to lower my car today.
I did it the cheap way -- by cutting the springs -- and so far I don't regret it at all. I am very happy with the way it looks -- and the ride isn't as bad as I expected. Comparable to the ride of aftermarket springs.
I cut a coil and a half off all the way around .. and it dropped about 1.5". I wouldn't mind it being a little bit lower but it still looks great.
All I have done appearance wise are bulbs and foglight blackouts .... so my car looked pretty much stock. Lowering it took away that completely stock look.
The springs that I used only had a few thousand miles on them .. They came off of a 01 WS6.. and haven't been on a car in a good while. I've heard of the springs taking a couple days to settle .. is this just with aftermarket or will mine be the same? Will it get any lower?
Pictures soon.
::Austin::
I did it the cheap way -- by cutting the springs -- and so far I don't regret it at all. I am very happy with the way it looks -- and the ride isn't as bad as I expected. Comparable to the ride of aftermarket springs.
I cut a coil and a half off all the way around .. and it dropped about 1.5". I wouldn't mind it being a little bit lower but it still looks great.
All I have done appearance wise are bulbs and foglight blackouts .... so my car looked pretty much stock. Lowering it took away that completely stock look.
The springs that I used only had a few thousand miles on them .. They came off of a 01 WS6.. and haven't been on a car in a good while. I've heard of the springs taking a couple days to settle .. is this just with aftermarket or will mine be the same? Will it get any lower?
Pictures soon.
::Austin::
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,341
Likes: 1
Re: Lowered car today I'd like to see pics as well. Did you remove the rubber spacers in the rear or cut evenly all around?
How will this affect handling/ride characteristics? Are the stock springs linear rate? If it works out well for you I might buy the SLP bilsteins and cut my stock springs 1 or 1.5 coils and install the 1LE swaybars.
Cheers,
Chris
How will this affect handling/ride characteristics? Are the stock springs linear rate? If it works out well for you I might buy the SLP bilsteins and cut my stock springs 1 or 1.5 coils and install the 1LE swaybars.
Cheers,
Chris
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Re: Lowered car today I left the spacers in -- but I think I will eventually take them out. I want the back to sit a little bit lower than it does.. not quite even with the front -- a bit higher -- but not much.
I cut 1.5 coils all the way around ..
The ride didn't change drastically -- but what bit it did change, I like. Its more firm and less ... all over the road.
You will need to switch out a few things like lower control arms and stuff to prevent wheel hop with your car being a more powerful one. With me -- I'm not a BIG racer so its not that big a deal.
I have no idea about the linear rate ??
Overall I am very happy with this mod...
I cut 1.5 coils all the way around ..
The ride didn't change drastically -- but what bit it did change, I like. Its more firm and less ... all over the road.
You will need to switch out a few things like lower control arms and stuff to prevent wheel hop with your car being a more powerful one. With me -- I'm not a BIG racer so its not that big a deal.
I have no idea about the linear rate ??
Overall I am very happy with this mod...
Re: Lowered car today I'm not saying I am a pioneer by any means but I was one of the first to cut my springs and explain that it worked great. Everyone gave me the 'your ghetto' response forever but now people are starting to wise up. Mine have been cut for three years with factory shocks and I have no regrets. I've even talked with engineers at GM to find out they cut the springs on some of their factory race cars.
Benefits:
1. FREE! Doesn't get any better than that.
2. You get the look that you want. You want a half-inch lower in front, just cut off more spring. But don't get too crazy.
3. Better handling. By cutting the spring you slightly increase the spring rate which combined with the lower center of gravity increases turning G's.
4. Near stock ride quality. It is firmer but not one-fifth as stiff as aftermarket springs which for the everyday driver/weekend road-warior is a blessing.
5. No loss of traction. Your springs will still unload in the front and load in the rear taking advantage of weight transfer so you can launch the car.
Cons: None! Handling won't be as good as an aftermarket spring but this thread is pertaining to lowering the car, not increasing handling. If that is your mission then get some coilovers and suspension componets from your local L.G. Motorsports.
Note: This is NOT ghetto. Ghetto is cutting the springs while torching them still on the car with the springs loaded, turning the spring red-hot and causing it to unbind. Cutting the springs requires going through all of the steps as changing out the springs. They will be off the car unloaded in your hands.
Benefits:
1. FREE! Doesn't get any better than that.
2. You get the look that you want. You want a half-inch lower in front, just cut off more spring. But don't get too crazy.
3. Better handling. By cutting the spring you slightly increase the spring rate which combined with the lower center of gravity increases turning G's.
4. Near stock ride quality. It is firmer but not one-fifth as stiff as aftermarket springs which for the everyday driver/weekend road-warior is a blessing.
5. No loss of traction. Your springs will still unload in the front and load in the rear taking advantage of weight transfer so you can launch the car.
Cons: None! Handling won't be as good as an aftermarket spring but this thread is pertaining to lowering the car, not increasing handling. If that is your mission then get some coilovers and suspension componets from your local L.G. Motorsports.
Note: This is NOT ghetto. Ghetto is cutting the springs while torching them still on the car with the springs loaded, turning the spring red-hot and causing it to unbind. Cutting the springs requires going through all of the steps as changing out the springs. They will be off the car unloaded in your hands.
Re: Lowered car today IMPORTANT:
DO NOT remove the rubber spacer and replace it with heater hose. Just cut off an extra 1/4 to 1/2" coil to get the desired ride height
Get an allignment within the next 100 miles because your tires will wear down bad. Don't get one and feel the inside shoulder of your tire after a few 100 miles, you'll see what I mean. The steering might feel straight but it is not. I learned the hard way but luckily needed new tires soon anyway.
Lowering the car will require you to get lower control arm relocation brackets to put the LCA's at the right angle again to prevent wheel-hop. You will also need to get an adjustable panhard rod because your rearend will shift to the right and you need this to center it again. Lower control arms aren't required if you don't have wheelhop but they are stronger and you might as well do them while you are down there. Cheers.
DO NOT remove the rubber spacer and replace it with heater hose. Just cut off an extra 1/4 to 1/2" coil to get the desired ride height
Get an allignment within the next 100 miles because your tires will wear down bad. Don't get one and feel the inside shoulder of your tire after a few 100 miles, you'll see what I mean. The steering might feel straight but it is not. I learned the hard way but luckily needed new tires soon anyway.
Lowering the car will require you to get lower control arm relocation brackets to put the LCA's at the right angle again to prevent wheel-hop. You will also need to get an adjustable panhard rod because your rearend will shift to the right and you need this to center it again. Lower control arms aren't required if you don't have wheelhop but they are stronger and you might as well do them while you are down there. Cheers.
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