lowering car and possible probs

[ianwells100]

hey guys, i was talking to a friend the other day (he doesn't know f-bodys particuarilly, but is good with cars) and he said that if i lower my car i could do some damage to the universal joint, if i screw up the angles too much.

i was thinking 1.5 inch drop front and back, so would this cause a problem, or will it be fine

thnaks
ian

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

nahh.. dont sweat it..
Just get a kit.. get it installed..
and make sure you get an alignment after..

~Billy

[ianwells100]

i was thinking of just getting the springs, is this a bad idea (remembering that i'm a university fella with a budget), and if so what does the 'kit' include

thanks
ian

[Arctc Wolf]

possible probs: tire rub, rear axle off centered, traction loss. All these can be fixed w/ an adjustable PHR as well as either adjustable LCA's or LCA relocation brackets. A lowering usually comes w/ springs and shocks. I'd suggest a coil-over kit so u can adjust the ride height to the specs u want, and no matter what, get adjustable koni shocks for adjustable ride quality and dampening.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

Right.. adjustable pan hard rod is essential..

Umm.. as far as Lower control arms or relocation brackets.. I would not worry as much about those..

coil over kits w/springs are like 400+ dollers..
I got mine from sam strano..
But i am also crazy..

I would get a set of porgressive rate lowering springs and an adjustable pan hard rod..
the while thing will cost you like..
250 for springs,
110 for PHR
and like 60 bucks for an alignment..

so.. you are looking at around $400..

If you have questions about this call up sam strano.. he runs a parts buisness (they are online, do a search).. really really really helpfull guy and his prices are ok..
I get all my suspension stuff from him..

~Billy

[Arctc Wolf]

the lca's or brackets are also essential. If u like flooring ur car, u'll get a lot fo wheel hop if u lower ur car. that won't help u when racing, so unless u just like cruisin like a low rider, u'll wanna get lca's or relocation brackets.

[Dominic]

Since your car isn't FWD, you dont have universal joint half shafts or any of that mess... Please tell your friend how RWD Live axle systems work.

1.5" drop will not cause any problems, you will be A-OK.

[ianwells100]

so dominic, are you saying that i'll be ok with just new, progresive springs, or do i need the relocation brackets.

thanks for all the advice guys, if there's one thing i don't know much about, its suspension... [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

I dont know all the technical "happy foo foo" explanation for the logic behind what sam told me.. but.. for auto-x you can.. and shuld pass on the relocation brackets.. they are not esential for that small of a drop and the side effects are desireable.. you can call and ask him if you want the details of it..

What do you plan on doing with the car.. auto-x or drag racing.. or both..

if drag racing i WOULD get the relocation brackets..

if auto-x.. call up strano.. and ask him about it.. he will be able to explane it all better then anyone here can.. He will also take the time to educate you and help you make a decision..

~Billy

[ianwells100]

my plan is just for a better lookin' car, i don't drag (except for punk a$$ kids who want a piece)
i just use this car to get to and fro uni, and to and from the beach in the summer, its only a 3.4L so no strip days for me, i love my car, don't get me wrong, but i'm waiting to finish school, and get a Z28, so for now i just want a really nice lookin' car, hence the drop, and because i do no really serious stuff, thats why i was just thinking of getting the springs, only, if i had to spend $300 US + then i probably wouldn't (uni ppl have no cash)...

[O0oSKAMo0O]

get some springs the ones on the z28 fit on your car and visa versa but the v8 have higher spring rate so youd be better of gettting v8 springs so you can recycle.get a pan hard rod too.

[ianwells100]

how much would the z28 springs lower me though?

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

umm.. they wont lower you at all.. hell, they will probably make you ride a little higher in the front.. higher front spring rate + lighter front = higher front ride hight..

If you really just want the looks.. you can get away with just a coil over kit.. It will "WORK".. however your car wont handle as well as it could, and possably worse then stock..

Other options include cutting/heating springs like all the ricers.. STAY AWAY FROM spring cutting/heating.. very bad idea..

~Billy

[ianwells100]

i know, i would never cut the springs, but the only plan i was thinking of was just to replace the stock springs with lower, progressive (stiffer) springs, especially made for v6 camaros (cant remember the name, but they are run of the mill springs)
i would think this would make the bumps more noticeable, but we drive f-bodys, not cadillacs, the rides aren't to comfy now, so i'd rather loose a bit of rid comfort and gain looks and cornering stability

[Dominic]

Okay guys, lets get some things straight.

1) What lowers your car isn't the spring rate, its actually the height of the spring uncompressed if the spring rate is the same. V8 springs wont lower a V6 as much as they say, you might only get a 1.2" drop instead of 1.5"

2) If you want new springs for the car, thats all you *need* to lower it. Nothing will mess up, but it will be harder on the shocks so don't expect it to handle better. You trully need properly valved shocks for stiffer springs, but heck i know lots of people who drive daily without them... So, go cheap if you want - its your car and you don't race it [img]smile.gif[/img]

3) you dont need relocation brackets, don't worry about it. You also don't need a new fancy adjustable panhard rod... don't worry about it.

Anything else?