lowering car and possible probs

[ianwells100]

dominic, thanks for that last post, all my questions answered, thanks man, hopefully as many others can be help from this, as i have

cheers [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Arctc Wolf]

All the different components of the suspension work together, so when u change 1 part, u'll affect the other parts. for example, when u have stock suspension and chassis, and u get grippier tires than stock, you'll be able to corner better and get better traction, but only as much as the suspension will allow. in ur case, u wanna change ur springs to lower it. yes, it will handle worse because the stock shocks aren't set up properly to the new springs. also, if you run sticky tires, u'll get massive amounts of wheel hop if u ever floor it from a stop. another thing, when u look at the car from the rear, u might be able to tell that the rear end is off-centered because of the lowering springs. I'd say, u might corner better, but ride quality will suffer, and traction will suffer if u just do springs. basically, the suspension will be as good as the weakest part.

In my case, I'm a kid goin 2 college, so i don't have the cash to do a proper lowering kit install right now, but what I am doing is getting the car set up so when I can afford it, it'll work well w/ the rest of my suspension mods. For example, I put z-rated 255-50-16 tires on my car b4 any other suspension mod, this forced the suspension to give b4 the tires did, which was kinda scary in my opinion, then i put on a STB, which helped cornering better, then I did 1LE swaybars, which helped both cornering and traction because of the bigger bars. Now, I'm dealing w/ wheel hop, so i'm gonna do LCA's. also, since my car has t-tops, it isn't as ridgid as a hardtop would be, so I'd also gonna put on SFC's. I'm hoping by christmas, I'll be able to put on some serious rims and rubber, in the 17x9.5/274-40-ZR17 and 17x11/315-35-ZR17 sizes, and I'm worried that the tires may rub if the rear end isn't centered, so I'm gonna put on an adjustable PHR when I do the LCA's and SFC's. I don't know what I will do after all this to prepare for a lowering kit, which I have picked out a Ground Control kit w/ Koni ride adjustable shocks, but perhaps it'll be a stronger, lightweight k-member for the front, or I may just save up for the kit and relocation brackets I'll need(i didn't get adj. lca's, so i'll need relocation brackets to be able to still make good traction w/o wheel hop). I plan on my kit being in the range of $1200-1500 installed. I don't know how much I wanna lower the car yet, which is why I'm getting the coil-over kit, so i can adjust the ride height to whatever I want between stock and 2 inches lowered.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

I jsut got my ground controll kit.. and i am waiting on a set of bilsine hd's and some bushings.. the kit looks sweet as hell..

and the fact that you get to chose your spring rate it nice

~Billy

[Arctc Wolf]

how many spring rates can u chose from? also, do they help u match the spring rates to the suspension u already have?

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

Again.. call up sam strano.. his whole thing is helping you design a kit that fits your EXACT needs..

the setup I got is coil overs, bilstine hd's and front end bushings..

he will also explane things like alignment, why you dont need relocation brackts.. ect ect..

I think the springs can be pruchased in any number of 25lb increments..

~Billy

[pvtschultz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> 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.

<hr></blockquote>

Wait a second Dominic, have you looked at your drive shaft lately, there are 2 universal joints, one next to your tranny, one next to the axle. I'm not trying to make you sound stupid, but you did just give an unknowlable rookie some false information. The difference in the case of our cars is that by dropping the car you are actually decreasing the drive angles of the U-joints, helping them live a lot longer life and taking better loading. Well, up to a point, but there is an offset between the pinion shaft and the tail shaft. Anyways, I just want to make it clear that w/o U-joints to allow drive angle change, cars would not be able to have a suspension.

[Arctc Wolf]

Oh, so u got the kit from strano instead of straight from Ground Control? Ground control is about 2 1/2 hrs from my house, so I'd be able to call in my order or drive down there to order it, and pick it up myself. Also, are their spring progressive rate, or linear rate?

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

they are all linear I think.. You can ask sam or ground control.. regardless linear = better.. more consistant, less wear on shocks..

sam wont recomend very stiff setup.. so progressing rate wont be nessisary.. Progressive rate springs are BS IMHO.. he described the setup i will be running as a "BMW with a solid rear".. But we will see about all that..

and! the other thing is you will NEVER! find out eibach or h&r's spring rates.. they refuse to give them out anymore.. sam couldent even get them.. It sucked.. so thats why i ended up with the coil overs..

dominic has some rates on his website.. but.. they are pretty much wrong.. I dont know where he got that data..

Basicly.. strano is just a quazi middle man.. he helps you decided what you want, and then places the order with ground control.. and they ship it out to you.. so.. it made my life easy in the sence that i only need to place one order..

But in your case i would just go directly to GC if you want.. unless you have questions call sam.. since they ship directly from GC it will cost you like nothing.. hell.. over here to Maryland the shipping was like only 15 bucks..

~Billy

[Arctc Wolf]

if you can't get the specs on the springs, then how can u figure out what springs u'll need 2 match w/ ur suspension?

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Arctc Wolf:
if you can't get the specs on the springs, then how can u figure out what springs u'll need 2 match w/ ur suspension?<hr></blockquote>

Yep.. that was the problem..
I found a company DMS (dynamic motorsports).. they were willing to give me the spring rate.. But they are new.. I have a friend that got their springs, but they have not ben installed..

the big spring companies are evolving into A**H**** they used to give it out.. but not anymore.. ohh well..

thats why i wnet with coil overs.. they are not that much more expensive, you can pick your ride hight, and you get to pick your spring rate.. it takes out all teh guess work..

good luck with whatever decision you make..
let me know of you need anymore help

~Billy