Lowering > How should I drop the front more

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:22 pm

Hey guys, here's a pic of how the car is currently sitting on a cheap set of lowering springs.

Not too bad, but as you can see in the picture displayed by the ugly green lines, the rear wheel gap doesn't match the front.

The springs on the car are 1.5" drop springs, I'm considering buying another cheap set of 2" drop springs to switch out with the front lowering springs.
***EDIT> The rear is dropped exactly 2.2", front is dropped exactly 1.2"***

Doing so would hopefully drop it to my satisfaction up front. If the front wheel gap still wasn't low enough, I'd fab up a set of aluminum rings to sit on top of the rear struts, install longer studs, and raise the rear a touch to match the front.

Sounds like a serious pain but being on a tight budget and wanting the perfect drop adds up to some work.

Any suggestions guys? Good plan, bad plan? Coilovers are a no go. Thanks for taking a sec to read this - Ryan

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:26 pm

If you notice, the wheel wells are different, and you're generally not going to get it even front to back... the front sits up higher.

If you do lower it evenly, then you're car isn't going to be level.

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:14 pm

ya i noticed the wheel wells were different after i lowered it and really looked at it, i'm still very determined to kill that wheel gap up front, i found a set of 2.5" drop springs for around $95

I've posted this picture before, but this is exactly what I'm shooting for, car is still pretty level imo.

yellowpatrol · Post by **yellowpatrol** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:24 pm

Whoa where are those for $95?

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:53 pm

You drop the front 2.5 and you will kill your struts in weeks

neonpla · Post by **neonpla** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:07 pm

get coil overs.

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:39 pm

when i decided to lower it i accepted the fact that the struts are going to die.

the rear of the car is dropped right around 2.2", its been at least 4 months, they're good. i agree that 2.5" is way too much on stock struts, but i think its my only option, then just wait til they blow out to put tokico blues on? (tociko hp's -> $255 shipped)

i keep searching around, the TEIN S-Tech springs, and the Eibach Sportlines look fantastic on the srt4's, does anyone have the TEIN stech springs or the sportlines?

Loud-e-nuf · Post by **Loud-e-nuf** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:02 am

What about SRT springs? If the perches are higher to fit the taller tires won't the springs also be shorter to compensate?
________
Silver Surfer Vaporizer
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WHITE WIDOW SEEDS

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:12 am

they probably would be shorter, but i doubt they'd drop the car more than an inch if that? not completely sure.

fearingdark · Post by **fearingdark** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:05 am

i got tokico blues and the prokit and have just about the same gap as you. i had some egay springs that my friend cut a coil off of, and i blew the strut in 6 days...

you should try air.....

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:51 pm

Dude, seriously though, try first gen acr/rt springs. Here is a pic of my car with them, it is not too bad, and it is very even lowering all around.

You will notice in the same picture (click on it) that I drew in the lines to show how even it is, but you will also notice that the wheel well up front is larger than the rear wheel well... anyway..

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:34 pm

Did your struts blow??? Why did your car settle so much lower. Before your rear was higher. I got a set of New 1st gen ACR springs to lift my rear so I hope they wont sit that low.

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:58 pm

He doesn't want the car to be even to the ground. He wants the wheel gap to be even.

And i'm totally on your side with this one rmc03. It looks much better to make the wheel gap even then to worry about the whole car being even to the ground.

I like your suggestion of fabing up some spacers to raise the back a little.

The other option is to cut a a coil off the front springs. Since you say you may be buying some new struts anyways, why not.

On a side note. Love them wheels!

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:56 am

Id rather the ride be good and it handle like a dream LOL

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:06 pm

SlvrACR wrote:Id rather the ride be good and it handle like a dream LOL

And your talking about a neon right?

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:38 pm

We have a comedian here

kplaya186 · Post by **kplaya186** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:35 pm

SlvrACR wrote:Did your struts blow??? Why did your car settle so much lower. Before your rear was higher. I got a set of New 1st gen ACR springs to lift my rear so I hope they wont sit that low.

Thats how mine sits too, and I have 1st Gen ACR springs

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:37 pm

Could you PM me a link o pics please

kplaya186 · Post by **kplaya186** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:13 pm

This is the best I have:

Click on it

OB · Post by OB » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:44 pm

Opi wrote:If you notice, the wheel wells are different, and you're generally not going to get it even front to back... the front sits up higher.

If you do lower it evenly, then you're car isn't going to be level.

correct, however it doesnt hurt to even things out if youre rolling on coilovers. I wouldnt be surprised if the car could be adjusted to be more balanced with some individual tweaking. Take a look at Diablo's car, he has the coils adjusted to make the wheel gap pretty damn close, and it looks very good. How it handles when changing the stock balance, I dont know.

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:17 pm

^^ It doesn't affect the cars balance at all by keeping the wheel gap even, because when stock the rear sits higher then the front anyways.

Even wheel gap > even to ground

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:57 am

is it relatively safe to cut a coil off of the front springs? i'd imagine you just cut it so it matches the bottom how it was? i'm thinking about trying this, i doubt i could get much for the springs if i sold them used anyways.

i was actually thinking about coilovers a little bit. by the time i would buy a set of tein lowering springs and get tokico struts, thats roughly $450-500. are there any decent coilover setups out there for around $500 or less?

blazesxt chimed in and showed me the drop on his car, it seems like the tein lowering kit is the closest to what i'm interested in. i'm worried that 100+ lbs of audio stuff in the trunk might make it sag a bit, so i might not have any way around my spacer idea unless i go with a coilover setup.

thanks for the input guys, i appreciate it. - ryan

00element10 · Post by **00element10** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:45 am

i dont think you can cut a whole coil off the neon springs, i know the stock neon's coils are huge, if you did cut a whole coil you'd have like a 4" drop, and if you did that all the way around....you'd be pretty parallel with the ground, mainly because you'd be on it...

one thing to note tho, if you drop it to where you want it, with the second picture i think, i would look at some clearance issues, it looks like your tires would hit the fenders and the quarter panel, it might just be the chop tho...

most lowering springs will have the front sit higher, no matter what car you put them on, well...springs with a decent drop, on modern cars anyhow, because when you the put weight in the car, it brings the front end down more, like if you and a buddy got in the car, the fender well gap wouldnt be as big.

i think it looks good the way it is. But i think if you're really looking to get a drop you like, i think i nice set of coilovers would be best, or air bags, drop it to where you want it, raise it up a bit when you have to.
but those options are a bit more expensive than lowering springs.

fearingdark · Post by **fearingdark** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:05 am

i think the car up a few goes PPSSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:34 pm

fearingdark wrote:i think the car up a few goes PPSSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!

I think you could be right

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:01 pm

luckily i took a pic of the springs before i installed them. here is the front pair:

i'm pretty sure that they sit the other way around on the struts (upside down in that picture). so i guess if i did cut them at all i'd have to cut the some of the top coils off. i don't think there's any way to gauge how much to cut off at once, i'm thinking i would have to take off little by little and keep bolting everything on and off until i got the right drop. sounds like a pain, but might actually be worth doing.
i'm curious as to how it would drop the front if i took off exactly one coil and made it match up as shown in red on this picture:

just can't mess it up, or i would have to put on the stock springs

OB · Post by OB » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:10 pm

Id just skip all the headaches if i were you and either purchase coilovers (if you want performance AND adjustability), or maybe even do airbags if youre all show. TEIN's basic coilovers are just under 1000 bucks, and pretty much anything cheaper than that is gonna have to be used, or ebay brand. Thats speaking in general, there are some exceptions.

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:16 pm

Your basically going to ruin any ride you had with those, but im sure you already have your mind set on it. I just hope you like bouncing out of your seat, make sure to tighten your seat belt. I beleive there is a set of Ground Controls on ACR struts still for sale cheap on the boards

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:08 am

honestly i think once you go past a 1.5" drop with lowering springs the ride is horrible, how much worse can it get? haha

i'm still wondering about cutting the springs, the problem is that i don't have $250 to put into new struts at the moment, so that idea will have to wait.

i think my best bet on my budget is to buy a set of tein s-tech lowering springs, they're pretty low in the front like i'm looking for. then i would just have to make those spacers and extend the studs on top of the rear struts a bit to make the rear wheel gap match the front if needed. then just install the new tociko blue struts all at one time ->under $500

i'd love to go with coilovers and have the option of adjustability and to be able to raise it in the winter, but the cost of a decent coilover setup just seems too high for me.

rmc03 · Post by **rmc03** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:52 am

quick question, do tociko struts make the car sit lower than stock struts? i'd imagine they both sit the same but i was just wondering. thanks guys - ryan