Lowering my car...

[HardD99]

hey guys, i should be recieving my eibach lowering springs tomorrow, but i am unsure of how easy it really is, i read the how to in the forum, but it's not too explanitory, is it hard? please share your experiences.. thankx

[Dustin Woods]

to make things much easier make sure you are using a spring compressor.

I paid somebody to do my suspension and they did a very nice job. It was well worth it.

It helps to know somebody that knows suspensions so then you can ask them any questions!

best of luck, and if you do it yourself be very careful compressing the springs!!

[Rba007]

Without knowing a thing about it, it took me and a friend 14 hours! Its worth it though. Im sure you could do it much faster.

[HardD99]

well.. did the front today! looks awesome! next month i am going to order 20" rims, i sure hope they fit nicely.... i am going to lower the back tomorrow, then i'll post some pix

thankx guys

[claymore]

I have a question about lowering, I have 18" wheels and when I bought them the guy I got them from said i shouldnt lower the car because there was only a half inch of clearance around the struts and suspension parts.
Was he BSing me or what???
How big and wide can you go before it matters? :confused:

[jordanGT]

my clearances are pretty tight with my 18s (i had to get weights that stick to the inside of the rim itself instead of the ones that clip onto the inside lip cuz the clip-on ones hit the strut) and when i lowered it, i had no troubles.

[claymore]

I have those weights on my rims now but i have spacers in the back . Do you think I would have any problems with clearance if i lowered? I know you cant probably give a exact answer but amuse me... :)

[Black Z28]

depends on how close your wheel is to touching anything.

[jordanGT]

well, my thinking is this: i had mere centimeters of clearance with my 18s and stock suspension, and when i lowered it, i had no problems. so i doubt your clearances are going to be much tighter than mine were back there.

[claymore]

thanks for the input, Im just looking around right now im not doing any thing untill next spring.
Would Air bags be better? (more expensive i know)

[HardD99]

i am getting 20" rims in about 2 months, but i have 1 1/2" spacers, and i am going to roll the fender up, i am really hoping they are going to fit.... i saw 20" rims on orange delights car, so i know it CAN be done...

[MagiLLa]

what are these spacers people are talking about?
im getting rims that have +42mm offset, and everyone says they'll rub a bit..... people said spacers will help, but what are they and how much?

[claymore]

I had to get spacers for the back with my wheels. for some reason the wheels where still loose even when the nuts where tightend down. The nice man at the wheel shop gave me chrome spacers for the back wheels. all they are is a pice of metal about 1/4 of an inch (mine) or larger that keeps your wheel and tire from hitting any thing when the springs compress or some people (i think) use them to make their tires stick out more.

[claymore]

ok, I have a question.. If i lower my car... will i have any problems with clearance on the thing the spring sits on right above the tire?? because like i said earlyer, when i got these wheels the guy told me i had a 1/4 of an inch clearance, well the only place that i can see or feel a distance problem that small is right above the tire where the spring actually sits on that piece of metal.
I dont think ill have a problem because i think it goes up and down with the spring and tire at the same rate and lowering shouldnt effect the tire at all or lessen the distance between the tire and this pice of metal. if you dont know what im talking about but want to help me out ill probably have pics of what i mean ready by next tuesday. I finished a roll of film and i can send a pic to you via email if you want to help me.
thanks,

[qwik99gt]

Originally posted by claymore
ok, I have a question.. If i lower my car... will i have any problems with clearance on the thing the spring sits on right above the tire?? because like i said earlyer, when i got these wheels the guy told me i had a 1/4 of an inch clearance, well the only place that i can see or feel a distance problem that small is right above the tire where the spring actually sits on that piece of metal.
I dont think ill have a problem because i think it goes up and down with the spring and tire at the same rate and lowering shouldnt effect the tire at all or lessen the distance between the tire and this pice of metal. if you dont know what im talking about but want to help me out ill probably have pics of what i mean ready by next tuesday. I finished a roll of film and i can send a pic to you via email if you want to help me.
thanks,
Claymore, you shouldn't have any problems. You are exactly right, because the piece moves with the suspension the distance between it and the tire never changes. Oh, and that piece is called the strut collar. I had to clearance mine to fit my wheels (sledgehammer go bam bam) and had no problems. The only thing to worry about is the front tire rubbing with the steering wheel cranked to one side. There's nothing worse than driving home from the tire store and hearing SKREEEEE and seeing chunks of rubber fly past the window....lol

[claymore]

:rolleyes: that would suck in a major way :cool: but thank you for the info. I have good clearance all the way around other than just above the tire. the gap is so small that i cant even stick my finger in it :eek: but the tires are not rubbing at all. :thumbs:
one more question though, how easy is it to install lowering springs if i have a spring compressor? cause you can buy them off ebay.

[qwik99gt]

My fiancee's Dodge Neon has a gap of about two hairs between the strut collar and the tire. I can't believe Dodge designed it sooooo close.
Without a spring compressor you can't change the springs. (unless you get ingenuitive:thumbs: hint: I compressed springs on my S10 using a jack stand under the A arm and slowly lowering the hoist to take the load off the ball joint. I'm lucky to be alive...) You can rent the compressor for free from autozone. Pay $40 deposit and then return it and get your deposit back. :D

PS- To change springs: On the front you have to completely remove the struts from the car, on the rear you only have to undo the top mount and angle the strut away from the body. This will save a decent chunk of time.

[claymore]

thanks, i was planning on going super sayian and compress them by hand lol (just kidding) I have a buddie who works on cars so i might ask him, I dont want to pay an arm and a leg to have a shop do it if i dont have to. although it probably would be the best to do it, that way if they mess it up its their problem. ;)
Thanks for all the info, and next spring when i finally decide to do it ill post the pics.
later