Lowering Advice PLEASE!

[Tits&ass]

<!--coloro:Blue--><span style="color:Blue"><!--/coloro-->Hi all, I love all the advice I read about and it really does help, so was wondering if you could all give me your 2pence worth too!

My front right spring broke yesterday and obviously am getting it replaced. however I have been thinking shall I lower it while the oppourtunity is there!?

I am not a pro at all this so could you tell me the pros and cons of lowering my baby. Its a 1998 SE8 2.0l 16v. All as standard at moment, 205/55 R15 alloys too, (dont intend to buy bigger alloys)

I dont want to lower it too much, but what could I lower it too without problems. was thinking 20-30mm! i do about 20,000 a year and like to drive fast and quite hard, no track days.

Dont intend to do the shocks, just the springs, does this cause problems? Which are the good makes?

Cause lets face it it needs to be lowered to be pleasing on the eye, but am not sure how it will effect the rest of the car!!!

Any input would be apprecaited greatly.

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[LewJamBen]

It'd probably be cheaper to get lowered springs than standard ones I reckon, so yeah, go for it!!

[nigescalli]

i always use 30 or 40 mil lowering springs on standard shocks never had a prob

[Tits&ass]

Do I need to change anything else other then the sprigs? What make are good ones?

When you buy a -35mm kit, does it do it 35 mm or does it often go lower!?

I have Air con aswell, so I guess car is heavier, any problems?

[Welsh_Andy]

i always give it 5mm so if it says 35,i say 40mm to be safe,but wot springs you buy is up to you. you only get what you pay for really. go for good ones like eibach gona cost you over £100 or cheapies can be bought for as little as £40 on egay.its down to you. just change the springs over nothing else needs changing

[Fraz]

well that depends on the way you drive and how you like the car to handle. if your like me you want it to go round corners like the proverbial to a blanket...I would say a fully matched kit is better, and go for the best you can afford

but also depends on your tyres and other things of course

[Tits&ass]

Have my mind set on a set of -35mm Eibach's. Read good things about them, can get them for £140! Think springs for the moment and will see bout the shocks later (maybe)!

I do like to corner like on rails but cost is issue at moment as I need 2 new tyres, going for the Toyo T1-R's on fronts as the Goodyear NCT5's are rubbish!

Eibachs seem good, what you think?

[TheEntity]

if you do get eibach.... dont get spax shox afterwards ... with the trouble ive had with them

[Tits&ass]

Thanks for hint, I was hoping that I wont need to buy any new shox to be honest. Cheap and cheerful I hope! Mind you at £170 they aint that cheap!

From what I gather from people you only get what you pay for!

Did you ever have your Eibachs with standard shox, and how much did it lower it by?

[TheEntity]

it lowered it by 30mm.... ish as stated...

ok on standard shox as long as they are not knackered....no point in putting good springs on shox that are knackered.

[TommyC]

Mine is lowered on an Apex -30mm kit (springs and shocks) and handles really well!!!! I have 17's on the car too and imho it looks damn cool!!!!



I love the handling and looks but...........what i don't love is the amount of rear tyres it gets through!!!!!!! I do around 12,000 miles a year and usually have to swap the rear tyres over every 6 months and buy a new pair every year for the MOT.

I've tried the irmscher camber correction bushes, and have fiddled with them loads to get the best from them (in terms of saving my tyres). Imo they're crap!!!!!

Sorry for the rant, but i think you should carefully consider your decision taking into account the mileage you cover..............

[Tits&ass]

Well TommyC I have just read your note and thanks, problem is it is in the garage having the springs changed to the Eibachs as I write this!!!

I hope I dont get any problems with tyre wear, as I do around 20k a year!!

Only time will tell!

I am not planning to do any camber correction, once they are fitted I will get the balancing and tracking done. Will this be enough?

[TheEntity]

yes should be fine once getting the tracking and balanceing done.....

let us know how it handles now....... should be miles better with less body role..
maybe before and after pics if u got it as well

[TommyC]

If you're still running the standard 15's, your tyre wear won't be as bad but will still be more pronounced after lowering. There's a bit more give in the side walls compared to 17's and low profile rubber.

But as i always look at modding, it's a compromise, a trade off. If you want your car to handle much better and decide to lower it, then you will end up with un-even tyre wear and get through them quicker. The same as if you mod your engine for power, it will use more fuel etc etc.

As long as you're happy with the outcome then it's worth doing. I love the way my car handles even if the ride is a little harsh around town (the roads in hastings are bumpy as hell [img]/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) but it comes into it's own on the open, sweeping A roads that i drive a lot. My tyre bill every year is expensive, but i just live with it.......

Hope you are pleased with your newly lowered cally, it should handle much better :icon_nod: (and they look better a little closer to terra firma than vauxhall intended too!!!! [img]/smile.gif[/img] )

[Tits&ass]

New Eibach springs fitted - one word for it - LOW!! I love it, it looks a treat. Lowered around 35mm all round (drivers side front is slightly lower) I am not a F1 driver but instantly it handles so much better, it doesnt wobble around corners now thats for sure. I gave it a good seeing to last night just to satisfy me that it was worth it. 110%.

Tried a bunch of speed bumps, no grounding so far, got mudfalps on mine, rears are ok, fronts are 55mm of the ground! Body is 13cm of ground, so not too bad (I really should put some pics of my lovely on here shudnt I, this weekend I will take some)

Might have to trim the front flaps, will see how it goes.

Sorry if your bored reading this, as you can see i am very happy with these...

On motorway this morning was a little bouncy, my shox are standard, can see y its good to get uprated shox too. Anyone got any good ones lying around which you might want to give me (joking, to buy of them).

Overall I am very happy with it so far, hopefully it contiues to impress. Will get you all some pics.

Thanks for all you comments.