Lowering a car... what alls to it?
 

I have a new civic, and I wanted to drop it a bit. (I know, I know, the whole rice thing, but whatever...)

Looking at getting coil overs because in the winter I want to be able to pick the car back up. Someone brought up camber correction kits, and I wanted to know if I need em, and what the effect when I pick the car back up is going to be?

Two words: AIR BAGS!!!!!!!!!!

ya thats your best way to go.....


they give you the drop you want and a damn smooth ride!

when you lower it don't forget to get the NFC stickers to put on your ride...

http://www.mts.net/~darrelb/Fat.JPG

at least that's what the mini truckers used to do in the 80's

heh...no fat chicks

if you want to be able to lower and raise the car coilovers can be a good idea. when doing so make sure you get an actual full coilover system, which will most likely be made up of an adjustable shock and adjustable springs, but will also run you $750+ depending on the brand/quality/etc.

don't get coilover sleeves, like ground controls, these usually don't cost much more than lowering springs. they give you the adjustability that a full system gives you, the only problem is the lowering of the car can be hell on your stock shocks if the drop is too drastic. On the lowest setting on sleeves, your shocks probably won't last more than half a year or so and you'll start having that nice ricer bounce going.

look here to give you an idea. I'd probably stick with Toda, Progress, JIC, Zeal(JIC's american market branding), Tein, Spoon.

WHY do you want to lower your car? For looks? Then do airbags. For performance? Then do it right. New shocks, springs, and a camber kit. Airbags and performance do not mix.

Shocks, ok, SPrings... Coil overs are just that right? adjustable height springs? and then I need the camber kit after that?

My problem is this... I want the looks, but I would also like to improve performance. However, where I live, we get a lot of snow. I have to drive this car year round. If I drop the car, I wont be able to move it come winter. Coil overs, from everything Ive heard, are the way to go in this situation, because you can raise em back up.

If Im going to spend that much on coil overs, what about air ride? Thats not the same this as air bags right?

basically. with the car dropped its going to throw off the camber all the way around, more so in the back. you can do without a camber kit but again you'll get that nice ricer look, not to mention you tires will wear crazy uneven and faster than usual.

In order to drop a car correctly and for it to not cause you problems in the future, you are going to be looking at atleast $1000 in parts, not to mention labor up the ass if you can't do this stuff yourself. Dropping is good, it looks good and the car feels better around corners, but it does cost a pretty good amount of money.

Air ride is a term for airbags!

Well on truck trailers it is:hmm:

But if I where you I would do the coil overs and the whole package....spend the money and get it done right the first time!

Had to know about the air ride. Yea, I think that I may put off lowering the car for a year, get the money and do it right. And yes, I can do the work myself.

Right now Im primarily doing research on all the changes I want to make. This year, I think Im putting new rims on, and possibly a body kit. That combined with maybe a system will tax me out for car parts this year. Next summer Ill look more into the suspension.

In the mean time, Id still love to hear anything you can offer on the subject.

If you want it to look nice just invest in a set of rims only......then put some winter tires on your stock rims and switch them as the seasons change. It will be easier to do than lowering (the only reason I would lower a car if I was gonna race it or have a car just for the summer) also depending on the rims you find it won't be so hard on your wallet.

and body kits suck in the snow.....

unless you get one of those big ricer ones....then it's like a snow plow, vrooom :D

just be sure to keep your existing body parts and not install a perm-fix body kit. Get one thats ment to come off during the winter time or you will not have it on your car by the end of the winter. Its looks vs brains for body kits and snow.

also, you said you wanted to enhance performance. Body kits ALWAYS reduce performance. They're aerodynamic drag, and they're extra weight.

Kind of like a stock Eclipse :D

they come with a body kit stock?

Air bags are for dump trucks.

If you want to race the car, then adjustable coilovers are going to be the best performance-wise. Second would be a shock/spring combo like KYB AGX and Eibach Sportline springs (i used to have that combo on my 240sx and loved it) However it won't give you a slammed look because they will only lower about 2". You can put JUST springs on, but you will bottom out more, and possibly blow the struts/shocks.

Hey, caster camber plates, at least for us stang drivers are not needed unless you're dropping more than 1.5"

Like Kwoodmex said, if you are, you ought to get C/C plates. They cost ~200 (for me they did), if you dont, it is likely that you won't be able to get the right alignment, causing uneven tire wear and crappy handling.

Save your money. It only turns into a money pit.

Been there done that.

Agreed, that bug bit me on my RSX, before I knew it i dropped $6000+ into the damn car, full suspension, turbo, wheels/tires, the usual. Before I said screw this, I was about to funnel in who knows how many more thousands of dollars on building up the internals on the engine and upping the boost. I took everything out and sold it all for minimal loss, now the car is back down to stock excet for a NA ECU flash, and I think I like driving it more now than ever, oh yeah, the ride is more comfortable.

No, but the previous generation was low enough and had a big enough front bumper that it plowed snow. I see it around here all the time during winter.

Coilovers is definitely the way to go. Since you've got a Japanese car, I'd recommend going with Ground Control. They use Eibach springs and are very stiff. Since you do drive a Honda a camber kit IS neccessary, but inexpensive and the coilovers should only be between $250-300. Raising and lowering won't be a problem; for 1 because the ground control C.O.'s adjust easier than others, and 2 it wont ruin your ride quality.

If you're going to get Ground controls, then, as mentioned earlier in the thread, you should also replace your stock shocks. Lowering + stock shocks = greatly reduced shock life.

I know someone in town that has put a shit load of money into a Grand Am. I don't know the price but the car has a 5 speed and he even raised to engine so the tires could sit flat on the road!