04-07-2004, 06:41 AM | #1 (permalink) |
Fledgling Dead Head
Location: Clarkson U.
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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? |
04-07-2004, 07:37 AM | #4 (permalink) |
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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when you lower it don't forget to get the NFC stickers to put on your ride...
at least that's what the mini truckers used to do in the 80's
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04-07-2004, 07:58 AM | #5 (permalink) |
Crazy
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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. Last edited by kwoodmex; 04-07-2004 at 08:05 AM.. |
04-07-2004, 08:22 AM | #7 (permalink) |
Fledgling Dead Head
Location: Clarkson U.
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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? Last edited by krwlz; 04-07-2004 at 08:25 AM.. |
04-07-2004, 08:53 AM | #8 (permalink) | |
Crazy
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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. |
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04-07-2004, 09:01 AM | #9 (permalink) | |
Lost!!
Location: Kingston, Ontario
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Well on truck trailers it is 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! |
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04-07-2004, 09:28 AM | #10 (permalink) |
Fledgling Dead Head
Location: Clarkson U.
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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. |
04-07-2004, 10:54 AM | #11 (permalink) |
Buffering.........
Location: Wisconsin...
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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.
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Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985 Last edited by merkerguitars; 04-07-2004 at 11:07 AM.. |
04-07-2004, 11:50 AM | #12 (permalink) | |
Lost!!
Location: Kingston, Ontario
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04-07-2004, 06:08 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Metal and Rock 4 Life
Location: Phoenix
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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.
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04-08-2004, 06:32 PM | #18 (permalink) |
Crazy
Location: 1000 miles from nowhere
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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.
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04-08-2004, 09:39 PM | #19 (permalink) | |
Future Bureaucrat
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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.
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04-09-2004, 05:36 AM | #21 (permalink) | |
Crazy
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Last edited by kwoodmex; 04-09-2004 at 05:39 AM.. |
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04-09-2004, 07:36 AM | #22 (permalink) | |
The sky calls to us ...
Super Moderator
Location: CT
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04-09-2004, 09:44 PM | #23 (permalink) |
Upright
Location: NorCal
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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.
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04-12-2004, 09:48 AM | #25 (permalink) | |
Lost!!
Location: Kingston, Ontario
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Tags |
alls, car, lowering |
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