All you who lowered... Help

[homeslice0229]

I am planning on buying 17's for my car. The wheel gap between these and my stock wheels are abbout the same, so I could get away with not lowering it. But I know it would look a lot better lowered a lil bit. If I were to lower it 1.5-2 inches, would coilovers work fine? I dont want my car "slammed" just lowered a bit. My gsr has 85k miles on it and I dont want a new suspension. Would coilovers work if I only get it lowered 2"? What would be a good coilover set to get, I dont really want my ride stiffened, I like the way it rides now. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[BullShifter]

If you like your ride now don't lower it. By coilover's, do you mean regular coilover springs, coilover sleeves, or fully adjustable coilovers(spring/shock)? I'm guess your talking about coilover sleeves. You will need to upgrade your shocks if using lowering spring or sleeves to control the new spring rates properly.
If H&R makes a Cup Kit for your car, that might make a good choice.
Ride quality cost money, so dont be cheap!

[thewoahna]

Yea, I was talking about just the lowering springs. I was looking into getting tenzo r lowering springs, I dont want to buy those cheap $50 sets. I know I've heard they are bad for your struts, but if I only lower it like 1.5 inches, I don't see how that would be much different that always having a passenger riding with me, or me gaining 100pounds (as far as the the amt of stress on my struts). I can see how it would be no good if I were lowering it 4", but I'm only looking at 1.5". That coupled with my actually buying decent springs I am hoping will work out for me. I am not looking for my suspension to go the whole life of my car, I know that this isnt exactly a good thing for my suspension, but I dont see how it would be any different that a fat guy driving my car around. Let me know what you think, I'm sure some of you guys are just running lowering springs over your stock suspension. Any more advice or insight will be appreciated.

BTW- I am under my bro's name, I' really homeslice0229. Thanks

Here's a picture of my car with the 17"s on. I only put 2 wheels on, the opposite side still has my stock wheels on. I was just wanted to see how they'd look. Let me know what you think (there is only that one picture, so don't bother entering the gallery)
(below link)

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?i...ulation_page=Y

[BullShifter]

Tire Rack has H&R springs for $156(i've seen cheaper other places) - QUALITY! Lowering a car has a different effect than that off weight added to the car. If weight is added, the suspension travel in not reduced - with lowering springs the suspension travel is reduced, meaning that you WILL need aftermarket shocks/struts to control your new aftermarket springs. You could use your stock shocks, for a while. If your having some one else do the work, you'll be paying all the labor twice when you should have only paid once.

[thewoahna]

Thank you for your advice, you obviously know what you are talking about. I think I am just going through denial about having to pay like $800 for a new suspension just to lower my car 1.5". I don't even know if I will end up buying these wheels if I have to lower my car (unless you think it looks O.k in the pic). I may have to look into getting some 16"s so I don't need to lower my car, I like my current suspension just fine. What do you think about how it looks in the pic w/o being lowered (allthough there may be a little less gap when I put all 4 wheels on). Like i said b4, my stock wheels and tires measure up to exactly the same size as the 17's and tires, so I have the same wheel gap with my stock wheels as I would with the 17's. Just let me know what you think, and thanks again.

[BullShifter]

Your link doesn't work

I'd rather have a nice suspension set-up before nice wheels. 17's will give you a shitty ride, IMO, due to the reduced tire sidewall height. The side wall is the first thing that absorbs any bumps.

[thewoahna]

Yea, the link is kinda shitty. It only works like 1/2 the time. I think I decided against these wheels anyways. I think I am just going to look into getting some new 16" rota slipstreams. Thank you for all your help, your advice really helped me out. Thanks a lot

[loesch8102]

Well man, If I were you, I'd go with the 16's and at the same time get the H&R Sport Springs and a set of KYB GR-2 Shocks. They aren't the best shocks in the world but I think they'll do the trick. You'll probably be looking at close to $500 but I think you'll be happy witht that set up.