lowering w/o stabilizers?
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not really... not sure what you mean by "stabilizers" , maybe sturt bars??? but I would suggest doing it the right way with full coil overs so you don't blow your stock struts...
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
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What are stabilizers? You will need shocks eventually. right now the best thing to do is to get true coilovers.
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Rep Power: 412 Go ahead. you will be riding on blown struts and then you will come back here saying "i blew my struts, what can I get now?"
I'll have to shed a little light on this topic.
It's OK to be lowered on stock struts but it's not the wisest decision. First of all, you don't know when they'll blow but you do have somewhat of a better chance of them lasting for a good time if your car is pretty new but there are other things that play into how well the stock struts will hold up (how you drive... quite possibly if you have a 2k1 because 2k1 shocks suck on most cars...)
You have to really take in consideration if it's really worth it to lower your car that way. I personally don't think it's worth it. First of all you can only go so low on stock struts before they end up bottoming out. Second of all, stock struts cause the car to bounce too much and if you like driving fast, too much speed + a bouncy car = less traction leaving you prone to losing complete control of your car. All in all it's quite uncomfortable performance-wise and even going as a daily driver. Potholes and uneven pavement will own you.
Some of us can deal with it, but it's better that you just prevent all that by saving money and putting it into springs and struts, OR a full coilover system where you don't have to worry about the integrity or longevity of your stock parts.
It's OK to be lowered on stock struts but it's not the wisest decision. First of all, you don't know when they'll blow but you do have somewhat of a better chance of them lasting for a good time if your car is pretty new but there are other things that play into how well the stock struts will hold up (how you drive... quite possibly if you have a 2k1 because 2k1 shocks suck on most cars...)
You have to really take in consideration if it's really worth it to lower your car that way. I personally don't think it's worth it. First of all you can only go so low on stock struts before they end up bottoming out. Second of all, stock struts cause the car to bounce too much and if you like driving fast, too much speed + a bouncy car = less traction leaving you prone to losing complete control of your car. All in all it's quite uncomfortable performance-wise and even going as a daily driver. Potholes and uneven pavement will own you.
Some of us can deal with it, but it's better that you just prevent all that by saving money and putting it into springs and struts, OR a full coilover system where you don't have to worry about the integrity or longevity of your stock parts.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 It depends. The HR cup kit which is a matched shock/spring set (ie You cannot adjust the height) will run ya about $600-700 maybe a little more. The cheapest full coilovers out are probably the Teins or the B&Gs which will run ya about 1K. If you are just looking to lower, then go with the HR cup kit. 2" in the front 1.7" rear.
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Rep Power: 0 i found skunk2 adjustable coilovers for $310 on adventon.com Good? bad?
I kno i will need new shocks, but wat i meant by stabilizers was stabilizer bars. I was told that the stock shocks could hold out for awhile after lowering the vehicle.
I kno i will need new shocks, but wat i meant by stabilizers was stabilizer bars. I was told that the stock shocks could hold out for awhile after lowering the vehicle.
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Rep Power: 412 You will still need shocks eventually. that is kinda expensive for skunk2 coilovers. Those are sleeved coilovers not true coilovers. Yes you can lower without strut bars.
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Rep Power: 0 but is it a good idea to lower w/o stabilizer bars? i mean... wat r the bare essentials to lowering a car? srpings rights? but then u need shocks. The stabilizer bars r responsible for keeping your suspension more rigid so that it handles better around turns. Honestly... im in a pickle..... springs & shocks r wat i need to lower my car right? wat bout stabilizer bars.. later? or u dont really need them @ all...
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From: Luling, Louisiana
Rep Power: 0 It matters what you want to do. Are you going to curicut race or AutoX? Than you would want all of that stuff ASAP. If you like to drag or show, you dont need it. It just matters what you want to do.
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Rep Power: 0 I got Eibach Pro 1.4" drop with Koni Yellow:: out the door with tax I paid 750.00.....
The only thing I dont like right now (I havent had time to fix) is when I turn my wheel, it makes a squicking noise.Thats because the whole unit moves and when i installed I didnt grease it...
The only thing I dont like right now (I havent had time to fix) is when I turn my wheel, it makes a squicking noise.Thats because the whole unit moves and when i installed I didnt grease it...
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 he is talking about strut bars. If you just want to lower, then all you need is springs. But you have been warned that you might blow your shocks. You do not need anything else than that. No sway bars, no strut bars, no tie bars, no poly bushings, nothing else. If all you want to do is lower, then just springs, then shocks.
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From: RPV, CA.
Rep Power: 0 so my basic understanding is to get either springs and shocks, or a full coilover system. Which way is the better route? If i get coilovers they must be adjustable, all i want to lower is bout 1.5" front and back, lower and the oem kit will bottom out and it will be ruined. The eibach sportline is perfect but if including shocks, it might run as much or more than a full coilover system, so ya... The more info ur given, the more questions u have... sorry guys... can u help me?
Originally posted by AznPhoenix
but is it a good idea to lower w/o stabilizer bars? i mean... wat r the bare essentials to lowering a car?
but is it a good idea to lower w/o stabilizer bars? i mean... wat r the bare essentials to lowering a car?
Personally I have taken my car into the twisty hills without aftermarket struts and a rear anti sway bar. It's fine the way it is, you just better hope the road stays consistently flat so the front of the car won't bounce too much.
The better route depends on how much you think you'll need to change your suspension. Springs need aftermarket struts. After that, you're set. Sleeved coilovers need new struts and you're free to adjust the height - and you're set.
Full coilovers are typically the better choice. You get the springs and struts all in one package called a damper. What the dampener does is adjust the stiffness of the strut which can further improve handling or give you a soft pleasurable ride which is one of the main ingredients and advantages of having full coilovers. There are sometimes a few extras like a pillowball uppermount (I keep forgetting what it does) and special coating to keep your set-up from rusting in the wet weather (Tein SS is the only set-up I know that's prone to this). If money is not a problem for you, some companies offer coil springs with spring rates of your preference which is especially useful if you're picky about spring rates or need a set-up for a certain race event.
So if you think you need a damper, spend a little extra money but keep in mind that even if you were to get new springs or sleeved coilovers, Koni Yellows (the only available strut for our cars in the aftermarket business) are adjustable and can adjust how firm or soft the ride can be, but from what I've heard even on it's stiffest setting the ride won't seem so stiff as some people may prefer. If you have problems with your Konis you might have problems getting them fixed as well, where as when you put more money into full coilovers, a company will more than likely make a better quality product as well as give you a better warranty.
In the end, you get what you pay for.
Last edited by SlammedBlueEM2; Aug 15, 2003 at 03:32 AM.
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Rep Power: 412 good post slammed. Read the Suspension Tuning 101 that ZZyZx put up for us all to look at and you can understand most of the suspension parts. Search the net and this site also. We have done alot of talking about tie bars, sway bars, strut bars, etc. You have to find out what is best for you.
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Rep Power: 380 this is the fun part about suspension theory, its just that, theory. Untill we actually put a given suspension in to pratice, then we can only speculate as to how a given suspesion will perform.
one of these days Ill finish that wright up.
one of these days Ill finish that wright up.
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Rep Power: 380 springs and shocks.
either seperatly (like H&R springs with Koni Shocks) or as a Kit like Tein SS or H&Rs cup Kit (May not be availible). those parts are the core of your suspension and every other part you add on afterwards (Anti-roll bars,tires ect...) will need to be tuned to work with the springs and shocks. Choose your spring rates by how you want them to perform (Comfort or handling) then pick up other parts afterwards. (You allways tune your suspenion by Spring rates first!)
either seperatly (like H&R springs with Koni Shocks) or as a Kit like Tein SS or H&Rs cup Kit (May not be availible). those parts are the core of your suspension and every other part you add on afterwards (Anti-roll bars,tires ect...) will need to be tuned to work with the springs and shocks. Choose your spring rates by how you want them to perform (Comfort or handling) then pick up other parts afterwards. (You allways tune your suspenion by Spring rates first!)
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 Sure, you really need to search around and find out what is best for you. Please stop asking us what sounds good. You can do any set up you want and be happy with it. It depends on what you want from it. Search around and see what people have done and how they like it.
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