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How low should one go (pic included)

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Old 09-07-2012
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How low should one go (pic included)

i have read through the suspension FAQ as well as a few other posts but unfortunately i am still at a loss because my main issue is i do not know how low i should go. i don't want to "slam" my car as they say nor do i intend to camber my wheels so that they stick out awkwardly. i just want to lower my height so get the maximum amount of performance and so my question is what height would be best for handling for my vehicle. i have a 2002 em2 ex
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Old 09-07-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

also i plan to either keep the 15'' rim size or maybe go up to 16'' but thats is as high as i iwll go
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

The general rule of thumb for our civic is that any lower than 2" you start compromising suspension dynamic performance.


I DID say "general" tho.... There are exceptions.
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

I'm only down about 1.2" which leaves a 1-finger gap and I had some pretty obvious clearance issues. But I'm mostly to blame because I bought huge tires (215/45/R17). I just recently rolled my rear fenders, but they occasionally still snag on the tire.

I'd say the EM2 could safely go another 1/2 inch lower assuming a reasonable tire size and offset and still be practical. As for me, i have to wait for a new pair of shoes first
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Psssh. I'm dropped 3+ inches with half an inch wheel gap all around. Running 215/40/17
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

thanks for your advice. will definitely keep that in mind i am looking at these rims from enkei

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...ll&sort=Weight

and i would like to get some nitto neo gens for tires

http://www.nittotire.com/Tire/neogen#size

but it seems like there may be an issue with the size of the tire if i were to go with a 15 inch rim because the recommend tire size is 195/60-15 but the size the tire comes in is 205/50R15. will i still be able to do this combo or would something go wrong?
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

also i am looking at these Tein coilovers and there was a version that have pillowball upper mounts.

http://www.tein.com/products/super_s...illowball.html

i am not sure if i was reading it correctly on another website but it seemed to state that if i got the coilovers with pillow ball upper mounts that i would not have to purchase a camber kit. do yall know anything about that? is it something i should bother with?
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

those have adjustable camber in the front only you still would need a rear camber kit.
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

The nittogen SUCK... Like really really bad.
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by krudmuphin
I'm only down about 1.2" which leaves a 1-finger gap and I had some pretty obvious clearance issues. But I'm mostly to blame because I bought huge tires (215/45/R17). I just recently rolled my rear fenders, but they occasionally still snag on the tire.

I'd say the EM2 could safely go another 1/2 inch lower assuming a reasonable tire size and offset and still be practical. As for me, i have to wait for a new pair of shoes first
I don't quite know how much I'm lowered, prolly a good 2 inches (about 1" from the bottom-most adjustment on my coilovers) and I have zero rubbing issues running 215/45-17s. What offset are your rims?

Originally Posted by Rejin267
also i am looking at these Tein coilovers and there was a version that have pillowball upper mounts.

http://www.tein.com/products/super_s...illowball.html

i am not sure if i was reading it correctly on another website but it seemed to state that if i got the coilovers with pillow ball upper mounts that i would not have to purchase a camber kit. do yall know anything about that? is it something i should bother with?
I have those on my car right now. Love 'em. The front pillowball mounts have a camber plate, so camber is adjustable on those. The rears, I have an SPC camber kit.

Originally Posted by sl33pyriceboi
The nittogen SUCK... Like really really bad.
They're not terrible. I quite like mine, actually. Plus, they're fairly inexpensive. I found a low price online (forgot where though..) and discount tire beat the price, so I ended up getting them for $97/ea
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

two different venues you can go - springs and shocks/struts or coilovers.
at 1" if you looking for performance, you will he happier with camber kits (if coilovers, you might get fronts in the package, but the rear is the main issue)

eibach springs or tein/neuspeed? plus your choice of koni or KYB or tokiko shocks (adjustable if possible - tokiko is not though very good blues)

performance relies mainly on the stiffer springs and shocks that can control the springs, not the height.
205/50R15 is comparable to the 195/60R15 - check the miatanet tire calculator (you read the suspension FAQ, so you know where it is?)
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by xRiCeBoYx
I don't quite know how much I'm lowered, prolly a good 2 inches (about 1" from the bottom-most adjustment on my coilovers) and I have zero rubbing issues running 215/45-17s. What offset are your rims?
the issues i was referring to weren't whether they would rub or fit in the wheel well. i was wondering if the wheel would fit on the tire being that the recommend with (195) was smaller then the width of the tire (205). i don't know a lot about tire sizes so i just wanted to make sure that the tire could still fit on the rim
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by xRiCeBoYx

They're not terrible. I quite like mine, actually. Plus, they're fairly inexpensive. I found a low price online (forgot where though..) and discount tire beat the price, so I ended up getting them for $97/ea
Yes, they aren't completely crap but they suck in anything else besides summer wether.

They are not bad when they are warm or in the summer seasons... You live in a very hot area so I don't doubt they perform well.

When I had them (205/45/16) I had horrendous experience when there was ANY kind of moisture on the ground and I would constantly hydroplane in the rain at freeway speeds.

I would take the fallen 912 over the nittogen
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

anyone know the answer to my other question by any chance?
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

^About camber kits? If so...I'm curious too.
Old 09-08-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by Rejin267
the issues i was referring to weren't whether they would rub or fit in the wheel well. i was wondering if the wheel would fit on the tire being that the recommend with (195) was smaller then the width of the tire (205). i don't know a lot about tire sizes so i just wanted to make sure that the tire could still fit on the rim
Should fit just fine

Originally Posted by sl33pyriceboi
Yes, they aren't completely crap but they suck in anything else besides summer wether.

They are not bad when they are warm or in the summer seasons... You live in a very hot area so I don't doubt they perform well.

When I had them (205/45/16) I had horrendous experience when there was ANY kind of moisture on the ground and I would constantly hydroplane in the rain at freeway speeds.

I would take the fallen 912 over the nittogen
Weird, I've had zero issues with wetness. Heavy rain, not great, but still had decent traction, no hydro planing. Had them on when I lived a winter in upstate NY, no real issues driving in snow
Old 09-09-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by xRiCeBoYx
Should fit just fine



Weird, I've had zero issues with wetness. Heavy rain, not great, but still had decent traction, no hydro planing. Had them on when I lived a winter in upstate NY, no real issues driving in snow
thats the strange part! ive driven in snow with the nittogens and they were fine... just not in rain...
Old 09-09-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by Max91
^About camber kits? If so...I'm curious too.
lowlife already answered that question. With the pillow mounts in the front you wont need a front camber kit but you will still need a rear. If you don't get pillow ball mounts for the front then you may not need a front kit but you will definitely need a rear (unless you enjoy buying tires). If your less then an inch then you may not need one. I think some people with Eibach Pro kits don't use camber kits at all (don't know how their tires hold up).
Old 09-09-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by xRiCeBoYx
Should fit just fine
will they possibly have the tire stretching effect? i really dislike that look
Old 09-09-2012
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Re: How low should one go (pic included)

Originally Posted by Rejin267
will they possibly have the tire stretching effect? i really dislike that look
It depends on your rim size. Here are the optimal sizes of rim width (in inches) and tire width.

6" = 195
6.6" = 205
7" =215

If you got a 7" wide rim, you could get away with having a 205. The "stretching" effects are negligible.
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