Best way to lower my GSX

[CLEANest98GSX]

I have researched many different ways on what options I have when it comes to lowering my car but, I want to know which way is truly the best, most reliable way to do it. I live around many crappy streets so I know I don't want to go too low. So basically what should I do so that the car ends up being perfect? Please include pros and cons if any.
Thanks!

 

[AK Maniak]

DO NOT CUT YOUR SPRINGS! the ride is horribly bumpy and its not very safe.

 

[TWOpointFORliter]

I love my pro kit perfect stance and a great ride, and I live in an area with some pretty bad roads.

 

[kingcoyote]

Yeah considering that he's asking about the best way and not the cheapest I don't think cutting them is a very good idea at all.

When I bought my car it had been running on cut springs. This had caused the struts to become completely ####ed. We compressed one of the struts when it was out of the car and waited to see how long it would take to rebound. It never did.

The best way to lower your car and have a great suspension is to get some good coil-overs, but they're pretty pricey. A decent set can run you between one and two grand but will handle great.

If you're on a budget, many aftermarket suspension set ups are lower than factory. My car was stupid low when I bought it but now its at a pretty ideal height for me: low enough to look great but not so low that it handles like shit.

I've got Tokico HPs like these:
Tokico HPK239 HP Suspension Kit

Do the research and find a suspension setup that meets your needs and budget.

 

[Black'95]

Do not cut the springs, and do not put lowering springs or coilovers on your stock struts. +1 on the good coilover set. I have NEX coilovers, got em from eBay for around $700. I've seen em on other sites for closer to $1k, but whatever. I like the ride, and they're completely adjustable, so you can customize the ride height from stock height down to dragging your frame, depending on your wheel size. I'm not a fan of lowering springs cause the ones I had made the car sit un-level. They came with the car and were probably cheap ones, though. The car was ridiculously bouncy. I've also heard great things about JIC coilovers.

 

[zero_wheeler]

+1 on the Tokico HP's
gave me the drop I want, ride quality is fairly nice, and was easy on my wallet

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Best way to lower the car without spending TOO much money is getting a set of Tociko blue struts and Eibach Pro kit springs.

 

[Achelea]

Try this: walk in a crouch for a mile. Not 50 feet, not 5 feet. A mile. Feel how tired your legs are? that's Just about what your shocks will be like if you cut the springs.

 

[spooln4fun]

I like James answer the best haha

I have had cheap coil overs on stock struts and what has already been described will happen. I bought the toxico combo with there springs and it lowered it just enough and rode great!

 

[CLEANest98GSX]

I see, I forgot to add that I wanted to have 18" wheels with whatever lowering set-up I went with so whatever it is, I want it to be compatible with the wheels. Any idea on the profile I should get for the tires?
As far as lowering, I was planning on gettin Eibach Pro Kits with KYB AGX, I heard good things about that set-up. Then I was told if I do that I have to upgrade my rear cambers?
I just want the car to handle better than stock, not too harsh, not pogo stick like, look very well, and not damage anything in the long run.

 

[TofastForU_99]

PLEASE DONT CUT OR TORCH YOUR SPRINGS.... Shoot me a PM if you want some Eibach's Ill give you a hell of a deal to save your life

 

[tunermt]

invest in a decent set of coil overs and never look back, well worth the cost! you can drop under 1k these days and get a decent set of coilovers!

 

[ESleazy]

Although pricey, a nice lowering kit will do the job. Struts and springs will make your ride more smooth at a desirable height. Save a little each week toward the kit you want... it'll be worth it in the long run.

 

[307dsm]

Buy coil overs, best way to chose you height ride.... and reliable.
many to chose from!!

 

[dsm03]

PLEASE DONT CUT OR TORCH YOUR SPRINGS.... Shoot me a PM if you want some Eibach's Ill give you a hell of a deal to save your life

Whats a hell of a deal?? I need Pro-Kits too!



OP, put some fatties in the 2G! Straight lowered, just the cost of gas comsumption with all that weight!

 

[Ludachris]

To those who suggested cutting the springs, I know you might have been throwing out some sarcasm, but please don't do that in the Newbie forum. That's fine for the Hangout or among friends, but don't post that type of stuff here.

 

[96awd]

Pro-kit's on stock shocks is fine.. Hold up great and ride good too. More people buy AGX with Eibach Pro-kit seeing it's amazing. But coilovers is always the way to go.

 

[Aceman]

I have a GST, but I am more than happy with the Tokico Illumina Adjustable Shocks + 1.5" lowering springs. The GSX i believe is a 1.75" drop which I plan on switching to when the AWD swap inevitably happens.

 

[gusu]

There are really good reviews here with the Emusa coil overs. They are like 399.99. 400 bucks for adjustable coil overs isn't a bad deal at all.

 

[whyadsm]

I would get this if I had the money. EXTREME PSI : Your #1 Source for In Stock Performance Parts
Not too expensive for coilover. Straight slap-on. I used to have the Megan tracks on my 240sx and it wasn't too bad of a ride. There is lots of pot-holes here also.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

The best way to lower your car will not involve anything from the likes of KYB, Tokico, Eibach, or Suspension Technique.. not to mention the countless others.

 

[Ludachris]

Pro-kit's on stock shocks is fine.. Hold up great and ride good too. More people buy AGX with Eibach Pro-kit seeing it's amazing. But coilovers is always the way to go.

I beg to differ on that statement. My Pro-kits helped send my brand new AGX fronts out in less than 12 months. Not everyone has had this issue, but many have. You put stiff springs on OEMs or KYBs you're taking a risk. And people don't buy them because they're great, they buy them because they're cheaper than Konis and full coilovers. If more DSMers were serious about real grip/handling, there would be a bigger market for quality coilovers.

 

[dsm4life04]

I'm probably going to get alot of heat for this but in both the dsm's i've needed to lower, i simply went with Tanabe lowering springs (1.5f/1r). I've never used coilovers and never once had any camber wear on either of the cars. I would recommend using an aftermarket set of struts though as lowering springs are very hard on the oem struts. KYB struts are always a good option. This is just my opinion. I spend $150 on a set of springs and that's it. Until it begins to give me an issue I'll keep doing it.

 

[Ludachris]

I have researched many different ways on what options I have when it comes to lowering my car but, I want to know which way is truly the best, most reliable way to do it. I live around many crappy streets so I know I don't want to go too low. So basically what should I do so that the car ends up being perfect? Please include pros and cons if any.
Thanks!

The best way to do it would be to get a set of quality coilovers. The 2g has plenty of options, the most cost effective being the ones from DG (Dennis Grant), which use Koni shocks - I believe they're just under $2k. These will give you exceptional handling as well. You'll probably also need to do something to correct camber to bring suspension geometry back near factory specs - most people use camber correction kits - bushings and bolts. To do it right, you'll likely also need to do something to correct roll center with the car being lower than stock, otherwise you'll almost certainly experience bump steer. Not sure what the 2g guys do for this, but once you do that you'll have a better handling car that is lower without the negative effects of having a lowered car.

That's the correct way to do it. Or, you could just go the cheap route and buy lowering springs. But be prepared for inferior handling. If you just want to have it low for looks and don't care about handling, get some Sportline springs. You'll run through shocks like crazy, but it'll look cool.

Once you do all of that, you can look into swaybars, poly suspension bushings, and chassis braces - again, if you're serious about handling and not just the look of being lowered.

 

[OJmobileII]

Definitely do something to correct the rear camber. Even if handling is not a concern, tire wear should be. Something simple like stacking washers have gotten a lot of DSMers by:

Rear 2G Camber Kit Install