Lowering my car

[nate379]

I know there have been MANY posts asking for info on lowering a car, but I read... read... read and don't seen anything that answered all my questions.

I just bought a 1991 Eagle Talon TSI AWD. It's bone stock with 73000 miles. It's just a "beater" car that will serve as a daily drive. Don't plan on racing or anything like that.

I'm coming from the 4x4 world, so I know lots about lifting stuff and seting up suspensiosn with solid axle rigs, but cars are new to me.


I realize that I need 4 springs, is that all I need? I have been looking at the Megan springs which are around $100. Do I need a camber kit, shocks, etc?? if I do is there a way to get by without that stuff. Keeping it cheap is better, though I don't want it ride like crap either.

 

[PIMking]

There's a good 4-5" wheel gap, so I would think 2" is about right.

if you have 12" wheels...... there is only about 3 inches from the top of the tire to the wheelwell lip..

Besides if your in it for looks be my guest but im not going to have to worry about inclines and railroad tracks because the car sits to low.

 

[nate379]

More than 3" for sure. 16" wheels on it. 205/55/16 tires.

Don't plan on driving over railroad tracks.. I have a truck, Blazer and a Jeep to do stupid stuff like that in

 

[U2_slow]

How low are you planning to go. Since the car is going to be a DD, I wouldn't lower it at all so you don't lose ride quality.

I made this mistake when i first got my car, and it butterflied my 2 front wheels...

those were the days.

 

[nate379]

These are 2" drop... I think it looks nice.

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[nlzn]

2 choices, hope they don't blow, or buy performance replacements like KYB AGX shocks/struts.

Please don't provide false information. Not only is this incorrect, KYB specifically states otherwise.

I'm in the process of converting back to stock springs, keeping my Tokikos on the car and going back to stock wheels tossing the 17's in the garage. I'm tired of driving a lowered car everyday.

If you want to lower and be safe, first, don't get megan springs. There's some ugly reviews here on them sagging and even though I don't have personal experience with them, I'm inclined to go with you get what you pay for in regards to them.

Second, you should be ok up front on 2" with some +3/-3 camber bolts which you can get online or locally. For the rear you're slightly screwed, you'll need either some control arm inserts or new control arms all together to adjust them. My rear is lowered 2"and I'm rocking at least 3 degrees of negative camber.

Third and also last: ANY standard strut you get will eventually blow on that type of drop unless stated otherwise. The absolute cheapest shock that will withstand this are Konis, I think the yellows can be adjusted to 1" drop out of the box and they dyno almost as well Bilsteins.

GC Coils + Koni cartridges are another option you can go with. Anything else and you're on borrowed time.

Goodluck!

 

[nate379]

I decided not to mess with the struts so I returned the Megan springs. Not sure if I should go with the Tein springs or Eibach.

Tein is 1.2" front 1.6" rear. Eibach 1" front and rear

 

[98GST6BOLT]

ya im ordering the megan racing springs for my 98 gst soon. its a 2 inch drop and there on extremepsi.com for 109 best price ive seen

 

[rich3389]

I put megan racing on my buddy's 2g, they sit real nice but he blew out his stock struts with them springs in like 3 weeks.

 

[95redturboawd]

Anybody have any suggestions for a spring between the Megans 2" and the Eibachs 1"? 1" isn't enough and 2" is too much if I end up keeping the stock struts. And nate are you sure about those numbers for the Tiens? The drop should be more in the front.

 

[mnr88talon]

Anybody have any suggestions for a spring between the Megans 2" and the Eibachs 1"? 1" isn't enough and 2" is too much if I end up keeping the stock struts. And nate are you sure about those numbers for the Tiens? The drop should be more in the front.

check out H&R Springs or even B&G, my friend had B&G's on his 2g and they are also available for the 1g.. they dropped his car about 1.5 to 1.6 and had great ride quality

as for me, i went the budget route and went with the Megan Racing 2", with KYB GR-2's.. the ride quality with the megan springs wasnt too great and i didnt really notice much with the GR-2's but all i was really going for was a lowered look anyways..

its been over 15,000 miles (car is a DD) and i have not had any sagging in the springs or any blown shocks so i cant really complain about anything. Overall i love how it feels like im basically sitting on the road when im driving and i like how the car looks

 

[nate379]

Those are the numbers on the Extreme PSI website.

Anybody have any suggestions for a spring between the Megans 2" and the Eibachs 1"? 1" isn't enough and 2" is too much if I end up keeping the stock struts. And nate are you sure about those numbers for the Tiens? The drop should be more in the front.

 

[PIMking]

as for me, i went the budget route and went with the Megan Racing 2", with KYB GR-2's.. the ride quality with the megan springs wasnt too great and i didnt really notice much with the GR-2's but all i was really going for was a lowered look anyways..

its been over 15,000 miles (car is a DD) and i have not had any sagging in the springs or any blown shocks so i cant really complain about anything. Overall i love how it feels like im basically sitting on the road when im driving and i like how the car looks

I just went this route.

total of $356.40 But I needed new struts in the worst way so I was not going to put the stock springs back on.

My car isn't a DD So I think I can handle the the ride.

 

[mnr88talon]

I just went this route.

total of $356.40 But I needed new struts in the worst way so I was not going to put the stock springs back on.

My car isn't a DD So I think I can handle the the ride.

yeap i got gr-2's all around for like 70 bucks off ebay, and then the megan springs for like $150 from bonehead performance and it all does what ive needed to do
then i lowered it on a weekend at the chevy dealership i used to work at so it was great having a lift

 

[nate379]

I was just wondering, do I still need the rear camber kit with a 1" lowering kit?

 

[GS ice T]

I have the illumina/pro kits combo which lowered me about 1.25" once it all settled and I went ahead and bought the Ingalls camber kit but then read that it's really not necessary unless you drop 1.5" or more. I continuously checked my tires after installing them and its been over a year and the tread still wears evenly. I read just a little negative camber is actually good for handling. I still got the camber kit if anyone needs it though.

 

[Chrispittman]

I'd say you're okay without a camber kit at that height. I lowered mine 2" all around with H&R and tokico illumina's and I was going through tires like you wouldn't believe.

 

[nate379]

10-4, will return the camber along with the Megain springs then.

 

[woowoopdoo]

I have the Eibach Pro Kit. So I'm lowered 1". I absolutely dislike it but it looks nice. I'd rather have a stiffer suspension at stock height.