Lowering

[|Rev|]

hey guys, I am workin on getting some Enkies 17 wheels, but I noticed that theres a healthy gap between the wheel and wheel well, so I wanna lower my car, but how much do you guys think I should lower it? And what kind of springs should I use? BTW I live in Longmont, CO, the roads are really crappy here, and it rains quite a bit, so would lowering it put the intake in danger of water splash from puddles?

[FormulaNERD]

i just lowered mine with Sprint springs from suspensionmax.com, i really like them, and they were only 150 with shipping included, got here in 4 days and i installed them myself in under 3 hours.

i have 18" wheels, and my gap was horrible, but i really like the way my car looks now... if you want before/after pics let me know

as for the intake, i wouldnt worry all that much. no matter what your ride height is, the only way for water to enter is through the headlight/foglight housing, you should have all the plastic underneath and in your wheel wells, so i wouldnt worry about water.

[FormulaNERD]

oh, and when you go to get wheels, get them test fit on some 35's or 40's, i got 18"s and i really like them, but sometimes i'll look at them and wish i had 19"s

so it's better if you have them put a 17 and an 18 on, just to get an idea... any decent wheel shop will do it for you, if not, i wouldnt buy from them anyway.

if you're ever in denver go to coys wheel connection... thats where i got mine, i'm very satisfied, and they gave me a good deal.... i think they supply the wheels for monster garage too, not that that really matters any.

[BLK03GXS]

Umm... i beleave the H&R's or the Eibachs are the least drop, however either of those 2 springs are made for handeling... if thats what your looking fer...

[FormulaNERD]

oh, i forgot to mention that the sprint springs are a 2"+ drop, but i dont think it's too low. and they ride really firm for cornering, but if you dont upgrade your struts, it might be a little rough on bumps

[Final-Reality]

I noticed those sprint springs from suspension max, they're only $172 with free shipping right now, but I wanted to get the ST Springs instead because I have never even heard of sprint springs... and I didn't want to get them in case they sucked :P

[FormulaNERD]

they "offer" the same drop, but the sprint springs are a little stiffer. my buddy has the spring tech, mine dropped a little more in the back, but my front hasnt settled yet. and i just got them last week, they were 149 shipped, the spring tech were like 129, but 40 to ship or something, so the sprint actually came out cheaper, and they are the better spring, IMO

edit:

i just checked the site.... they raised the price for both the sprint and the ST... thats no fun, well luckily i got mine when i did, and i paid 5 bucks for tool rental to put them on.... very cheap and satisfying mod!

[sympley]

How did you change you springs yourself? How difficult it it? What kind of tools do you need? Please help, I really would like to get them done myself. I also want the KYB.

[smokinAMD]

Intrax!

[Naich]

Intrax or ST :)

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by sympley@Jun 24 2004, 03:32 AM
How did you change you springs yourself? How difficult it it? What kind of tools do you need? Please help, I really would like to get them done myself. I also want the KYB.
i used the aleromod tutorial

[|Rev|]

K I am thinking about iether getting the ST or the sprint springs, but, if I do get one of them, will I have to replace the stock struts? how low does the ST springs lower it, I got my wheels, and now the gap is just even more noticable lol

[Voodosoup]

You shouldn't have to replace your stock struts right away, I've had my intrax on for over a year now and the stock struts are still ok.

And you don't have to worry about puddles with the CAI, but if you try to drive through water that is as deep as the bottom edge of the chassis below the door, you will suck water into your motor. :D :D

[3.4Alero]

Don't change your springs yourself unless you have access to air tools.

[bigd6983]

why 3.4 i know tons of people who have done it without air tools.......

[bdyman]

just keep this in mind too, anytime you lower the center of gravity on a car is goin to handle better
i personally liked my spring tech springs, they drop more in the back but once settled it was a nice even drop, almost 2inches
performce aspect, loved em` takin corners at 35 plus hardly any body roll
eibach is more of a performance spring for like what 3.4 does and matt does
i would say go with spring tech, and if you never did springs before i would suggest you have someone do it
and yes air toold make it so much easier and safer so does a spring compressor make it safer as well
or ya could just wait when i get my air ride and buy my coil overs..l.ol.....

[3.4Alero]

If you are experienced, then do whatever the hell you want. But for someone who obviously has never done anything like this before, I would say don't do it without air. Just my advise, take it for what it's worth.

[ptrudel]

i'd be too damn scared to do it without air...those things have lots of pressure..they somehow manage to get away from ur grip, definately gonna get hurt

[|Rev|]

sweet, after I get more motor in my car, I will most likely get sprint tech springs, maybey in like September or somethin I will get em, need to get more "go" and less show

[Redog]

Originally posted by 2000_olds_alero@Jul 5 2004, 08:59 AM
i'd be too damn scared to do it without air...those things have lots of pressure..they somehow manage to get away from ur grip, definately gonna get hurt
I was too damn scared to do it period

Stock srping are under 600 lbs. PSI

If you're going to do it yourself, air tools. The springs won't hurt you if they shoot off, they will just take your head clean off

[BLK03GXS]

Originally posted by Redog@Jul 5 2004, 10:26 PM
Stock srping are under 600 lbs. PSI

If you're going to do it yourself, air tools. The springs won't hurt you if they shoot off, they will just take your head clean off
Thats funny....lol

how manny of you have accually dismantled suspention b4?
Its not nearly as scary as you make it sound redog

Im more scared of Propane bottles... :unsure:

[FormulaNERD]

i used a spring compressor, but when i did the first one i guess it wasnt compressed enough, still had a little spring to it, to make a long story short, the strut shot downward and hit only one toe... it's broken still.

[3.4Alero]

I did mine, and it was the first time I had ever dug into automotive suspension. As long as you're careful, you can do it, but I would still recommend air tools and a decent spring compressor.

[merlot566jka]

howdy there folks, Im kinda new here but was an avid member of J-body.org for over 4 years. With my experience in the past, ( I had an 88 Z24 2.8 my Z24 (http://www.j-body.org/members/merlot88z24/cars/)), I put on the Eibach Springs, my struts and shocks myself. It was very simple and while it may be dangerous, so is driving, as long as you know what you are doing then you'll be just fine. I suggest a Haynes or Chilton manual to help you through your small endeavour, they will illistrate and outline all important factors to take into consideration.
As for the choice of springs, thats a heated debate that I wish I had more information to base my answer on. But all I have is my expierence, which has been with Eibach, Intrax, and Spring Tech. Out of all of those I was most impressed with the Eibachs I had on my Z24. Not only because of the look, but also because of the performance. They reduced body roll a great amount and made recovery from sharp cornering more predictable, not to mention after settling the drop was about 3/4s of an inch more than advertised. With a time tested and world wide name like Eibach, why would you go for anything other than them? Intrax is made for sport compacts, which in my opinion I dont think anyone will ever consider an Oldmobile a sport compact ('cept maybe the Cutlas Calias 442). Spring tech is fairly new to the market and when I rode on a set it felt like stifffer shorter springs, nothing more. I dont feel as though they payed much attention to the type of car and the dynamics of the ride. Like I said tho, this is my opinion and my my experience. Hell for under $300 a set you could buy each set every month and see which you like the best and sell the rest on ebay!! LOL well maybe not.

Happy motoring

[merlot566jka]

well im putting my foot in my mouth here...im gonna get the sprints and try them out...only because i need them shipped fast and free. if i dont like em ill sell them on here for cheaper than i bought them...
plus i like the drop of the sprint springs and the eibachs are designed for the 3400, i will have a big gap in front and little in the rear. not my idea of good looking. ill let ya know how they do

[ptrudel]

u won't regret the sprints...that's what i've got and i love 'em :thumbsup:

[|Rev|]

I lied, I cant wait to get more motor in my car, I got a paycheck today, and it was more than I thought, so I couldn't resist getting rid of the gap, I ordered sprint tech springs like 10 min ago, I mean come on its free shipping! :thumbsup: My friend has installed them before, he says its easy, we actually plan on doing it at my house, do you guys think if we are careful this is possible, or should I have someone put them on for me?

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by |Rev|@Jul 13 2004, 06:36 AM
I lied, I cant wait to get more motor in my car, I got a paycheck today, and it was more than I thought, so I couldn't resist getting rid of the gap, I ordered sprint tech springs like 10 min ago, I mean come on its free shipping! :thumbsup: My friend has installed them before, he says its easy, we actually plan on doing it at my house, do you guys think if we are careful this is possible, or should I have someone put them on for me?
you should be fine man, it's not as bad as people make it sound, it is dangerous, but the only accidents come from people who arent actually aware that the springs are so compressed, as long as you have your friend pressing down on the springs you'll be fine.

and for everyone else's info... the sprint and spring tech are the exact same thing.

[rowdygls]

yeah i just received my sprint springs today, should have them on in a week or two.

[|Rev|]

sweet thanx formulanerd, that makes me feel better.

One more question, I oredered them Monday night at like 11:30 my time, I did overnight shipping because it was free, so I knew they wouldn't come til atleast wednesday, but they are not here, you think because its free shipping, they are only doing ground instead of overnight?

[Sundayalero]

Originally posted by |Rev|@Jul 14 2004, 11:14 PM
One more question, I oredered them Monday night at like 11:30 my time, I did overnight shipping because it was free, so I knew they wouldn't come til atleast wednesday, but they are not here, you think because its free shipping, they are only doing ground instead of overnight?
Either way, they should be able to give you a tracking number and you can see exactly where they are.

[rowdygls]

free shipping is only on ground shipments.

[|Rev|]

well thats retarded, what if someone really needed it overnight, and was willing to pay? :huh?:

[ptrudel]

u woulda had the option to pay...but if u selected free shipping, it will be ground..

[SouthDakotAlero]

Will the Springtech Springs that fit a 99-01 Grand Am fit on an Alero? The part numbers on Suspensionmax.com are different, but I thought I would ask anyways.

[Sundayalero]

Not sure, but are you buying them from Suspensionmax.com? They do have a part number for an Alero.

[SouthDakotAlero]

No, a guy is selling them that were purchased for a Grand Am. If they were the same I could get them cheaper that way though.

[Redog]

Originally posted by BLK03GXS@Jul 6 2004, 08:01 PM


Im more scared of Propane bottles... :unsure:
BOOM :lol:

[springs fastest alero]

Originally posted by |Rev|@Jul 15 2004, 02:33 PM
well thats retarded, what if someone really needed it overnight, and was willing to pay? :huh?:
if you dont have them on yet and your willing to take a drive to the springs I'll help ya out.
I've done a few grand ams and aleros and know the tricks on how to not mess them up.

[|Rev|]

I got em on allready, but thanx for the offer!

[springs fastest alero]

Originally posted by |Rev|@Aug 8 2004, 05:27 PM
I got em on allready, but thanx for the offer!
NP

[alerored04]

If i have a sytem in the trunk will that affect the drop i would get from any of these kits, and would i end up with a lower rear than the front? I really want to avoid that look, i like the aggressive low front end look, will my 2 12'' stereo make this a problem?

[bdyman]

it never caused me a prob when i had my spring techs on
plus if ya have the v6 it should even out a bit more then us 4 banger guys
but if ya have air or juice then no prob at all or a coil over

[alerored04]

good cause i just dropped 500 on intraxx 1.75 springs and kyb gr2 struts, im glad to hear that it wont give me a prob, they come in next thurs, im freaking out until they get here and installed!! I cant wait, ill let u all know how they work out! :thumbsup: