[JFBP4991]

I live in northern Ohio and every winter we get about 8-10 feet of "lake effect" snow (3 meters for you guys outside the U.S.). Yesterday on the way home from school I saw a bunch of my friends with lowering springs on their cars bottoming out and getting stuck in the 1 1/2 FEET of snow that had fallen during the 7 hours of school. So I was wondering how much it would cost and if it is possible to put on lowering springs in the spring, summer, and fall. And then take them off and put the stock springs back on for the winter.

Thanks in advance for your respnces!

 

[Azrael]

I wouldn't recommend it. When I installed my springs, it took me and a buddy about 4 hours to do it completely. We had a full set of tools, plus a hydraulic lift. If you plan on paying for it, then forget it. If you want to DIY, then go ahead, but only if you like changing suspension parts twice a year.

 

[nY1018]

what about coilovers?

 

[mrbrace]

yeah get yourself a set of tein coilovers for that setup cause it would be rediculously expensive changing them out like that all the time...i guess you could do it yourself but I would do coilovers

 

[Azrael]

Coilovers are adjustable then?

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by mrbrace@Dec 3 2005, 06:16 PM
yeah get yourself a set of tein coilovers for that setup cause it would be rediculously expensive changing them out like that all the time...i guess you could do it yourself but I would do coilovers

The H&R coilovers supposedly are adjustable to a minimal drop of 0.75", which is as close to stock height as any coilovers I've seen. I'd suggest, of course, triple-checking that figure with H&R first, but my source says their data is reliable. Thisi s why I'm interested in the H&Rs, personally--I want to have the rears at 0.75" and the front at 1". This fixes the wheel gap to a point where I'm satisfied while keeping it high enough that these NYC streets aren't quite as scary. If I do the H&R coilovers I'll probably have the Hotchkis front & rear antisways put in at the same time.

-Ed

 

[JFBP4991]

My ideal would be what the TRD springs claim to have (and I say claim after hearing about your recent experience, Ed) which is 1.25" all around.

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by JFBP4991@Dec 3 2005, 08:00 PM
My ideal would be what the TRD springs claim to have (and I say claim after hearing about your recent experience, Ed) which is 1.25" all around.

Well, judging by the responses to my thread, I'm far from the only one to notice this...peculiarity.

-Ed

EDIT: Added a very necessary comma.

 

[josurr]

Originally posted by EddNog@Dec 3 2005, 06:26 PM
If I do the H&R coilovers I'll probably have the Hotchkis front & rear antisways put in at the same time.

good luck w/that... just make sure you have a lot of patience and a sense of humor when youre trying to get the front crossmember bolt holes re-aligned with the bolts...

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by josurr+Dec 3 2005, 11:07 PM-->QUOTE (josurr @ Dec 3 2005, 11:07 PM)

<!--QuoteBegin-EddNog

@Dec 3 2005, 06:26 PM
If I do the H&R coilovers I'll probably have the Hotchkis front & rear antisways put in at the same time.

good luck w/that... just make sure you have a lot of patience and a sense of humor when youre trying to get the front crossmember bolt holes re-aligned with the bolts... [/b]

You honestly think I'd try to do it myself?

Unfortunately, I've neither the proper tools nor even a private garage area I can do this in (I live in an apartment group with public-access garages), or a proper lift, for that matter.

-Ed

 

[hamster]

dont you have to get your car realigned every time you mess with the height? if that is the case that is about $70 a pop....

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by hamster@Dec 4 2005, 01:09 AM
dont you have to get your car realigned every time you mess with the height? if that is the case that is about $70 a pop....

I would say that depends on how much you change the height. When you first install them, yes, because 0.75" or more sudden decrease in height would warrant alignment. If you go down to 1.25", align it, then go back up to 0.75" or 1", it is probably okay, especially since the car settles a bit after the initial install & alignment, so pushing it back up might be going closer to the ideal height for the alignment, anyway.

-Ed

 

[iGod]

Originally posted by EddNog+Dec 3 2005, 11:09 PM-->QUOTE (EddNog @ Dec 3 2005, 11:09 PM)

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2005, 11:07 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-EddNog

@Dec 3 2005, 06:26 PM
If I do the H&R coilovers I'll probably have the Hotchkis front & rear antisways put in at the same time.

good luck w/that... just make sure you have a lot of patience and a sense of humor when youre trying to get the front crossmember bolt holes re-aligned with the bolts...

You honestly think I'd try to do it myself?

Unfortunately, I've neither the proper tools nor even a private garage area I can do this in (I live in an apartment group with public-access garages), or a proper lift, for that matter.

-Ed [/b]

weve done that a couple times. lining up the subframe bolts isnt a problem, its getting them out.

the three things that help that install go smoothly? air, air, and air. swing by, ed, lance and i can help you out...

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by inevitablegod+Dec 4 2005, 10:04 AM-->QUOTE (inevitablegod @ Dec 4 2005, 10:04 AM)

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2005, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2005, 11:07 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-EddNog

@Dec 3 2005, 06:26 PM
If I do the H&R coilovers I'll probably have the Hotchkis front & rear antisways put in at the same time.

good luck w/that... just make sure you have a lot of patience and a sense of humor when youre trying to get the front crossmember bolt holes re-aligned with the bolts...

You honestly think I'd try to do it myself?

Unfortunately, I've neither the proper tools nor even a private garage area I can do this in (I live in an apartment group with public-access garages), or a proper lift, for that matter.

-Ed

weve done that a couple times. lining up the subframe bolts isnt a problem, its getting them out.

the three things that help that install go smoothly? air, air, and air. swing by, ed, lance and i can help you out...

[/b]

Sure I'll just schedule me a multiweek trip so I can drive over to the left coast, get it all done and come back...

...

...

 

[iGod]

thats the spirit!

 

[JFBP4991]

Originally posted by inevitablegod@Dec 4 2005, 01:17 PM
thats the spirit!

but does anybody know of any springs that produce 1.25" of drop AFTER they settle?

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by JFBP4991+Dec 4 2005, 10:33 AM-->QUOTE (JFBP4991 @ Dec 4 2005, 10:33 AM)

<!--QuoteBegin-inevitablegod

@Dec 4 2005, 01:17 PM
thats the spirit!

but does anybody know of any springs that produce 1.25" of drop AFTER they settle? [/b]

Only one I know, like I said, are the H&R coilovers, and that's just because their minimum pre-settle drop is 0.75" (again, so they say).

-Ed

 

[JFBP4991]

Originally posted by EddNog@Dec 4 2005, 04:05 PM
Only one I know, like I said, are the H&R coilovers, and that's just because their minimum pre-settle drop is 0.75" (again, so they say).

-Ed

so your saying that after the H&R Coilovers settle they could have a 1.25" drop?
i see how that may happen

 

[EddNog]

Originally posted by JFBP4991+Dec 4 2005, 01:38 PM-->QUOTE (JFBP4991 @ Dec 4 2005, 01:38 PM)

<!--QuoteBegin-EddNog

@Dec 4 2005, 04:05 PM
Only one I know, like I said, are the H&R coilovers, and that's just because their minimum pre-settle drop is 0.75" (again, so they say).

-Ed

so your saying that after the H&R Coilovers settle they could have a 1.25" drop?
i see how that may happen [/b]

Set to 0.75" drop, they might settle to 0.75" (start off with less than 0.75" drop compared to stock before settling); they might settle to 1"; they might settle to 1.25"...

Let's hope that setting it to 0.75" drop it doesn't settle to 1.5", right? The TRDs seem to start at 1.25" drop and then settle to 1.5" or maybe even 1.75".

-Ed

 

[JFBP4991]

has there been any pattern about how much the TRD's have been settling like 1.5" or something