[Formula 1]

Im wanting to lower the rear about an 1.5" and hopefully leave the front. Anyone know a reasonable place to get just the rear? For my 97 formula!

[Injuneer]

Why?

[ZTP]

Either don't lower it or lower the front along with the back. Or put really big wheels/tires on the back to keep it at stock height, cause what I'm picturing in my head is dreadful.

[Formula 1]

The rear sets up about 3" over the rear tires which are the 275/40/18. I just want to level it out without dropping the front which is going to make it too low for speed bumps and driveway approaches. I may not need a 1.5 drop but that would be close, no way would I lower the rear more than the front.

[Injuneer]

Part of the problem is the oversize (26.7") tires in the back. They are raising the back end about 1/2" over stock. What size tires are you running in the front?

Then, being 1/2" taller than stock, they should be filling in the gap at the top, so its surprising you have 3" between the fender and the tire. Something sounds wrong. Mine sits about 2-1/2" - 3" above the tire, but I run a 25.7" tire and the rear end is jacked up about 1/2" over stock with the Eibach Drag Launch springs, and the room is required for the 28" slicks.

I have a pair of Eibach Pro-Kit springs for the back if you are interested. I had them on the car, and it lowered it about 1" from stock. I didn't like the ride at all, with the QA1 shocks, so I replaced them with the stock springs, and then my buddy with the 97 SS convertible (low 8's at close to 170MPH) traded me his Drag Launch Springs for my stock coupe springs - at least one part of my car has gone down the track in less than 9 seconds :D .

If you are interested, let me know. I have the boxes from my front QA1 springs to ship them.

[ZTP]

It was designed to sit like that. If you lowered the back, the roof will be angled back as well which would make the car look really funny, and the side of the car is going to be a lot lower in the back than it is the front, so if you don't hit a speed bump with the front of the car, you're going to hit it with the back, lol.

But to answer your question, eBay. eBay sells rear and front sets (sometimes seperately) of just the springs from between $100 and $200 depending on who you go with. Eibach would be my first choice when it comes to suspension, and there are some Eibach lowering springs (I think 1.3"?) on eBay. There is a bushing that is on the end of the springs on your car right now that you could take out and lower it by another .5", but I'm not sure how recommended that is.

Edit: Or get them from Fred.

This post has been edited by ZTP: 05 February 2012 - 08:06 PM

[Formula 1]

I may be wrong about the ride height but I just don't care for the big space. Maybe once I get my spacers on, it will make a huge difference in looks. I guess I need to look at it a little closer and do some measuring. Do you think an inch would be ok, it's stock height and the rears could be 35s. Fred you can PM a price and I'll look closer at how it's sitting and let you know, I put the eibachs on my HHR and love it. I love the muscle car stance, if I can just get rid of a little space. Thanks guys!

[Injuneer]

This is my car with the Eibach Pro-Kit, and 25.7" tires. The front was dropped 1.8" (combination of the spring, and the adjustable height shocks) and the back was down 1".

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photos/Formula/Lower1a.jpg

[Formula 1]

You were right Fred something was wrong...I was guessing instead of measuring, I have 2 3/8" in the rear and about 2 in front. Good point ZTP the car was made to sit this away, I thought it still would be up a little in the rear, but not enough after measuring. The muscle car stance is what I want and that would have taken it away. Thanks!

[ZTP]

 Injuneer, on 06 February 2012 - 11:11 AM, said:

This is my car with the Eibach Pro-Kit, and 25.7" tires. The front was dropped 1.8" (combination of the spring, and the adjustable height shocks) and the back was down 1".

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photos/Formula/Lower1a.jpg

Hey Fred, I was planning on doing a 1.8" to 2" drop come this summer on both front and rear. It is possible right? That 1.8 in the front looks awfully close to rubbing the front wheel. Wondering if anything else would have to be done to stock 16" Rims and 235/55 tires. May get 245s or 255s eventually.

[Injuneer]

The Eibach Sportlines provide a 2" drop. I don't think they get very good reviews with regard to ride and handling. Look at stranoparts.com and see what he sells with regard to lowering spring and matched shock packages.

I had rubbing in the front on hard bumps, or with the steering turned hard to full lock. But that was with the 275/40-17's and a 49mm offset on a 9.5" wide wheel. I also hated the fact that it was pretty much impossible to drive over a speed bump or drive up a humped driveway ramp. My setup was made worse by the fact I run dual mufflers (or cats - they are flanged and interchange) on the header collectors, so the driver's side muffler is fairly low. Then the Spohn torque arm has a dropped cross-member (used to have a 4" intermediate pipe) that bolts to the floorpans, and that hangs down low. I drove past an accident scene once, and the TA cross-member caught a piece of tail light housing in the road, and dragged it under the car until I could pull over and back up.

I think it looked sort of mean down that low, but too many drawbacks.

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photos/Suspension/DCP04295a.jpg

[ZTP]

Thanks Fred for the info. My car is completely stock on the bottom except for the exhaust clamps that are aimed up so they don't scrape. Do you still think I'll have a problem? I know you mentioned the cross-member, if yours is stock like mine, then I'd see a slight problem with little speed bumps around this area. What would be the first thing to scrape on a stock car though besides the air dam (I'm talking about pieces that could damage the more important pieces underneath)?

If you still have any set of lowering springs/shocks sets or just springs would be fine, could you send me a PM about them?

Thanks

[Injuneer]

The stock setup doesn't have the muffler under the drivers side, or any kind of torque arm cross-member. The TA mounts to a bracket on the tailshaft of the transmission. There is a stock sheet metal brace that bolts to the floor pans where my TA cross-member is bolted, but that just has a little dimple on it for the intermediate pipe. And the stock wheels with the 235 tires should be well centered in the wheel wells, and not likely to rub, unless maybe you hit a bump hard with the steering wheel turned all the way to the side.

I have the rear springs, and someone asked about them a couple weeks ago and I made an offer. The fronts are still assembled to a pair of spare shocks, and not really available. Someone borrowed my spring compressor and never brought it back.

[96TA]

Well just to add my request, how much for the parts you have Fred? Including the front setup that "may" or "may not" be available? Also what else is needed to make it complete for the front and rear?
PM is ok for the price and I am still waiting for you to post the "attic parts list" you said you would put together :B):

[ZTP]

 75TA, on 14 February 2012 - 06:26 AM, said:

Well just to add my request, how much for the parts you have Fred? Including the front setup that "may" or "may not" be available? Also what else is needed to make it complete for the front and rear?
PM is ok for the price and I am still waiting for you to post the "attic parts list" you said you would put together :B):

Hey man I was asking first I'd like these springs eventually!

[TheBat]

lol let the best bidder win

[Injuneer]

But Formula 1 was "first - he already asked me for the rear springs a couple weeks ago, and I quoted a price.

[96TA]

Ok, now its been a couple of weeks, any word yet? if not then Nick will have a chance then I guess I will see what scraps are left, lol...

I am really looking for a decent set of rear shocks to hold me over till I put a plan together of what I want my car to be like.. but if a set of springs come up at a bargain I may have to jump on it..

[ZTP]

Oh all right, if he asked a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know that.