Results 1 to 20 of 25
Thread: To lower, or not too lower
-
11-14-2007, 11:30 AM #1
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Posts
- 9
red- 2000 camaro
To lower, or not too lower
I have a 2000 Z28 that has stock springs and Bilstein shocks/struts. I had some blown shocks a while back and decided to replace them with something better than stock - but I kept the same springs due to monetary reasons.
I've noticed a few comments on this forum about lowered cars. What are the pros/cons of lowering?
If it's primarily for looks, can't I just get beefier tiers to fill the wheel wells (I have 17's with a low-profile tire so its the same total size as stock)?
Is there a performance benefit to lowering?
I searched but I couldn't find anything about pros/cons/benefits of lowering.
-
11-14-2007, 11:31 AM #2
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Posts
- 9
red- 2000 camaro
oh, and I just recently ordered 3-point UMI SFCs. .... in case that matters ...
-
11-14-2007, 12:29 PM #3
I am very skeptical, well not skeptical, apprehensive because my ss is my daily driver when the snow is long gone. I have researched and found that the hotchkis springs only lower 1" total, which seems to be the "highest" out of all the lowering springs. I have driven lowered cars before and after they were lowered and must say the center of gravity is lower and they handle much differently. I just want a small drop on mine, so I am thinking the 1" drop would work great. Maybe somebody will tell me they really lower it like 2", but who knows. I also plan to do some bilsteins when I put the lowering springs on. I have umi subframe connectors, 2 point, and they work great. You will notice the first drive easily. Goodluck!
-
11-14-2007, 01:08 PM #4
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- City of Angels
- Age
- 39
- Posts
- 631
Pewter Metallic- 2000 Chevy Camaro Z28
get the strano performance springs!! they're an inch and a quarter drop...sam strano is a f-body suspension guru over at tech and he customized the springs and sure enough the were a hit over at tech...only heard good things about them so i got them and they are a great set of springs...my car handles much better now...couldn't be happier...lowering the car has more to it than looks...if u want a better handling car then drop some cash on some springs bro! good luck!
-
11-14-2007, 02:13 PM #5
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
- Location
- Milwaukee
- Age
- 37
- Posts
- 2,154
Red- 2000 Trans Am
I love the way my lowered T/A drives
-
11-14-2007, 03:11 PM #6
i'm getting the stranos myself, still haven't decided on shocks, no idea what to get yet.
-
11-14-2007, 03:32 PM #7
Live & Learn !
Just remember, we tried to warn you !
-
11-14-2007, 06:33 PM #8
Anybody have the hotchkis springs out there? How are they?
-
11-15-2007, 01:11 AM #9
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- Seattle
- Age
- 63
- Posts
- 913
Jetstream Blue Metallic- 2008 Z06 Corvette
I thought long and hard on which spring to use when I decided to drop my Camaro. I simply cannot stand the way our cars look from the factory with all that "air" in the wheel wells. When you think of all the great sport cars, none of them, not even Chevy's own beloved Vette, has so much 4WD look to them.
I wanted to use Eibachs because I've had great success with them in the past. They offer both their Sportline, and their Proline. 1.8" and 1.5" respectively. I choose the Sportline. Much better handling, and the center of gravity is, of course lower, aiding handling as well, not to mention a little better aerodynamics. More air over the top, less under the car.
In retrospect though, taking into consideration that I also have LT headers, my total ground clearance at the collector is exactly the same as if you take our factory key fob (alarm) and turn it sideways. I can ALMOST fit that thing in there. So, if my car was my DD it would certainly be a pain in the ass.
Bottom line, if you're going to do LT's in the future, think twice about going this low.
-
11-15-2007, 03:51 AM #10
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- rochester,ny
- Age
- 46
- Posts
- 2,665
pewter- 2001 z28 lingenfelter 383
love my strano springs/koni's the difference in handling vs stock is incredible and the car actually seems to absorb bumps BETTER...gotta love them koni's its an easy install to do yourself as well ls1howto.com still need to get a front end alignment but i havnt noticed ANY inside tire wear after a few k miles..makes me wonder if the neg camber it now is is all that bad
i belive the drop is slightly more than 1.25 as well 1.3-1.4 measuring before and after seemed to take me from aprox 3.5 inches of wheel well gap to 2.0 ..looks sweet..oh and a commment to the post above mine ive heard bad things about sportlines...too much of a drop and the spring rates are too low for great handling ( aka soft) call sam up and he'll explain more than u ever wanted to know about your suspension....just do some reasearch before calling so u can keep up with him..lolLast edited by tonyjnjz; 11-15-2007 at 03:58 AM.
-
11-15-2007, 04:11 AM #11
-
11-15-2007, 05:38 AM #12
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- rochester,ny
- Age
- 46
- Posts
- 2,665
pewter- 2001 z28 lingenfelter 383
yes definitly got the 4/4s traction is fantastic considering 400 rwhp and street tires ...im more than pleased with it
-
11-15-2007, 05:42 AM #13
No lowering for me. I just sold my car which was only lowered about 1.5" and scraped my drive way every time I backed out. I am happy with the stock ride height, and it is nice being able to get out of my garage without hearing a grrrrrrr.
Although lowered cars drive/handle real good on clean roads.
-
11-15-2007, 05:43 AM #14
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- rochester,ny
- Age
- 46
- Posts
- 2,665
pewter- 2001 z28 lingenfelter 383
i have no problems with scraping..of course u have to use commen sense as well
-
11-15-2007, 09:29 AM #15
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Location
- pa
- Age
- 37
- Posts
- 93
black- 1999 camaro
Looks cool, but bottoming out sucks.
-
11-15-2007, 11:00 AM #16
I'm not a fan of lowering. These cars are already low and lack sufficient ground clearance from the factory. My wife drives one of the 4th gens daily and the other I use 2-3 times a week. Both are stock height and we still have to be carefull entering some driveways etc....some of the parking lots are so steep you have to approach the entrance at an angle,,,,and it really pisses off other drivers. Quite frankly it's already nerve racking and worrysome at stock height,,,,,I can't imagine if I lowered these cars,,,what a pain in the ass that would be. I don't care about how the ride height looks,,,they are SS camaro convertables,,they already look good enough
Last edited by Firebirdjones; 11-16-2007 at 03:46 AM.
-
11-15-2007, 07:50 PM #17
I personally dont like lowered f bodies.
-
11-16-2007, 09:41 AM #18
im all about lowering my cars. i have the pro-kit and in retrospect i should have probably gone with the sportlines to get even lower. granted my camaro isnt my DD, but i have literally only scraped the car once in the 17k miles ive driven, and that was because i wasnt paying close enough attention to the height of the curb when i was parking. man was that aggravating.
-
11-16-2007, 02:04 PM #19
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Hamburg, Germany
- Posts
- 2,521
Silver- 1998 Camaro Z28 A4
i have the combo you got, bilstein with stock springs, and i'm extremely happy with it. i decided against lowering because my car is a dd and clearance sucks when lowered. actually, it sucks already at stock height. i don't think the change in aerodynamics will be noticeable. i drive 120+ with my setup no problems.
-
11-16-2007, 02:31 PM #20
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Boston
- Posts
- 5
Black- 2000 Camaro Z28
The front air deflector always scrapes over everything on my car @ stock height. Its embarassing when you bottom out pulling into sumwhere and people turn there heads like wtf was that lol. But I'd be worried if I was to let sum1 borrow my car(not too often), they dont know about avoiding everything. I want 2 lower my Z also.
Thread Information
Users Browsing this Thread
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Similar Threads
-
Wtb 98-02 ram air lower air box
By mv507 in forum Western MembersReplies: 0Last Post: 01-04-2011, 06:10 AM -
Wanted: lower (ws6/ram air) air box
By Blackbird WS6 in forum Parts Wanted / TradeReplies: 39Last Post: 11-24-2010, 02:17 AM -
Lower Air box
By 96z28 in forum General HelpReplies: 2Last Post: 12-10-2007, 11:09 AM -
lower tire press. higher ET, higher press lower ET???
By greatwhiteZ28 in forum Drag RacingReplies: 1Last Post: 10-20-2007, 05:57 PM
Bookmarks