Lowering looks

[Jcb]

got the MOT coming up, and wanted that out of the way before i start the structural modding. but when i finally do get round to fitting my -35mm Eibachs on Apex shocks, will it look alot different?

at the same time low profile tyres will be going on bigger alloys too, so i'm hoping it will add to the illusion.

[Dave.]

imo anything less that 60mm looks poo. as it doesnt really look that different. it just looks like the wheel is sat on the arch

imo get some 60mm springs and uprated shocks. will look loads betetr than 35mm ones

[Jack]

35mm won't look THAT much lower tbh. What size wheels are you taking off and putting on?

[Jcb]

14" normal tyres off
15" lowpro on
should = same rolling circumfrence avoiding any worries or un calibrated speedo. also i heard that having the wheels too big can decrease acceleration?
also that when fitting new springs, fill the boot up with something heavy, so they bed in a bit lower. not sure how reliable this info is, so best run it past the experts.
that would be you.

[Jcb]

as for -60mm, aparently i'm going to have to roll the arches for the current conversion. what would need doing for -60mm!?

[Jack]

Standard size for a 14" wheel is 175/65/14. I would guess you're 15" wheels are 195/45/15? If thats the case your speedo will read slightly over (at 70mph your actual speed will be 68.3), so no big worries there.

Overall, being a smaller size, that will probably increase acceleration, assuming the new alloys are lighter than the old wheels.

Not heard about the weighing down the back, so I'll let someone else answer that one!

And for 60mm springs, you'll also really need matching dampers. Archwork depends on the width/offset of the wheel and tyre width.

[johnny_turbo]

this is wot 60mm looks like with rolled arches as these wheels was 195/50/15
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/Johns_nova/Photo-0003.jpg

and this is 60mm drop with standerd 14" sr wheels on
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/Johns_nova/Image007.jpg


hope these make ya mind up


john

[NovaLad]

Bloody hell i have the GSi rims and i hope mine don't look like that when i lower it.

No offence to the car just don't like how it sits.

[Jcb]

well either is an improvement, currently it looks like it's on stilts.

i already have -35mm Eibachs, so i've got no choice really. i'll be happy with it i'm sure, it's more about the handling anyway!

[Jcb]

anyone know anything about stuffing the back full of weight while the springs are bedding in? is this a silly myth?

[burgo]

anyone know anything about stuffing the back full of weight while the springs are bedding in? is this a silly myth?silly myth imo. as for how low anything less the 100mm is for gayers imo lol

[Jcb]

there are these things called speed bumps i have to go over everyday, let alone the humpback bridge.

100mm would see me leaving the splitter behind i think.

thanks for the opinion anyway, appreciate it ;)

[burgo]

you cant get away from my house without going over a speedhump and nasty ones, there are a few people on here who can confirm this. and my car never scrapes. i remember at a show at pod i was in my nova, me mate was in his escort and my other mate in his fiesta. mine was lowered the most yet didnt scrape at all and i flew across the field lol. if you do it right you can go very low with no problems

[Jcb]

have you got any bodykit on?
don't get me wrong, i belive you, but it seems rediculous that you be 10cm closer to the floor without scraping anything.

[paul james]

I ended up taking the splitter off my front bumper as it was scraping on speedbumps and going up hills all the time, and my car isn't particularly low on its koni suspension.

[carls nova sri]

just lower it 60mm don't be such a big baby haha

[Jack]

35mm on decent suspension will be far far better than 60mm on crap, or even mediocre suspension

[hendrix]

are apex shocks any good?

[Jcb]

not sure yet, not on. i'd like to know!

to you suspension gurus, does eibach springs on apex shocks sound decent combo?

[burgo]

have you got any bodykit on?
don't get me wrong, i belive you, but it seems rediculous that you be 10cm closer to the floor without scraping anything.

lowered 100mm and still loads of room look

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/sclurgess/nova107.jpg

[Timmy]

see this is where a big fight could start. say i lower mine 100mm and saying i lowerd mine 60mm could be the same thing. depends on the start point. burgo your car is very low with good clearance but being a saloon was prob very high to start with. Sr had lower springs and GTE/GSi had lower still, on my GTE R.I.P. i only ran sr spring and stanrd dampers look good and handle well.
on my GSI i use gmax springs from work i got well cheap and it was low but handle really bad as the dampers was shot and too weak for the stiff spring.
if you can strach the cash or save and get some koni sport kit, lwoing of 40 i think but can ajust it to hand better than a cheap set of springs and dampers i think going price for the kit is about ?390, ebay and other place may be cheaper.
i was looking at doing the same for my GSI but in the end im goin AVO coilovers A cos there one of the best and for the cost worth it.
B im a tarr and want to lower and rasice it for shows and cruzes (im going get ripperd for that) and with all thing you get what you pay for

[Rob]

are apex shocks any good?

nope cheap and craplol get some coilovers:thumb:

[hendrix]

shut it you!!
They do the job for small block...for now!! Will be gettin coilovers at some point though

[Matt2107]

JCB if you decide you must have -60mm I have a full set of g-max springs in my garage.

Incidently I lowered Project Aspirin -35mm on PI shocks and springs and although not the best kit it was a good improvement. That's with 15" wheels and no arch mods.

[Jcb]

after shelling out on what i assumed to be one of the best springs about, i think ill run the -35mm about for the time being! thanks for the offer though!

[craig green]

The Eibachs may not look as low as you want, but the quality of the steel & the road holding, bounce restaistance will be far better than most of the crap mentioned elsewhere in this thread. If it comes to it, have the Eibachs modified for a lower stance in the future by coilsprings89, it'll cost 50quid for the 4 springs IIRC.

I've had Pi & GMAX & tbh I think both were absoloutely awfull & not much of an improvement, great to look at in a carpark though which IS some peoples cup of tea!

[Jcb]

i'm not all that fussed on it having an "aggressive stance" etc etc, a slight drop would be nice as it does look too high as standard, but mostly i'm doing it for driveability. very floaty at the moment and the roll in fast cornering is unbareable!