Question about lowering

[Pui]

I have a new p5 and i would like to know does it look good if i don't lower my p5 and then add lip or mod onto my car?

[Blown]

It's about your own taste. Adding a lip while kinda make the car look like it's lowered! Personally, I've learned first hand to stay away from lowering cars in Canada, especially when you drive them in winter.

[chuyler1]

Is it possible to lower your car w/o sacrificing ride comfort?

[Blown]

Chuyler - Typically, lowering springs are stiffer rates than stock springs. This means ride comfort is affected no matter what! I used to own a 2001 civic that I lowered 1.3" and it was noteciable! It really rode like a tank but the body roll was non-existent.

[Murda]

I'm lowered 1.5" f&r. It's actually lower at the rear by a lot due to the fact that it's a wagon. I'd venture a guess that I'm 1.5" drop f and 1.8" drop rear.

It definitely rides harder but the handling is beautiful. I was planning on getting a lip but just yesterday, I scrapped coming out of a parking lot while crawling. Nothing I could do about it. So, if I get a lip, it's going to be urethane as it would be really unfortunate if an FG lip shattered within the first week.

[ALLMAN]

I just lowered my P5 this weekend with Eibach's (1.4f/1.2r) and 42mm offset rims....and to be honest..I can not tell a ride difference. I even commute 100 mile to work..Peace!

[Pro Fiz]

do you guys think a 2" drop would be too much for daily driving conditions? or should i just go w/ the 1.5"??

[Blown]

ProFiz - Depends on the seasonal weather and also your road conditions!

[perfworks]

i would go with the 1.5 inch drop
progress makes some good springs for the money at 1.5

[Murda]

I love 1.5. It's just perfect. 2 ventures into wheel tuck territory and that's too much for me.

[NetGuy]

Anyone know anything about airbag suspension? From what I understand, that's more for "lowriders" and not for performance. It would sure be cool to be able to drop your car 2" and raise it back to stock for parking lots, etc. I would guess the car would ride like a big old Lincoln or something, though...not exactly sporty.

[slamprotege5]

I am lowered 2 inches with SPool springs, and ride is nice. I have 18s' and I do not tuck tire, close on the front, but I drive it daily. Lowering springs are purely taste. I have lowered every vehicle I have owned, just like a stiffer ride and handling changes. To each his own. All depends on what kind of springs you decide to go with. Good luck. Later

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slamprotege5/800x600.jpg

[chuyler1]

yellow tint, very tastefull, I thought i was seeing things until i checked your sig. Tell me you have yellow sunglasses to match :)

Do they make blue?

[afrey2002]

I'm lowered 2" with Ground Controls, it's an o.k. ride in the passenger & driver seats, but from what I hear the back is pretty rough. Anyway here's a pic.

[afrey2002]

Whoops, forgot the picture...

[HondaKonzetsu]

Im dropped 1.75" front and rear with Skunk2 coilovers. If i had done a 2" drop with the stock 16" rims the front wheel wouldve been just below the lip of the wheel well. The rear wheel has about .5" tucked inside right now. Im considerin lowerin the front a lil more, but I take turns kinda fast so im bound to rub if it goes much lower.

[Blown]

Do any of you guys address the issue of fixing your camber?

[ALLMAN]

No camber problems with my Eibach's at 1.4/1.2, nor damper problems either, although I'd suspect that a2" drop would be pushing the limits of both...Peace!

[Blown]

Allman - Did you have camber problems on your civic? I remember that dropping my civic with H&R(1.3") I had horrible negative camber in the rear.

[gjmoreo]

what does the chamber problem do? effect tire wear? is it bad? I haver heard of chamber plates and all but how often do people put them on?

[Blown]

GJmoreo - Depends on how bad the camber just is! Most often, it's reduces tire life significantly. Other problems include reduced traction(in some cases), harsher ride, and loss of stability at high speeds... It all depends how bad the camber is. I think it's uncommon for people to install camber kits and fix up their camber. I say it's better than replacing your tires every 5K-8K miles.

Lowering your car properly simply is more than installing lowering springs. You also need to budget for new peformance struts and a camber kit. And in the extreme cases with wide tire/rims, you need to roll the inside fender after the camber is fixed.

[1FASTMP5]

i got g.c coilovers on my p5 lowered all the way down about 3''
no problems rubbing or anything i also have 18s on my car.
i dont think that 1.5 is enough for our cars since they are 4 x 4
hight stock. but everyone has different taste on lowering. if you want something that is badass and wont hurt your ride quality get jic coilovers they are the shit! they are expensive but worth it.
$1650 but they come with revalved stocks and can be lowered down to 3''. peace out

[Blown]

1FastMP5 - It doesn't matter how high the car is stock, it's how much you change the suspension geometry by lowering your car. I had a 2001 Civic and I lowered it only 1.3" and that was enough to give me over -3 degrees rear camber(pigeon toed look)
and I ended up blowing my stock struts in the first 2 weeks(and I avoided all potholes, bumps, etc...). Also, just because you have 18s on your car, doesn't mean it is wide. What is your tire profile/width?

[1FASTMP5]

blown-well civic's tend to camber alot when you lower them. a do agree about not mattering how high the car is stock. but the queston on this thead is about lowering not camber. and why do you say i said my car is wide? i am just giving an example of how low you can go without rubbing w/that size rims. my rims are 18 x 7.5 48mm offset w/215/35/18 tires. and about you blowning your struts in 2 weeks i belive it ive dont it to. thats why i said to go with jic coilovers that way you have no worries about adding on lips and scraping or blowing anything in you susp. if you dont think its low enough you lower it. or if its rubbing you raise it up.
peace

[1FASTMP5]

blown- oh ya our cars dont seem to camber to bad at all.
i really dont think that camber plates are needed.

[Blown]

1FastMP5 - The 2001 year(7th generation) was the introduction of a Macpherson suspension in the civic compared to the previous double-wishbone type used in the previous generations. That is how come the older civics get awful camber when lowered. My point I was trying to make about the civic was 1.3" lowering was all it took to mess up the camber and require a camber kit.

All I'm trying to accomplish is educating the newbies about properly lowering a car and what is involved and the potential problems that they could experience.

Now, about your tire size. What is the maximum tire width allowed before it rubs the fender with fixed camber? That is what I am after. I didn't know about my civic and my 215/40/17 I had fit when it was lowered but rubbed the fender lip when I had the camber fixed.

[1FASTMP5]

blown- it depends on how low you go? the widest you can go on a p5 without rubbing is 7.5 but you need a 48mm offset or more.
if you look in the wheel thread there is a wheel fitment guide that will help out. oh as far as tire on a lowered mp5 215 tire is the widest i recomend. hope that helps

[Blown]

1FastMP5 - Is that with camber fixed or not?

[1FASTMP5]

blown - thats with camber fixed.
but really my car did not camber at all.
maybe very slightly but an alignment fix it up.

[sundevilMP5]

has anybody had any bad experiences with the stock struts and lowering springs?? my brothers 97 accord was decent with the stock struts but they were crap compared to our stocks...he eventually replaced his with tokicos...but i was talking with another one of my mechanic buddies and he thinks that our struts might be strong enough to leave on...or at least until i can afford some coilovers...lol

[1FASTMP5]

i can tell you that i have 17500 miles on my p5 and my struts are not blown yet (knock on wood) im as low as you can get 3''. i even cut the stock bump stop in half to increase travel. even my ride is good they seem to be very strong. not like honda that blown right after you lower them. im hopeing mine hold out tell the tokico ones come out or i can get mazdaspeed ones.

p.s i heard that are stock struts are made by tokico already.
i dont know if its ture or not

[sundevilMP5]

i remember reading a thread on whether the stocks for the p5 were made by tokico or not...i think i remember the conclusion coming out as negative...our stocks aren't tokicos...but who cares they're still darn good

[perfworks]

with a 42 or 40 mm offset wheel
you can fit 225's

[Mackdaddy]

Originally posted by sundevilMP5
i remember reading a thread on whether the stocks for the p5 were made by tokico or not...i think i remember the conclusion coming out as negative...our stocks aren't tokicos...but who cares they're still darn good

Our OE struts are made by KYB. That I'm sure of. ;)

I need to see more ProKit pics!!!!! This is what I've set my mind on, and want all kinds of high res shots if possible. Also, more honest day-day driving impressions. I've yet to hear anyone say they don't like them (a good thing,) but want more input before I commit. :D

TIA - Jim

[ALLMAN]

Blown,

What's up bro!....well strangely enough, I dropped by civic with Eibach Sportlines 1.6/1.6, ran Kumho's and got 30,000 miles off of them rotating every 3000 miles, virtually no camber problems or strut problems, the ride was harsh though. Maybe just the difference in car and springs, but diffinitely a difference there. I too agree, that the P5 is more forgiving in camber on drops, but it is kinda funny the various experiences we get from our drops whether mild or extreme..LOL!..Peace!

[Mackdaddy]

AllMan -

If you could please post some good pics of your car with the ProKit, I'd sure appreciate it.

TIA - Jim

[Lenny]

Do they have camber kits for are car? if they do how much and where can I find them?

Thanks for the help,
Matt

[GXL]

Hello: I'm interested in purchasing a set of springs for my P5, but I'm not sure which ones to go with...

I want the stiffest springs I can find, name brand of course, 1.5 drop in the front, and 1.2 or so in the back. I want to keep myf actory shocks.

What do you guys recommend?

[Blown]

I'd say Eibach or H&Rs.

Eibach Pro-Kit - 1.4" front, 1.2" rear

H&R Sport Srings - 1.3" front and rear.

[ALLMAN]

My drop was primarily governed my a 42mm offset, although I would have still went with Eibach's for the drop. I'm just one of those older guys (30 yrs) that sees nothing attractive in a 2.5-3 inch drop, nor do I wish the to endure the ride for a 100 mile commute to work each day either. Anyway, sure bro, I'll post some ride pictures soon for you, as I need to post my ride anyway for all to critique anyway....LOL..Peace!

[Blown]

Allman - 2.5-3" drop with Eibach?

[ALLMAN]

NO...NO.. bro!..you reading my post wrong....I was refering to I would have still used Eibach's (1.4/1.2) even if I wouldn't have gone with a 42mm offset....meaning if I would have used a 48mm offset which would be more forgiving, my preference would have still been an Eibach drop. My 2.5-3" comment was...was like the use of Coil Overs or some other manufacturer that specs a drop of 2-3 " would be too much for my taste since me being an OLDER GUY!!.....LOL!!,...not Eibach's having a 2.5-3" drop...Peace!