lowered - question

[01Z]

I think I just discovered that my 95 had been lowered before I bought it. My wife has commented that it looks lower than the other 95 that I had owned but I dismissed the thought because the car was bone stock for a one owner who figured 96k and 9 years was old enough.

Now I have good reason to believe it. For the first time I have my 95 and 01 parked side by side facing the same direction I measured the distance from the floor to the rocker panels. My 95 is definitely an inch + lower than the 01. I know 6 years can make a car sag a bit but I'm thinking not that much.

Any way, I'm asking what affect this will have on the car other than dragging the exhaust more often and a lower cornering profile. What would be the adverse side of this. If there's already a thread on this please point me there. Thanks for any info / advice.

[01Z]

Anybody lowered their car? Surely someone can give me some facts or thoughts on this simple but significant modification. I'm almost wanting to do it to my 01. I always felt the difference with this 95. Now I'm thinking I know why. Does this overload or change the function of other suspension components or am I only sacrificed ground clearance? Thanks for any thoughts....

[Grims]

I was hoping someone else who knew more would chime in before me...but all I know is.

It improves cornering, but it hinders launching because it is hard to transfer weight to the rear tires.

Have you checked your front struts to see if they're after market? Reason I ask is, I don't know why someone would go through the time to change out the springs, then leave in the POS decarbon struts.

[01Z]

A little embarrassed to ask but is there anything I should look for on the struts to determine if they've been changed out?

The whole front end was refurbed before I bought the car. Someone put a lot of money into it. Thanks.

BTW, the car launches badly. My G-tech shows 2.4 seconds to 60'. I was thinking it was the tires....

[Grims]

They could of lowered it the gheto way by heathing the springs, which makes the car drive like shit.

Just looks at the front struts, the stock decarbons are orange.

[Firehawk 526]

My lowered eibachs springs are blue(both front/rears)...probably not much help! Sorry, but I am around 27" on highest point of fender to the ground on the fronts, and 25 1/2" on rear! Hence, my reason for the lift-kit in the rear!

What is your measured ride height?

[01Z]

I'm not getting email notifications on this thread for some reason.
Anyway, when I first bought the car in 2002 I took it to a front end shop to have it checked over. The owner told me the springs had been changed out, which he thought was strange. It didn't register that someone lowered the car because I had nothing to compare it to.

The springs are black but I recall seeing orange shocks (struts) while under the car. I guess someone could have replaced the old ones with new of the same brand.

I measured the car at the highest points on the fenders. At the mirror on the front driver side I have a little over 36 inches. On the center of the spoiler I'm seeing just a bit over 38 inches so I guess I'm measuring at an entirely different place. I'm certain the car is lower as it sits next to my 01.

I want to lower my 01 too. It's an easily discernible difference between my 95 and 01. The 95 is on rails even though the suspension is 12 years old. The 01 handles better than anything I've ever owned aside from that 95.

Anyone know anything about the Vogtland springs?

Thanks.

[01Z]

I just ordered a set of Vogtland lowering springs for my 2001. They go about 1.2 inches. This is the amount the 95 looks to have been lowered and I have always preferred driving it.

I will check my repair manuals but any advice on the front strut work would be appreciated. I understand getting the spring off is dangerous.

[01Z]

What a job!

The rear springs were replaced within an hour but the fronts are another story entirely. I had to hacksaw both strut rods to get them apart because the nut and threads were unrecognizable from catastrophic rusting. This of course forced me to replace the struts. Plus, it was disheartening to see the amount of blossoming rust within the upper control arm and strut top plate on a 2001 with only 65k miles. The whole assembly is a water trap and some people would have replaced the upper control arm and strut top plate assembly along with the struts themselves. To have had this done at a garage would have cost a small fortune. I spent hours and hours chiseling away layers of rust and sealing the surfaces with Chassis Saver (tm). Unless my car is an exception, I would imagine any fbody exposed to the rust belt driving elements would have a severely deteriorated front upper suspension assembly that needs attention.

I've taken some pictures of the process and want to post them when the whole procedure is complete. Right now I'm hoping it is all worth the effort and expense.:blah: