I wanna go lower!!!

[rps13drift]

I searched with no definitive answers! and even looked through the low down thread!
So i finally got my car off the jackstands after putting on my new wheels on(18's) and a few other parts and now im super disapointed on how high my car is off the ground. So i did some adjusting of my coilovers and ended up maxing my fronts out but my front bumper is still like 5 inches off the ground but my front and rear tires are under the fenders. So how do you s13 guys go super low with 18's ? I was thinkng about compressing the spring preload to get some more threads on the shock body! Is this a good or bad idea?
Any info would be highly appreciated!!!

[markyboi]

what coilovers are you running?

what size tires are you running?

do you have aero? if so, what aero are you running?

[rps13drift]

jic magic flta-2
front 225/40/18 18x10-3 rear 275/35/18 18x12
fatboy garage gp-sports g4 knockoff

[d*star180]

Umm, this is pretty obvious, BUT, I assume you took all the collars off?
Also, you can get shorter springs for most s chassis coilovers from the manufacturer, or you can get some shorter ones from another manufacturer as long as their the same spring rate. Most are the same size diameter anyway.

[rps13drift]

Umm, this is pretty obvious, BUT, I assume you took all the collars off?
Also, you can get shorter springs for most s chassis coilovers from the manufacturer, or you can get some shorter ones from another manufacturer as long as their the same spring rate. Most are the same size diameter anyway.

No i didnt take the collars off yet! but i am going to try that tonite! This may sound stupid but do i take all 3 of the collars off?

[98koukile]

Your tire sizes seem pretty tall but maybe its just me. I think a 35F and 30R sidewall would've been better for 18s. Also 5" must be an exaggeration if you're as low as you can go. Take a pic for us

[rps13drift]

Your tire sizes seem pretty tall but maybe its just me. I think a 35F and 30R sidewall would've been better for 18s. Also 5" must be an exaggeration if you're as low as you can go. Take a pic for us

My tires arent that tall at all! Pics of garbage ride height by tonite!

my front wheel/tire combo
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/IMG00060.jpg

[d*star180]

Take the two first collars off to start off with.

You dont need them when their slammed on eachother anyway.

[driftedfc3s]

Depending on the coilover, you can also compress the spring about 1/8"-1/4" before it messes with the preload. My car is set-up with 2 coils removed and 1/8" of spring compression.

http://driftbrigade.us.eu.org/240sx/NOPI_Licensing/pzc1.jpg

[MaD1337M3DRiV3r]

lower profile tires and a front lip

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[rps13drift]

Your tire sizes seem pretty tall but maybe its just me. I think a 35F and 30R sidewall would've been better for 18s. Also 5" must be an exaggeration if you're as low as you can go. Take a pic for us

20oz soda bottle to show height

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/Picture009.jpg

[EJ253]

how shit.

how much do your coilovers compress when you put load on them (take the car of stands)

[d*star180]

Ummm.......more pics please.
Looks like it might be cool.
Side shots, full car shots or something.

[thrOwsumDs]

thats a poor picture to show height, ^ side shots, or camera on the floor.always an option to go 35 series.

[rps13drift]

All i got is pics from inside my small garage unfortunetly! I actualy just finished a ton of shit on it this past week and i havent even rolled it out for a full shot yet.

[ByeByeSti]

damn shouldnt be sitting that high.. and what rims are those? and full pics of the car would be awesome, you paint looks ill!

[rps13drift]

damn shouldnt be sitting that high.. and what rims are those? and full pics of the car would be awesome, you paint looks ill!

My wheels are veilside andrew dish! And my car is actualy vinyl'd because im poor! thanks for the comments! im actualy taking apart the coilovers tonite to see if that remedies the problem! Thanks again for all the help every one!

[ayuaddict]

remove collars.

depending on coilover manufacturer, flip bracket.

if neither of those get you low enough, get new springs.

[IIIXziuR]

Mike, aren't those JIC's kinda old?

I think you should def try what these other fellers are saying and give that a shot but if it comes down to ordering new springs,
I think it might be time for some new coil overs altogether, that get Down N Dirty.

Give me a Buzz tomorrowsz

[ayuaddict]

to add onto what ruiz said, the majority of front spring lengths is 7 inches, if yours measure out to be longer, there is your problem.

also your bracket design has a lot to do with it as well.

and your upper spring perches as well, but much less noticeable.

[MrChow]

Just want to make sure you did read this. You didn't add a ton of preload right. I know it's a noob question just have to make sure.

I wouldn't really recommend taking the collars off. At least for the fronts the rears is okay I guess. Running a lower profile tire will cut of that height.
Anyways most of your answer have been answered.

Personally my answer would be get a different coilover that can really low. I don't think JIC are good at that.

IMO.

[rps13drift]

I took the coilovers apart last night and removed all the collars execpt the one the spring rest on and i gave it about 1/4 of preload not too much! After doing that it let me thread the bracket up quite a bit so im going to reinstall them today and see what happens. As for needing new coil overs i have known this for a while. If i dont get buy a set of gp-sports off a buddy of mine im probly going to get some stance gt-pro or powered by max.

[IIIXziuR]

Good Call Man!

[atutt]

Just want to make sure you did read this. You didn't add a ton of preload right. I know it's a noob question just have to make sure.

I wouldn't really recommend taking the collars off. At least for the fronts the rears is okay I guess. Running a lower profile tire will cut of that height.
Anyways most of your answer have been answered.

Personally my answer would be get a different coilover that can really low. I don't think JIC are good at that.

IMO.

I have FLT-A2's and 17x9 +17 Veilside Andrew Racing V's with 255/40/17 on my S14.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i285/atutt/MY%20S14/edit2-1.jpg

I have all the collars on. And about 1.75-2.0 inches between the bottom and middle collar. So I can still go quite low.


That's about 3.75 - 4 inches of front bumper clearance. I have about 3 inches between the ground and my frame rails.

[Slidin240Wayz]

1/4 inch is ALOT of preload...

[driftedfc3s]

1/4 inch is ALOT of preload...

I've spoken to Pete from BC directly, and that came from his own mouth.

[rps13drift]

Yeah so i think that the shock rusted shut not allowing the coilover to compress again!!!! God i hate jic majic!!! Im going to soak the front coilovers in atf agian for a few days and hopefuly ill have a new set by the middle of next month!

[98koukile]

Well that sucks, my JIC's sit low without even being down all the way. I have them set up for speed bump height at school and they're still lower than your pics look. If you really want low coils do power by max

[upSLIDEdown]

You don't want to preload it. If anything, drooping the spring some will get you lower, because the strut rod will start out further down in the shock body. Too much droop is a bad thing though. I'm running Megan's with all the collars still, and I'm pretty fucking low. I don't have experience with FLT-A2's though...

[95KA-Turbo]

I've got FLT-A2s on my S14. I have them all the way low with an extremely small amount of pre load in the front with all the collars. I've got about a 1/8-1/4 of an inch I can go further in the rear lowness with an equal amount of preload on it. I here it is sitting with 17X9 +3/-2 215/45s:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/95KA-Turbo/S142.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/95KA-Turbo/S141.jpg

I was going to take the collars out of the front and lower the rear the rest of the way, but I'm too lazy and I don't hit anything unless less it is a big speed bump.

It can look kind of high off the ground at certain angles though:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/95KA-Turbo/VIRR28.jpg

[rps13drift]

Well ok!!! I did what you guys said to do with my jics! i took out 2 of the 3 collars but before reinstalling i took out the 1/4 of preload and got the shock to free up and move with some wd-40 then i cleaned them thoroughly. I installed them with a breeze and set my camber plates to all the way negative.

Driver side = nice and low!!! im tucking the front tire and i got about enogh negative camber for it to look agressive but not to crazy
(dont mind cell phone pics)
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/IMG00070.jpg

So then i look at the passenger side and i literally almost shit my pants! I honestly think my jics took a dirt nap! Ill let the pictures do the talking!

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/IMG00072.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/IMG00071.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/IMG00074.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/rps13drift/IMG00073.jpg

Look at the bolt on the top of my passenger side camber plate! the thing is totaly fucked!!! I think i will be buying a new set of coils sooner than i thought!

[240drifter1]

Holy shit thats alot of negative camber. lol

And whoever had the Green kouki in the last page, that things nice.

[s13_maJiK]

yea i'd think about adjusting the front camber to save your tires...otherwise looks nice and low

[rps13drift]

yea i'd think about adjusting the front camber to save your tires...otherwise looks nice and low

I cant adjust amigo! Both driver and passenger sides are adjusted exactly the same! The passenger side coilover i think broke up near the pillowball/camber plate.

[EDacIouSX]

yea 18s really raise the car a lot. super slammed look is only possible with 17s i think on 14s

[IIIXziuR]

Mikey gimme to gold

[an_orange_s2k]

Holy shit thats alot of negative camber. lol
took the words right out of my mouth

[BlckBeautyVTEC]

part shop max coilovers go low, if you were gunna buy new coilovers.
http://www.gtfactory.jp/cms/anglebanner.jpg
http://www.gtfactory.jp/cms/lowness.jpg

[JeremyR]

just becuase both camber plates are in the same position, doesnt mean you're gonna have the same camber on both sides...

you shouldnt have to remove the collars at all. they are there for a reason...

you obviously need to do a little more research before you get in way over your head, if you still cant figure it out, take it to a shop that specializes in aftermarket suspension...

[driftedfc3s]

OK, this might sound really dumb, but did you bolt BOTH of the spindle bolts through the coilover mount AND the spindle? I've seen the exact same thing when the top of the two bolts was outside of the spindle. Check it out and let me know.

[rps13drift]

OK, this might sound really dumb, but did you bolt BOTH of the spindle bolts through the coilover mount AND the spindle? I've seen the exact same thing when the top of the two bolts was outside of the spindle. Check it out and let me know.

Im pretty sure i did! Im going to double check everything after work tonite!

[240trainee]

you shouldnt have to remove the collars at all.


Not true.

They are there for if you have the car setup higher. but if you have all the collars stacked, taking out 1 or to and tightening the spring perch collar to the lower bracket won't hurt anything at all.

[backroadtouge]

so i think after all this...

what are you gonna go with, stance or max coils lol!

[driftedfc3s]

Just so everybody isn't left hanging, it WAS the spindle bolt that caused it and it has been fixed. The car will be on he road soon.

[k-os]

does anyone know if this method will work good on older tein ha's i wanna go just a bit lower but my fronts are maxxed already.

thanks .

(sorry if im hi jacking your thread just thought id ask here instead of starting a whole new thread on it)