Hi guys,

I wanted to know what you guys thought of using air ride or hydro suspension as a way to keep your car from getting stolen. I was thinking that if the car was lowered down all the way to the ground, then it would be impossible for a tow truck to take the car. Now if this is correct and it makes it a lot harder to tow a car, what type of suspension can you guys suggest?

Right now I'm running Koni yellows and GC's at 450F and 650R. I bought them thinking I would some day use them for auto-x but I dont know if I ever will. I dont know too much about air or hydro susp, but how would they compare to a basic spring/shock suspension setup? One or two other members are interested in knowing this too, so I would like some serious answers. No ricer coments or anything like that.

If you guys know of a good air or hydro kit that works well with EF Civic/CRX's and EG's please let me know.

Thanks

 

I'd think that suspension would make them want to steal your car!

Just get a fork lift, ram em thru your doors and pick up the car. Then strip everything off of it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd think that suspension would make them want to steal your car!

Just get a fork lift, ram em thru your doors and pick up the car. Then strip everything off of it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I dunno if that was meant to be funny but I found it hilarious while picturing it in my head.

 

it might stop them from towing it w/o damaging your car, but it sure as hell won't stop them from yanking it up on to a flatbed. I've seen cars with no tires being dragged up onto a flatbed before.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nonsense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it might stop them from towing it w/o damaging your car, but it sure as hell won't stop them from yanking it up on to a flatbed. I've seen cars with no tires being dragged up onto a flatbed before. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yah, but it still makes it harder for the thief to do their job. Thanks for letting me know that it is still possible to yank it on a flatbed, I'll keep that in mind.

Does anyone know of any good kits out there? I still wanna look into the possibility of maybe doing this. Also if anybody can post up any pros and cons of running these types of kits leem know.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueShadow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yah, but it still makes it harder for the thief to do their job. Thanks for letting me know that it is still possible to yank it on a flatbed, I'll keep that in mind.

Does anyone know of any good kits out there? I still wanna look into the possibility of maybe doing this. Also if anybody can post up any pros and cons of running these types of kits leem know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you want crappy suspension just for the sake of theft deterrent, just stay stock.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueShadow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yah, but it still makes it harder for the thief to do their job. Thanks for letting me know that it is still possible to yank it on a flatbed, I'll keep that in mind.

Does anyone know of any good kits out there? I still wanna look into the possibility of maybe doing this. Also if anybody can post up any pros and cons of running these types of kits leem know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well not really. If your car is dropped that low, they'll also make an assumption there is something under your hood worth steealing. So they could care less what they destroy on the car as long as they can salvage what's under the hood.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emissionsux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well not really. If your car is dropped that low, they'll also make an assumption there is something under your hood worth steealing. So they could care less what they destroy on the car as long as they can salvage what's under the hood. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You're right, they can assume that.

They can also see my stock car with stock rims and suspension and see that it is worth stealing. Or they can see my car right now which has rims and a drop and see that it has something worth stealing. Or if they were to see my car resting all the way on the ground they could see that it there is something worth stealing.

So how does keeping it stock, or leaving my current suspension and rims where it's at keep the car more low profile or more theft proof?

so anyways, does anything have any tech related advice they can give me?

thanks

 

i think air ride are a really bad ride, even though i'm in the east coast. my friend has them on his 5th gen i took his car out for a ride while he hit the switches to get it leveled. and i know the new york street suck but dam. only when the car is very low it rides smooth thats just my opinion..hope that helps

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueShadow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So how does keeping it stock, or leaving my current suspension and rims where it's at keep the car more low profile or more theft proof?


thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because people seem to pay more attention or notice cars that are dropped insanely low.

But the fact remains, if a thief wants your car that bad, they'll find a way to get it. Air rides or hydros wont really help too much. I'd probably have a lojack installed so if it isnt stolen, there's a better chance if tracking it down.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emissionsux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
But the fact remains, if a thief wants your car that bad, they'll find a way to get it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly what I was going to say

 

I think the costs and hassles of such a suspension setup could be applied elsewhere. I believe Lo-jack can be circumvented, but there are GPS services that cannot unless the beacon is found and removed.

I think the most ignorant of thieves would be in total admiration of such a low ride...making it more desirable, and then they would get in and tinker with it and vandalize it and give up.

So I guess just as much as it could discourage some towing thieves, it might encourage vandals and amateurs.



Modified by fireant at 8:57 AM 4/18/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fireant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I guess just as much as it could discourage some towing thieves, it might encourage vandals and amateurs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

or straight up car jackers. If they can't move it they'll wait till you come out and take your keys .... either way, if someone wants it bad enough it will be taken. That's what insurance is for.

 

Why do you people care how/why he wants to rationalize this purchase?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emissionsux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Because people seem to pay more attention or notice cars that are dropped insanely low.

But the fact remains, if a thief wants your car that bad, they'll find a way to get it. Air rides or hydros wont really help too much. I'd probably have a lojack installed so if it isnt stolen, there's a better chance if tracking it down. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Since my car lives in the car theft capital of the west coast, I could keep my car stock and around here it could still get stolen.

And I need need a bunch of people telling me that if a thief wants my car bad enough they'll find a way to get it. I KNOW THIS, and it is why I'm considering extreme measures to prevent my car from getting stolen. Every layer of security added to a car makes it a lot harder for a thief to take.

I have a few other ideas in mind and a GPS was one of them. However I didn't post about that here, because it's the suspension forum so I limited my question to suspension only. I have a little something for the carjackers too. But maybe to give any waiting car jackers a warning I'll put some Powered by Glock stickers on my car or maybe an I "heart" my Smith and Wesson sticker will give them a clue to stay away.

And fireant hit the nail on the head. I want to discourage towtruck thieves by doing this stuff. Now if it draws the attention of amatuers, then they might run into some trouble with the other security measures I will have up. However keeping somebody out of the car is next to impossible, but once inside they have to deal with what I have done to the interior too.

Anyways, I just wanted to say Thanks to the people who have actually given me some tech info. And even though the advice for alternate means of security is appreciated, I just wanted to stay on topic and discuss hydros or air rides. For the people who want to lecture me, save yourself the trouble, because I dont need or want your lectures. It wont discourage me from doing this if I do decide to go on.

Now if anybody has anymore tech related info it would be greatly appreciated.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueShadow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now if anybody has anymore tech related info it would be greatly appreciated.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok, tech. Hydros and air suspension ride like sh*t and screw up your alignment the first time you adjust them. If that's ok with you go for it. I'd rather have my car ride and handle than sit on the ground in hopes that it deters thieves. I've had my Civic for almost 6 years now in SoCal. Never been stolen or even broken into (knock on wood), but it looks stock too.

 

nonsence what are you talking about? You can make cylinders ride soft or hard. It only messes up your alignment if you don't install it properly. BlueShadow if you need any info I can help you out.