my car currently has a one finger gap between the tire and fender. i want to lower it to no gap or half of the current gap, but the shocks keep hitting the top hat on every lil bump (i took off the bumpstops already). so is there any other way to alter the suspension so that the shocks dont hit. what do you guys with the slammed rides do? thanks a lot.

setup:
96 gsr
dropzone coilover sleeves (i know, ebay special)
GAB 4-way adjustable shocks
205/40/16 tires

 

I'm assuming those aren't the rare GAB shortened shocks, otherwise you probably wouldn't be bottoming out. But without bumpstops, you've probably already killed those shocks anyway.

You need stiffer springs, or maybe extended upper mounts (more likely for the UCA to hit the shock tower though).

I had no gap in front with 380 lb/in front springs on my Integra and it never bottomed out. My factory cut bumpstops (cut in half) were still in good shape when I took off the GC's, and I have no dents whatsoever in my shock towers.

Of course with stiffer springs the ride will be noticeably more harsh. Price you pay to ride low, though.

 

how stiff of springs do you think i need, because the dropzone spring rates are around 350-450. and the reason why i took off the bumpstops is because with them in, there is no room for the shock to travel, even when i cut them to 1/4. looking at the shock through the gap right now with the car on the ground, there is only about an inch to 1 1/2" for the shock to travel. so im not sure if getting stiffer springs will help that much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTEC_Du_Ma_Mai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my car currently has a one finger gap between the tire and fender. i want to lower it to no gap or half of the current gap, but the shocks keep hitting the top hat on every lil bump (i took off the bumpstops already). so is there any other way to alter the suspension so that the shocks dont hit. what do you guys with the slammed rides do? thanks a lot.

setup:
96 gsr
dropzone coilover sleeves (i know, ebay special)
GAB 4-way adjustable shocks
205/40/16 tires</TD></TR></TABLE>

Those tires are too small. To get rid of the wheel gap, you'd have to slam the car.

Get the right sized tires, and your gap will decrease.

I daily my 00 GSR on 205/45-16s, with a 2 finger gap up front, but when I bolt up a set of 205/40-16s for autocross, it looks like a 4x4.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TunerN00b &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Those tires are too small. To get rid of the wheel gap, you'd have to slam the car.

Get the right sized tires, and your gap will decrease.

I daily my 00 GSR on 205/45-16s, with a 2 finger gap up front, but when I bolt up a set of 205/40-16s for autocross, it looks like a 4x4.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea i figured that was a way to do it, but i like the lo-pro look. thanks and any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

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

yea i figured that was a way to do it, but i like the lo-pro look. thanks and any other suggestions would be appreciated.</TD></TR></TABLE>

get rid of the 16's and throw on some 15's bro, you wont have to lower the car as much.

 

yea but i just want to minimize the wheel gap a little without the shocks bumping. so besides getting bigger tires or stiffer springs, i dont know what else to do.

 

I dunno man, I never had any problems with 380 lb springs up front and 205/45-16 tires. Looked like this:

 

yea thats how i want it, but if i lowered it that low, the shock would be fully compressed. i just dont understand how you could still have room for the bumpstop with it that low. but im looking into either extended top hats or doing the shock fork trick to give it more shock travel.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTEC_Du_Ma_Mai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea thats how i want it, but if i lowered it that low, the shock would be fully compressed. i just dont understand how you could still have room for the bumpstop with it that low. but im looking into either extended top hats or doing the shock fork trick to give it more shock travel.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Again, its because you're trying to take a visual measurement from between the tire and the body, but you're running smaller diameter tires.

If you have 1/2" less tire radius, to get the same "wheel gap" you'd have to lower the suspension an additional 1/2", which would place the chassis 1" lower than if you just used the correct sized tire.

If you want to keep the "low profile" tire look, get the right sized tires to do it. 205/40-17 would be perfect, as that would keep your speedometer accurate, preserve the correct tire diameter, and allow you to get to flushed tires without lowering the suspension as much.

I love these decisions that are based on looks, with complete disregard for functionality. You can get the look you want and preserve correct functioning, it just requires some actual planning. I give up, no one wants to hear good advice any more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTEC_Du_Ma_Mai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea thats how i want it, but if i lowered it that low, the shock would be fully compressed. i just dont understand how you could still have room for the bumpstop with it that low. but im looking into either extended top hats or doing the shock fork trick to give it more shock travel.</TD></TR></TABLE>

whats there not to understand? you cant!

unless you do something like extended top hats. go get em. quit complaining about the impossible.

 

why do you want to go lower. just for looks?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TunerN00b &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I love these decisions that are based on looks, with complete disregard for functionality. You can get the look you want and preserve correct functioning, it just requires some actual planning. I give up, no one wants to hear good advice any more.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea, that is why i asked how to improve the way the shock travels, and searched for ways to extend the shocks and stuff. and youve told me to get bigger tires, which is one way to do it and thanks, but im looking for other ideas so that i have some options.

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

whats there not to understand? you cant!

unless you do something like extended top hats. go get em. quit complaining about the impossible.</TD></TR></TABLE>

how am i complaining. i was talking to PatrickGSR94 when i said i dont understand how he can still use bumpstops when his car is lower than mine and i cant even use a quarter of my bumpstop. and i have been asking about other ways to improve the shock travel and no one has even mentioned extended top hats or raising the shock fork, and that would have been a little more helpful than telling me to quit complaining. so dont ****** post if you dont have any ****** suggestions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BLJ-93eg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why do you want to go lower. just for looks?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea i like the way it looks when it is a little lower but i still want to have the shocks perform the way there supposed to, and thats why im looking into modifying the shock fork or the top hats. i guess thats my only other options. the reason why im asking all of this is because there are so many dudes with their cars hella dropped and im wondering how they ride; do they modify their **** or do they just ride shitty.

 

how about you go with higher profile tires, try extended top hats and/or the fork trick.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how about you go with higher profile tires, try extended top hats and/or the fork trick.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
This should be the end of it. I don't understand why there is a need to discuss it further.