2002 Q45 lowering front end

[bigjimmy]

What's the best way to lower the front end 1" to get my front fender gap to match the back. My car looks like I have a few bodies in the trunk.

[SonzofGod]

I was also wondering that......

[maxnix]

Never noticed that cars have larger front fender cutouts to allow wheels to turn?

[cullenj76]

Never noticed that cars have larger front fender cutouts to allow wheels to turn?

I'm getting sick of coming in to this forum to see your vomit everywhere.

Is it within the realm of your mental faculties to understand that not everyone wants to hear your smart-*** comments all the time.

Why not just be of service to the guys asking the question, or if you don't know.....STFU.

[elwesso]

alright guys chill!!! brian has a point that lowering springs dont really improve handling...

Anyway, to the original poster..... eibach makes a set of lowering springs, as does i think espilir (SP?)... They are a modest drop (1-1.5 inches) and you could (if you wanted) only install them on the front...

[cullenj76]

What's the best way to lower the front end 1" to get my front fender gap to match the back. My car looks like I have a few bodies in the trunk.

This might help: zerothread?id=187934

[cullenj76]

alright guys chill!!! brian has a point that lowering springs dont really improve handling...

He asked about lowering the vehicle, not putting it on a skid-pad. I'm just sick of people being turned away by Brian's puke.

Would it have been that ****ing hard to say "Hey, ____and____make springs for your car, but you might want to know the following affects of the springs:_______"

[bullittandy]

alright guys chill!!! brian has a point that lowering springs dont really improve handling...

Anyway, to the original poster..... eibach makes a set of lowering springs, as does i think espilir (SP?)... They are a modest drop (1-1.5 inches) and you could (if you wanted) only install them on the front...

How 'bout a little advice to Brian about his routinely condescending comments. It reflects poorly on the entire community when ONE member ROUTINELY insults new members. This is not said out of self interest-I can take care of myself. However, new members cannot and should not be bullied/insulted. If its okay to talk to people the way Brian does-why don't you ever do it?

[bullittandy]

I'm getting sick of coming in to this forum to see your vomit everywhere.

Why not just be of service to the guys asking the question, or if you don't know.....STFU.

Ditto.

[elwesso]

OK i only want to address this once..... I have been putting this off, and I know a lot of you are upset at some of the comments Brian makes. I really dont like making posts like this because we generally get along great as a community, and most of you guys know that I dont speak out on stuff like this.. I prefer to focus on helping others by sharing technical information, not starting or messing with drama... If I wanted drama, id go visit the girls dorm... But generally speaking, id visit the girls dorm for other reasons. :

I have been on this board since late 2002, a member since early 2003. Brian has been a member for longer than that, and also a member on the yahoo groups... So needless to say, hes probably been on the internet for Infiniti Q45s longer than anyone else has..

With that said, a majority of the time he is correct... While the comments may be cynnical and unsolicited, they generally have some tidbit of information... many times he has humbly stood corrected...

You wanna know the good thing about the internet? you dont have to reply to anything if you dont want...!! Its not like in a real conversation where someone says something right to your face, you have to give some sort of response..... During my tenure on NICO, I have yet to see any (especially new) member leave NICO due to his comments... Should that occur, I will deal with the situation as needed... Until that time, im not going to go around and telling everyone to play nice... Take it upon yourself and get over it... WE are all here to help each other, and whining about comments that other people are making (that really are harmless!!!) isnt helping anyone... Ignore the comments if you need to, but please, no more of this nonsense...

Besides, SOMEONE has to be the person to go and poop in the sandbox!!! Its a dirty job, but someone has got to do it!!!

[Falkdesigns]

alright guys chill!!! brian has a point that lowering springs dont really improve handling...

And where Wes did the original poster EVER ask if it will improve his handling? No where, that's where. And a good spring lowers the center of gravity and generally WILL improve handling, actually. Huge front fender gaps and no rear fender gap looks like piss, and honestly if Infiniti did some of this to the Q, it would probably help take away the "Grandma" image it has in stock trim and sell more cars. Every BMW and Mercedes Benz big-body car has PERFECT fender gap, it's not that hard to engineer into a car. And yes, Brians comments make many of us sick, I just choose to ignore him 90% of the time.

But hey, WTF do I know, probably nothing compared to you guys since I don't work in motorsports, never worked in garages, or wheel and tire shops, oh wait, yes I do and did.

In any event, I would suggest the same thing as some others, get a moderate drop set of springs and just use the front. On my wifes old Accord wagon I had to get two sets of springs to achieve an even drop.
Modified by Falkdesigns at 10:22 AM 8/23/2006

[Q45tech]

Why would anyone care what a vehicle looks like on the outside? Some sort of vanity character defect? To make someone feel envious or think you are cool [follow the pack]? ......................Don't fall into that trap.

The world is full of differing opinions.

[elwesso]

Indeed falk, i dont disagree with you... It does improve handling, but if you consider all the things you can do (stiffer springs, GOOD TIRES, stiffer shocks, adjustable/solid links, GOOD TIRES, bushings, etc etc etc etc), simply making the car sit an inch or 2 lower doesnt really improve handling compared to anything else.. lowering springs are generally 10-20% stiffer than stock springs (assuming an OEM replacement lowering spring) so that you actually feel a slight difference without changing the ride a lot...

However, like you said, handling wasnt a consideration in this post, so the original poster can take this added information with whatever grain of salt that is desired...

[Falkdesigns]

Why would anyone care what a vehicle looks like on the outside? .

You obviously fall into the bottom 10% of people that buy cars. You also clearly miss that fact that the car show circuit and aftermarket is a billion $$ business. I suppose the beauty of Ferrari or Porsche is totally lost on you, and you would never care to step foot into a car museum or car show because, after all, who cares what cars look like? Apparently to you, cars do NOT = art, whereas to me, cars ARE art. Structurally, mechanically, physically sculpted works of art.

Wow, I can't believe you even said that. I moved to L.A. to attend Art Center's transportation design program, and although my career ended up going a different direction (motorsports graphic design), I LOVE cars, and always have. DESIGN is a part of EVERY car dude, but apparently you missed that part.

[Q45tech]

Engineers/Accountants/software types tend to be practical - the mechanical technical parts of a car and are sometime very dull vs artist who are well artsy.Depends on where you make your money or hobbies or using cars for some purpose other than transportation. Ego inflators, chick magnets, etc, Vugar exhibition of wealth............the reason aftermarket sales are so high.

I have my car lowered for the minscule improvement that stiffer springs provide -------the lowering is a serious negative for me.......harder to get in and out of, scraping bump stops, and camber tire problems..........not because it looks cool but provides some useful purpose.

When I was growing up poor, I asked about flashy cars and people............people who drove newish Cadillac playing loud music yet rented a room or had 1 pair of shoes. LOOK AT ME I'm special thus the name of SEMA =SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT.

Little do they realize their non peers might want to send the special bus for them. [JOKE]

For what some spend on SEMA type products they could climb a few of the 7 Sisters.

When you are about to die which might be more important: what you drove and how it looked or what you did? Answers may vary.

Picture:Jan 29, 2002Cerro Aconcagua, near Mendoza, Argentina 22,278 feet Highest in Western Hemisphere 768 meters higher than Denali (previously called Mount McKinley)

[maxnix]

The old dynamic function vs. static form debate.

My car is a tool to transport me quickly, reliably and safely. It doesn't live on a race track nor a showroom floor. It has to be optimized for the real world, a much greater set of challenges than some drawing or photograph. I don't need it to jack-up my ego, or to portray a coolness factor. I do not care about the contemporary fashion tastes of the style lemmings. I prefer Stealth to Bling.

What works good usually looks good. Data don't lie.

[ddrumman]

Guys,

I always try to find the humor in Brian's weird comments. If I can't, I just ignore them. I know that it'd be real easy to let stuff like that get under your skin, but why bother? He's not THAT offensive.

There are far more important issues to get worked up about than his comments.

[Falkdesigns]

If you've ever seen Barry Meguiars show on SPEED, Car Crazy, that's me. To a T. I'd rather get a parking ticket than a door ding. Bird crap on my car can literally piss me off for hours. Someone's sprinkler spraying my car makes me furious. I LOVE CARS. Cars are a reflection of you. MY car is always spotless, inside out, up and down.

If all you care about is getting from A to B, a 1986 Honda Accord will do the job fine and reliably. Every time I look at my car, I soak up the lines, the curves, the shapes, the flow of things, then I get into it, and do the same with the interior, then I start it and listen and feel it's music. I could wax poetic for hours about my love affair with cars. Some of us love cars, some of us could care less about them.

[TgduMg]

To make someone feel envious or think you are cool [follow the pack]? ......................Don't fall into that trap.

Hey. Aren't those guys on the Lexus forums? Just kidding. Some of my best friends are Lexus owners.

Why would anyone care what a vehicle looks like on the outside? Some sort of vanity character defect? To make someone feel envious or think you are cool [follow the pack]? ......................Don't fall into that trap.

But what is wrong with wanting your car to look a certain way to please and satisfy yourself? If others happen to like your vehicles appearance, and it makes you feel good, is that bad?

Yes, some folks are jerk-off snobs and others go way out of their way to be noticed.

As Dennis said, the world is full of differing opinions.

So if someone isn't digging your cars steelo because it doesn't have a prancing horse emblem on it, or chrome spinners with neon tubes in the wheelwells, and need a step ladder to get in it.

And yet if you are still cool with your auto-fashion decisions, then you don't have to worry so much about falling into the trap.

Some people just happen to enjoy owning and/or admiring beautiful cars.

Two events of the prior weekend, the Woodward Dream Cruise and the Concours d'Elegance continue to celebrate America's love affair with the automobile.

I don't know of any events of an equivalent magnitude celebrating the riding of cabs, buses, subways, trains, or planes. After all, they're methods of getting from point A to point B. Transportation.

This morning, I saw a lady in a 85 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and commented to her how clean and new it looked. She said that it had seventy something thousand miles on it and her husbands Aunt was the previous owner. I probably wouldn't have paid it any attention, but a former co-worker of mine is an AMC freak and owns a pre-Chrysler Wagoneer and a 68 or 69 AMX.

I happen to love Q45's. The 94-96 G50 except the Active model, needs to be lowered in the rear. Some prefer the raked look though. (F)Y33's need to be dropped front and rear, and the F50's need to be lowered in the front. But that's just me. And I'm not fond of the front wheel gap on my Maxima either. But no, I don't want it to be a pavement scraper, just to have a visually pleasing stance.

300c's, Magnums, and Chargers with 22 inchers are all the rage now, and depending on wheel selection to me some of them look nice. But for many reasons, if I owned one of DaimlerChrysler's present darlings, it would have OEM wheels. I might lower it a little though.

Maintenance is most important and everyone on this forum surely knows it, but function and fashion can harmoniously coexist.

Dennis is the Q-guru.

And Brian should sell me his Champagne 95 (I promise not to put any wheels larger than 18 inches on it and the tires will have the proper load rating).



Danisiti 1
Modified by TgduMg at 2:15 PM 8/27/2006

[louiegz]

I don't know why some say there's no improvement with the lower springs. I remember reading one of the car mags once talking about the Camry and a dealer installed option, they had springs with a one inch drop and it improved the overall feel and handling of the car without it getting harsh. They didn't give actual numbers, but they seemed happy with the upgrade. I drove Wes's Q about 2 years ago and it wasn't harsh at all and the Q handled sharper than mine. I think you start getting into the harshness issues when you start using the poly bushings, like James's Q. His was harsh, but it did handled very sharply and very responsive to steering inputs. If I lived somewhere with smoother roads, I'd like to have his Q.

[Jesda]

To make someone feel envious or think you are cool [follow the pack]? ......................Don't fall into that trap.

I am the least cool person I've ever met. I need window tint so people dont think Qs are for dorks.

[bullittandy]

I'd like to summurize the debate-it appears to be splitting into two directions;-1st, When someone asks for technical advice, such as "Where can I get one inch lowering springs?" Then a helpful answer would come in two forms either "You can buy them at XXXX" or "Its my humble opinion that lowering springs are not in your best interest and here's why etc, etc"-2nd, Some people like form, some like function, and some like a combination in between. It seems to me that everyone here falls into this middle part with examples at either pole (Falk one end, Dennis at the other) though both are not very far apart.

My point about being condescending/rude to people is that it shuts them up. Maybe Brian doesn't care about this effect (I thought Wes would) but I do!! When new people don't talk-I don't learn!! I want everyone to participate because that increases the chances that I benefit. But if one member is rude then I suffer (how much is debateable). However, this theoretical decrease in potential new opinions and new experiences has got to be worth more than ONE person's right to insult almost every new member. Remember, we all benefit when people participate. Recently I asked about cutting the springs on my 97 and many of the responses I got were disproportinately negative, some even harsh. Did it stop me from cuting my springs-no.Did it ALMOST stop the Nico community from discovering that you can cut the stock springs on a Y33 for a 1" drop-YES!!!!New information is always beneficial and anything that reduces it should be reduced.

[elwesso]

i agree with you Andy, totally.... however, in practice, youll find that very rarely are the things you think are problems, really are problems..... Many times youll see someone say something a little snide or whatever, and then people ignore it and move on with the conversation... thats fine...

[Jesda]

LOL, I just received the "Design Issue" of Automobile Magazine, with the 25 most beautiful cars ever. The 300ZX is on the list.

This is a nice contrast from last month's muscle car issue, and I might retain my subscription after all.

[Jesda]

I'd also like to note that I've skipped over most of the posts in this thread, and I think it was a wise choice.

[Jesda]

Three posts in a row!

[bullittandy]

1. During my tenure on NICO, I have yet to see any (especially new) member leave NICO due to his comments... Should that occur, I will deal with the situation as needed...

2. Until that time, im not going to go around and telling everyone to play nice... Take it upon yourself and get over it... WE are all here to help each other, and whining about comments that other people are making (that really are harmless!!!) isnt helping anyone... Ignore the comments if you need to, but please, no more of this nonsense...

1.How would you know if someone "left"? Would they announce it? Besides, nobody is going to leave the site they will just be more reticent to post a comment or question. That's bad for all of us.

2.What do Moderators do then? I cannot fathom how you would determine Maxnix's rudeness as "helpful" and numerous people complaining about his rudeness as "whining." Furthermore, where's Maxnix? Why are you defending him? Why isn't he defending his right to jerk people around?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I hope Wes doesn't mind me stepping in here:

1.How would you know if someone "left"? Would they announce it? Besides, nobody is going to leave the site they will just be more reticent to post a comment or question. That's bad for all of us.

2.What do Moderators do then? I cannot fathom how you would determine Maxnix's rudeness as "helpful" and numerous people complaining about his rudeness as "whining." Furthermore, where's Maxnix? Why are you defending him? Why isn't he defending his right to jerk people around?

1. We moderators keep a lot better track of our forums and members than you seem to realize. We even remember that one guy who only posts every once in a while and doesn't even have an avatar, signature, or "check in" post.

2. We're here to help people with their cars. But we're not here to be peoples' e-parents. Not that we don't want to make the forums as welcoming a place as possible (in fact, it's exactly the opposite of that! We really do care if you enjoy participating or not, and we'd obviously prefer you did...you're our "family"), but think of what the forums would be like if we were to mention/reprimand/edit/whatever ever single rude, snide, or sarcastic post. I'd be banned myself! Honestly, as Wes said, Brians posts really (really) aren't hurting anyone. Like I say all the time (though maybe not so often on the board): people CHOOSE to be offended. Everyone has a different attitude. My feeling is that snide comments are nothing, easily set aside, ignored, or even laughed at ("if you can't find humor in everything, you need to lighten up") and that they aren't a big deal when you consider that the poster could very well have a wealth of useful knowledge to contribute to the community.

I just don't see the point in being bothered. Look at what it's done to this thread alone... Some say "make Brian stop being offensive". I say stop being offended. I realize that sounds a bit harsh, but as Wes said, ignore if you don't agree. Work together to make things run smoothly. Simple as that. Just like real life, not everyone is going to be sweet and nice. It's just how things are.

Drama belongs in the 240sx section, not the Q section!

I'd rather get a parking ticket than a door ding. Bird crap on my car can literally piss me off for hours. Someone's sprinkler spraying my car makes me furious. I LOVE CARS.

AMEN! I can't tell you how SICK I am of all the idiot businesses that water the road (and my car!) instead of their lawns. Seems like every time I wash my car, a new business points their sprinklers at the road. Keeping it clean for a week is a huge feat--even with a car cover. I swear the weather is dependent on my car's cleanliness. If it's dirty, the weather's beautiful. But as soon as I wash it, here comes the rain, ready to leave my car looking like it's been through a tractor pull.

[elwesso]

thanks MOD, because im done with this thread....

Im gonna delete some of these posts once the thread dies away.....