Lowering an S13
Lowering an S13
I recently had some people (performance shop) tell me that when lowering my 89' 240sx F/B the camber in the rear will just be something I have to live with unless I can find somebody to bend/cut the rear frame of the car. They make a camber kit for the front but they said that in the back I would just be stuck. I went a head and went with the Eibach sportline springs F 2.2 R 2.1 Hopefully it wont be too severe. Has anybody else heard of this problem? I know a guy who has an 85' 300ZX and has been told the same thing.
First off, the sportlines will not lower your S13 2.2", it is actually 1.75". Second, no, there is no camber correction kit for the rear, but you can check out http://www.autoimaging.com for adjustable rear control arms and stuff that will allow rear camber correction. I do not have these and my tires are square enough with the pavement that, as long as i rotate them regularly (as per factory), i will be fine.
I do not forsee any problems with those wheels/tires. But i have experience in the lowering height of Eibach that i really really was not happy with.
About 6 years ago i got my first set of lowering springs from H&R. They were a true 1.25" drop (measured before and after installation). I was happy for the next 5 years. Then a year ago, i decide i want to spend $200 to get the ProKit from Eibach and lower it another .5", according to them they were 1.75" lowering height. $200 for the springs and $1400 of total suspension work later (rebuild the whole suspension and got new struts), my car went UP an inch! After arguing with the guys i bought them from, they told me to return them and they would send them back to Eibach as defective. So i had to pay another $300 to have my H&R springs put back on. Eight months later i get my refund check from Eibach. So i was EXTREMELY wary when i purchased the Sportlines from them late last year. Again, i measured before and after, and they are a 1.75" total drop from stock ride height. To back this up, pick up a 5 year old copy of Super Street or Sport Compact Car and check Eibach's ads: back then they claimed them at .75" and 1.75" drops. And they havent changed the way the springs are made.
Sportlines are great springs, they feel exactly the same as my H&R springs, but the car sits .5" lower for a more aggressive look (imo). But ProKits are only better handling than stock, they do nothing significant to your ride height!
Consider yourself enlightned at my expense!
About 6 years ago i got my first set of lowering springs from H&R. They were a true 1.25" drop (measured before and after installation). I was happy for the next 5 years. Then a year ago, i decide i want to spend $200 to get the ProKit from Eibach and lower it another .5", according to them they were 1.75" lowering height. $200 for the springs and $1400 of total suspension work later (rebuild the whole suspension and got new struts), my car went UP an inch! After arguing with the guys i bought them from, they told me to return them and they would send them back to Eibach as defective. So i had to pay another $300 to have my H&R springs put back on. Eight months later i get my refund check from Eibach. So i was EXTREMELY wary when i purchased the Sportlines from them late last year. Again, i measured before and after, and they are a 1.75" total drop from stock ride height. To back this up, pick up a 5 year old copy of Super Street or Sport Compact Car and check Eibach's ads: back then they claimed them at .75" and 1.75" drops. And they havent changed the way the springs are made.
Sportlines are great springs, they feel exactly the same as my H&R springs, but the car sits .5" lower for a more aggressive look (imo). But ProKits are only better handling than stock, they do nothing significant to your ride height!
Consider yourself enlightned at my expense!
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240Kuminachu
- Posts: 286
- Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2002 4:54 am
I put the sportlines on my coupe, took it to LesSchwabs and the guy said it dint need a camber kit. Yes there isnt one for the rear. He adjusted the front and the rear as far as the stock adjustments would allow for and the car was fine.. The kid that owns it now still shows no uneven tire wear. You cant go wrong with the sportlines.
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lessthanjakejohn
- Posts: 4105
- Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2002 6:39 am
Heres what I can say:
First, I know Eibach sells a full front/back camber kit for my 1992 240sx, so they should make one for yours. Second, since lowering my car with Tom's coilovers, I found that my 17 inch rims NEED the negative camber to give me good tire wear. Putting the 17's on set the camber off angle, and lowering it made it good again, so if you're getting rims soon, wait and see how it works.
First, I know Eibach sells a full front/back camber kit for my 1992 240sx, so they should make one for yours. Second, since lowering my car with Tom's coilovers, I found that my 17 inch rims NEED the negative camber to give me good tire wear. Putting the 17's on set the camber off angle, and lowering it made it good again, so if you're getting rims soon, wait and see how it works.