ride height

[gumby]

well i dropped a load of weight from my engine compartment and it sits a little higher now. removed ac system, cruise control, aiv, added aftermarket headers. i didnt want it lowered since its a daily driver so i left the stock springs. the struts are fairly new. im thinking aftermarket sway bars and strut tower braces will add a little weight to even it out. any way it just looks sorta weird compared to stock and im wondering how it will effect the ride. i might reinstall the ac i only took it out cause it had no charge and it made the engine install easier

any comments?

[URM S14]

well im not sure what exactly yur asking but the lighter sprung weight will increase the sprung to unsprung weight rario so ride harshness in the front may go up slightly but nothing much really. Also the possibility that your front height may be a higher height then your rear ride height brings a huge aerodynamic no-no in high speed stability, especially on stock springs.but these cases are to somewhat of an extreme but should be kept in mind.id advise to get new springs at the very least to lower the car and address the lighter front end.

-Chris

[eddiec]

removing all that stuff is great in the weight reduction department, but is not really enough to have any noticable effect on handling. i would be suprised if after carefull measurement the front end rose any higher then a 1/4" at most.

if anything by taking weight off the front on a stock susp setup would make it fell a little more springy or spongy.

[URM S14]

eddiec- i have to disagree that the weight reduction wont make a difference. the Ac system and cast iron to aluminum header is quite a bit of weight to shed. a solid 50-60 lbs together which is a credible amount.And not to mention that these parts that were removed are at least 3-4 feet away from the center of gravity thus improving the Polar moment of inertia.

-Chris

[sil80drifter]

There is no such thing as an aluminum header. Not for the 240 anyway. Aluminized (which is another fake word for anodized) is what you meant, I hope. My AC system weighed about 35lbs with the condenser and fan. Stock header vs. SS or mild steel headers are at best a 5-7lb improvement. The total weight loss is about 40-45 lbs. Yes, the car front does raise a bit. No, sway bars and strut bars will not make up for the weight, nor make it lower by them selves.

Consider the Tociko shock/spring combo on e-bay which costs only $400, and lowers the car by only 1". It's perfect for the money, since the springs are matched up to the shocks, unlike most other spring/shock combos you can buy or put together. Also, the drop is very subtle, and will resemble close to stock conditions in your particular case.

sil80

[URM S14]

didnt realize i put aluminum header even though i know they dont exist for the 240. but yea, i have heard peple say the AC system was around 50 lbs so thats where ive got that info.but yoiu guys get the point

[2s4x0]

Get Tein S-tech springs. I have them on my 240 which is a daily driver. It looks great. I cant stand cars dropped 2 in. or so. My teins drop 1.2 in front and 0.9 in rear. it looks really good.

[sil80drifter]

if you JUST get the Tein S-Techs, your shock will go soon to very soon ddpending on how odl they are. Averag time to go on a 198901993 240 is about 2 months. On a 97 (liek above) they will probably last up to 6 months,a fter which you'll need new ones anyway. Do it right and get shocks AND springs att he same time. The reaosn I suggested the Tokicos and not the usual Tean/KYB AGX combo is because the Tokicos are already matched to each other and are cheaper with similar drop as the Teins which the AGXs are nto matched to, no matter how many adjustments you do front/back. The valving is universal, not specific to any spring. Getting them revalved is time and money consuming.

sil80