To lower or no...

[SDQ45]

Hi friends,

I have a nice 90 q45, and I have some california custom lowering springs in my garage (still in the box...red). Should I install them?. The q runs fine as it is, has been looked after by Jerry Tucker for as long as I have owned it, (84,000 - 147,000 miles, yes we did the guides). It is a great car, starts every time, hauls big arse, what more would I want? Should I have the lowering springs installed? I know how cool a lowerd q looks, but I like the nice ride. Is there a big difference in ride, tire wear, bottoming out? I run 245, 45, 17, Yokohama's.

What do you think?

Thanks in advane

los

[DrewQ45]

I'm in the same mode of thought. My CC springs are still sitting in the box since the group buy purchase way back. I have a habit of inching up as far as possible when I park and think I may do some damage to the front if I lower. I'm also considering how it will affect the ride and I've heard getting a jack under the car is harder...etc. Finally, I have some back problems and there is nothing worse that getting in/out of a low car with back pain. I may just sell the springs and keep it stock. Wish I had some new stock height springs.

[superuber]

Sell them on ebay! I fetched over $300 for my eibachs!What good are they sitting around the house?

[elwesso]

Ive had cali custom springs on my car for about a year and eibachs the other year ive owned the car..

My car has no problems clearing parking lot curbs.... Ive never bottomed out either.... Overall I like the nice handling and great looks.... The ride isnt quite as compliant but i still like it...

[Rex]

Let me give you an older mans opinion to "balance" against Wes' much younger mans point of view .

If you're going to lower for looks and know the "daily driving" issues associated with lowered cars (i.e. - speed bumps, curbs, pot holes, etc), then lower that puppy.

If you're lowering for "performance", I'd say first look at your shocks (age/condition), all rubber suspension parts (age/condition), alignment, do you have FSTB & F/R sway bars and what tires are you running? These factors will play a greater roll in your cars handling characteristics without affecting the driveability.

I have 2 Q's, one lowered, one just recently lowered. I wouldn't have one that wasn't, but I've driven lowered cars before and are conscious of the things you have to be conscious of when you have less ground clearance.

I wish I could find the posts where Wes used to talk about not wanting to give up his granny ride".

The lowered ride is harsher, but I think low profile tires transfer more of the harshness than the springs do, but that's just one old mans opinion.

Don't put them on ebay, sell 'em here. I'd be interested in any lowering springs someone wants to sell .

[superuber]

If your interested in making money sell them on ebay.I bought my cali's for $150 here. Sold my eibach's on ebay for $315. But, suit yourself. Not everyone is a business man.

[Q_SHIP]

My Y33 was lowered. Looked sweet but it was not worth it IMO. Maybe I didnt do it right............who knows. all I know is Im back to riding in a monstor truck of a Q and I'm loving every minute of it.

[Jesda]

My '90 and '92 at stock ride height scrape the hell out of everything. I guess it depends on your local conditions.
Modified by Jesda at 11:03 AM 12/21/2006

[Rex]

If your interested in making money sell them on ebay.I bought my cali's for $150 here. Sold my eibach's on ebay for $315. But, suit yourself. Not everyone is a business man.

No, no, no. Sell them to me for a slight loss .

[superuber]

No, no, no. Sell them to me for a slight loss .

Maybe your right, Gotta give the nico guys first shot!

When I lowered my G50 I noticed a huge difference. I lost my soft highway ride. I did gain on handling. Speed bumps are murder! I have to be really careful or I will bottom out. For me since it's not a daily driver I like the stiffness. If I drove it all day I would miss my soft ride. as far as scraping on stuff I really don't have a problem around here.

[elwesso]

In rex's defense, I do miss the ride my old Q had.. the 15in piepans with tokicos fresh suspension and stock springs.. It was dreamy! however, id rather get a cadillac and have an even nicer ride than waste a Q like that, especially compared with how mine handles. Most of the harshness in my ride comes from the highly inflated low profile tires I run in the summer. with my winter 15s the car rides very nice, and if I had the stock tension rods it would be very similar to a BMW...

I daily drive my Q and have no other transportation.... Doesnt seem to give me any issues....

The bottom line is you must know the downfalls and be aware...

[TBrack]

I'll take em off your hands

[Falkdesigns]

Like Wesso said, know the downfalls and just be aware. Every car I've had since my first car in 1987 has been lowered, and my truck, well it got lifted. My Q still has a dreamy ride, yeah it's firm, but it's still an unGodly comfy car. I wouldn't have it any other way, in fact, when I put my new wheels on next week, I'm thinking to cut 1/2 coil on my Tein's to get it down another 1/2 inch or so.

[goody90q45]

I do miss the ride my old Q had.. the 15in piepans with tokicos fresh suspension and stock springs.. It was dreamy!

I'm probably going to get torched (flamed X 10) for admitting to this, but after trading and upgrading from pie pans to 245x16Z" yoko AdB's to 245x17" yoko Z's I am now back to 225x16" Goodyear Eagles and enjoying the smooth ride again. I just traded my 17" rims and tires (from a previous trade with BadQ45T, only had them 2 weeks) to a guy who was fuly aware of the rough ride but liked the looks.

Agreed that a 245x17Z tire handles a lot better than a 225x16 Eagle but I am very happy with the ride and can finally feel the benefits of new Tokicos and suspension and sway bar bushings. I'll post a pic of the new tires and rims when the weather clears enough to clean her up.

Merry Christmas to all.

[Falkdesigns]

The funny thing about this is, I have staggered 19's on my car, with 35 / 30 profiles front / rear, and when my 60+ year old parents are in town, they always comment on how nice my car rides being low, with large wheels, etc. Rough ride on 17's? I can't even comprehend that unless there's something else going on. I have absolutely no complaints with my ride, it's smooth, quiet, comfy and responsive.

[Q45man1]

My 02 Q is lowered by 1" front, 1/2" rear. It is firm but still maintain comfy and smooth ride. I did change first all the struts/shocks. I have now a balance and responsive ride.

[BadQ45t]

hey goody94q45, good to see you!!! I just sold them off to another member and mounted some 19" M45 sport rims. They were good rims, looked awesome but were finiky about getting in good balance. Since I got them on I have been traveling and/or it has beenr raining so I have not had a chance to get pics of the Q with lowering springs, KYBSR Specials and the new 19" rims.

You still have your Q I take it goody94q45?