1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

"Lowest" lowering springs

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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 11:21 PM
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Jaime Enriquez's Avatar
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"Lowest" lowering springs

Just picked up an '85 GSL and it will be needing a lowering VERY soon. Yes, I know....slamming a first gen makes it ride horrible....but since RB no longer makes the front lowering kit, i'm looking for a nice reduction and wanted the latest opinions.

Either going Koni Red or Illumina's for shocks...springs are my problem.

My choices for decent lowness without the dreaded "cutting":
1. Intrax (ride experiences?) (says over an inch...)
2. King Springs from Oz...Superlows (2" drop)
3. B & G (anyone heard of these or used them?...1.4" drop)

I'd like 1.5 to 2.0 drop if possible... with some decent shocks and bumpstop cutting, this should be good enough for a daily driver.
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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 11:29 PM
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King springs are the lowest. No idea on ride quality as very few of them make it to the States. B&G, though not well known have been around for years. Friend of mine has them on his TII and they ride better than the Eibachs I have on my FC.

I noticed in your sig line you have a Rotary Engineering SP. You wouldn't happen to have a template of thier porting by chance would you? I recently picked up a set of thier DCD carbs for both the 12A and 13B and would like to compare thier porting to some of the other templates that are availible.

Last edited by trochoid; Mar 25, 2007 at 11:35 PM.
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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 11:40 PM
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If you want to go real low in the front, go with a coilover kit. Its a little complicated to install, depending on the kit, but with a good spring will allow a pretty good drop without bottoming the shocks. The lowest you can go is about 5 inches down, thats sitting the front end on the bump stops in the shocks. Here is a pic of my car after the coilover install, stock first then lowest setting then my selected ride height. At the lowest setting I had to do some unique maneuvering to get the jack out from under the car. As it sits right now its just high enough to get my jack under the frame rails.
Attached Thumbnails "Lowest" lowering springs-100_008100.jpg   "Lowest" lowering springs-100_0087.jpg   "Lowest" lowering springs-100_0093.jpg  
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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 11:53 PM
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I've got coil-overs on my Rx2 and want a more "streetable" ride for the daily.
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 12:05 AM
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Well, if you really want to go that low, you're going to have to use stiff springs. Otherwise, you'll be bottoming out on every bump on the road. If you want to maintain a fairly comfortable ride, you'll probably be limited to about a 1" drop.
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 12:31 AM
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King Springs are pretty harsh riding and have been known to sag after a few years. With 2" lower front I wouldn't bother cutting the bumpstops. Keep in mid the rear is at least 1"-1.5" heigher than the front so you will need some pretty low rears to match. I previously had 2.25" lowered front and 3.75" lowered rears, it was one of the lowest 7's getting around when the 15's were on
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 01:13 AM
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i cut my springs car handles nice doesnt start jumping around, just have to have good shocks after u do that
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 01:35 AM
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coil overs for the win
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 10:39 AM
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I've got some Eibach racing springs (275 lb) with a series of dead coils laying in the garage. I haven't decided whether to use them or not. They are about 2.5" lower than stock. Interensted?
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 02:47 PM
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I got King Springs and Illuminas on mine and it is pretty low, lower than my bud with Eibachs. The ride is not prohibitively harsh, but it is pretty stiff. It sits real pretty and the wheels fill the fender nicely with the +s and stock size tires. As for the sag, i don't know. But for the height and tight, I'd say "Its a go, Icccccccceman"
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 06:06 PM
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another thing to add (for my interest too, to be honest) might be wheel sizes and clearances... Sounds like your running stock wheels but planning for future upgrades? I've got 15's and was thinking of lowering yet too... although I guess you could run 195/50s and be pretty close to stock tire diameter, however if you got 14s, I don't know how low-profile they go...
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 06:30 PM
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Thanks for all the replies guys!

Sticking stock 13's for a while, FR17's in the future.
Looks like the Intrax or Kings will do it...
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 11:47 PM
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Jaime
Take my FB for spin to get a feel of Tokico blues and tokico springs (cut 1 full turn).
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 01:07 AM
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Not trying to steal a thread, but I'm in a similar bind. RB just called me today and said the springs I ordered are on backorder a month and a half out and couldn't get here till AFTER Deals Gap Rotary Rally...so I need an alernative. My Illumina's are already on the way so I want something fast and good that can pair with illumina's. I want a driveable and good handling car. Are Eibach's as good a bet as rb? Not looking to go coilovers, just good springs for lowering and handling without sacrificing a lot on ride quality(hence the adjustable shocks). Thanks all.

Edit: vehicle is an 82(FB) almost all stock so far.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 01:43 AM
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I have the Eibachs on both my 1st and 2nd gen. Not that happy with them om the 2nd gen, they are fine on the 1st gen. Also have Illuminas on the 1st gen.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 01:55 AM
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Awesome! Thanks Troch. I should be getting the cleaned up and pics FINALLY posted soon.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by glewsRx
I got King Springs and Illuminas on mine and it is pretty low, lower than my bud with Eibachs. The ride is not prohibitively harsh, but it is pretty stiff. It sits real pretty and the wheels fill the fender nicely with the +s and stock size tires. As for the sag, i don't know. But for the height and tight, I'd say "Its a go, Icccccccceman"
Do you have pics of your car? I'd like to see the way that looks.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 03:29 PM
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i know get air bags so you can lower and rase your 7 by a swich slam it when showing rase it when driving.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 04:35 PM
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Im using rb springs all around on my 83 and they put it at a perfect stance the front tires are id say about an inch from the fender on the top.

if i had my camera working id go take a snapshot but its a really nice ride when i have my struts tuned down
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by openshot
i know get air bags so you can lower and rase your 7 by a swich slam it when showing rase it when driving.

I want a repu that is bagged(not a early REPu like a b2000)
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 08:32 PM
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^ that would be bad as hell
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 08:49 PM
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I have the RB springs on my 80 and not really happy with the amount that it has lowered the car I am not sure if its the springs foult or there is something out of ordinarry with my car I that would be no surprise thou is there any other way to lower the whole car becouse I could use loosing another 1" or so.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 09:52 PM
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^^^^You can take the springs out and have them reset lower. only costs about $60AUD per pair to have it done down here. I have done this before to get to the height I wanted as no one sells off the shelf springs more than 2.5" lower. Far better than cutting coils off and if done properly won't sag any more/quicker than the springs would have when standard.
Here's my car before 17"s and coilovers. 2.25" lowered front and 3.75" lowered rear
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 03:03 AM
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Originally Posted by fcdrifter13
I want a repu that is bagged(not a early REPu like a b2000)
I've had a couple of people suggest I bag the REPU when I get around to starting that project. Not sure if I want to try that or not. I do know I want to swap the rear end so I can have an lsd and figure out a way to change the bolt pattern so I can mount the Epsilons under it.

Sorry for stealing the thread but I had to chime in on the bagging. In the 'Other Rotary' section, there is a guy that bagged and slammed his B2000 with a rotary swap. Damn rocker panels look like they drag on the pavement.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 07:00 AM
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Rotaries are not supposed to be on "bags" unless you wanna add some sparkle on your paint, a big dice hanging on your rear view mirrow and 110 spoke rims like the bros in the hood.

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