RB front tower extension?
03-09-09, 01:35 AM
#1
RB front tower extension?
I'm pretty sure this kit has been discontinued... I just want to see pictures of it to see how it works, but I can't find any! It is supposedly supposed to lower the front end up to 1 1/2 inches?
If you have pictures please share.
If you have pictures please share.
03-09-09, 09:57 AM
#3
Lives on the Forum
It was a neat idea, but when you lower the car that much using stock springs and shocks, you're just that much closer to bottoming out. Not sure if this method was ever very popular or not.
These days, most people go with coilovers if they want to lower the car. There are lowering springs out there, like racing beat, but when installed they actually tend to raise the car about an inch.
With coilovers, you set the height you want and you're done. This method also allows you to choose your desired spring rate. A higher rate if you want to race, a softer rate if you want to cruise, or somewhere in between if you want to do everything.
You can also add adjustable shocks to a coilover setup for even more adjustability. Choose a softer spring for daily driving, then put the shocks on a stiffer setting for some spirited driving. Only takes a minute to adjust them.
Anyway, there are still a lot of options out there. The best resource (in my opinion) is www.re-speed.com Great products, great service, and they'll answer all of your questions to help you decide what you need based on what you want out of the car. Billy is a regular member on this site, so you can send him a PM if you have any questions (username Bwaits).
.
These days, most people go with coilovers if they want to lower the car. There are lowering springs out there, like racing beat, but when installed they actually tend to raise the car about an inch.
With coilovers, you set the height you want and you're done. This method also allows you to choose your desired spring rate. A higher rate if you want to race, a softer rate if you want to cruise, or somewhere in between if you want to do everything.
You can also add adjustable shocks to a coilover setup for even more adjustability. Choose a softer spring for daily driving, then put the shocks on a stiffer setting for some spirited driving. Only takes a minute to adjust them.
Anyway, there are still a lot of options out there. The best resource (in my opinion) is www.re-speed.com Great products, great service, and they'll answer all of your questions to help you decide what you need based on what you want out of the car. Billy is a regular member on this site, so you can send him a PM if you have any questions (username Bwaits).
.
03-09-09, 10:23 AM
#4
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Maybe this is what you want. It's about the best pic I could find and it gives the rough idea. They were a PITA and a LOT of work to install from what I gather.
03-09-09, 03:48 PM
#7
It would be stupid not to weld it. One has to cut off the exisiting strut tower and install the extension in it's place. Since this part takes the full load of each front corner of the suspension, there'[s no way bolts. rivets or anything other than welding would hold up to the stresses induced.
I always thought it was a reat way to lower a car and maintain full suspension travel. It could also be used to increase suspension travel for rallying with the appropriate strut and spring changes.
I always thought it was a reat way to lower a car and maintain full suspension travel. It could also be used to increase suspension travel for rallying with the appropriate strut and spring changes.
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03-09-09, 11:15 PM
#8
From what I recall the kit did not require welding(it came with lots of bolts from the pics Iv'e seen), and the suspension travel was the same as it came with spacers for the strut bottoms.
Ha, just found it in an old RB catalog, I'll post the page when my scanner/printer is warmed up.
Ha, just found it in an old RB catalog, I'll post the page when my scanner/printer is warmed up.
03-09-09, 11:48 PM
#9
Here it is , you can't see it in the pic, but there is a bunch of holes around the bottom of each extension for bolts (or rivets from the looks of the pic bstrange99 posted).
If you look closely at your stock strut tops , they are only spot welded in a few places.
I have a pair of stock strut tops cut from a parts car for future use as a lowering kit.
If you look closely at your stock strut tops , they are only spot welded in a few places.
I have a pair of stock strut tops cut from a parts car for future use as a lowering kit.
03-10-09, 06:18 AM
#13
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What I meant was, the bottom of the car is going to be 1 1/2" closer to the ground when finished. And, you will still have full suspension movement.
Going lower, on soft stock springs, with full movement seems like a recipe for disaster. Doesn't it?
And I like that part where they say putting stiffer springs on the car destroys the handling. And then later they offer stiffer springs and stop selling this kit. Huh? Not to mention recommending to cut a coil off the back springs. Seems like they're contradicting themselves a bit, doesn't it?
Going lower, on soft stock springs, with full movement seems like a recipe for disaster. Doesn't it?
And I like that part where they say putting stiffer springs on the car destroys the handling. And then later they offer stiffer springs and stop selling this kit. Huh? Not to mention recommending to cut a coil off the back springs. Seems like they're contradicting themselves a bit, doesn't it?
03-11-09, 02:34 AM
#18
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03-12-09, 03:30 AM
#22
Since the spring and shocks attach at different points in the rear, extending the shock towers won't change much since the springs control static ride height. Dynamically, the shocks will hit extension limit with less travel than before, causing possible damage, but probably will never bottom out. Unless the springs are changed/shortened, it probably won't have any affect at all.
03-12-09, 08:06 PM
#23
So most people back in the day would install this kit along with lowering springs to lower the front end about 2-2 1/2 inches then cut a few dead coils off of the rear lowering springs? The front end looks like it sits higher on mine, but the measuring tape says it is the same distance to the ground. (Measuring the front and rear of the rocker panels on the bottoms).
03-13-09, 08:47 PM
#24
I had this kit YEARS ago...circa '92....and I loved it....the rear is not that hard to get to the proper stance with travel, the the front needs help, and this kit did it right. Either bolted on or welded...with the bottom RCA spacers, included in the kit, the travel was killer and the stance was off the hook.
1st gen's really need this kit available again...something easier than trying to whack towers off a donor car and fabricate something.
1st gen's really need this kit available again...something easier than trying to whack towers off a donor car and fabricate something.
03-13-09, 09:50 PM
#25
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I dunno. I still don't see how this option has an advantage over coilovers. I think you'd get many more benefits with coilovers, less work (probably) and cheaper (maybe), if you could even find this strut tower piece available anywhere. If I had to guess, I'd say they stopped making them due to the availability of coilovers once they appeared on the market.
If I'm wrong, tell me. I'm really interested. But I just can't see the advantage?
If I'm wrong, tell me. I'm really interested. But I just can't see the advantage?