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Lowering my RX-4

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Old 06-15-09, 09:52 PM
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Lowering my RX-4

I was wondering if anyone knows of a supplier that has lowering coils for the front of a RX-4. A previous owner of my car decided it would be a good idea to lower the car by cutting the front coil springs and by using 2x2 square tubing as lowering blocks in the rear. I on the other hand think that there has to be a better way. The rear is easy I can manufacture solid lowering blocks to replace the square tubing. The front though is a different story. I was also wondering if you can at all swap in springs from a different car. Any info would be greatly appreciated as I want to have this car on the road ASAP. Thanks.
Old 06-15-09, 09:57 PM
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how low do you want to go?

Old 06-16-09, 06:19 AM
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I'd like to keep it right about where it is now which is about a 2 inch drop according the the blocks in the rear. It has a nice stance. How low is your car lowered? It looks awesome.
Old 06-16-09, 08:25 AM
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it has RESpeed 1st gen camber kit with 1st gen strut/tokico blues/front brakes. I tried different aftermarket 1st gen springs like ground control coil over, Racing Beat, TMC springs but the best one is the stock 1st gen springs. not too bouncy at all.

Once you find the right height for you, then drop the rear. I tried different size lowering blocks but I ended with either 1.5 or 2 aluminum blocks.

This car was sold over a year ago.
Old 06-16-09, 09:08 AM
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Ah that's awesome, thanks for the advice. I know a few first gen guys, I'll have to see if I can score some coils from them.
Old 06-16-09, 10:34 AM
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I used 2 inch blocks out back with QA1 coilovers up front on GSL-SE struts and brakes. Also used camber plates from a 1st gen to finish it all off. The spring rate was 350lbs spring if I recall. I got the coilover setup from Luis at www.paradiseracing.com


Old 06-17-09, 03:45 AM
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Instead of using blocks in the back have you considered having the leaves re-set? It's a bit of a pain getting the leaves off but it's well worth it. You can add extra leaves too to alter the stiffness. I added 1 leaf to mine with a 3 re-set drop and it handles far superior to the stock setup with blocks. Also if you use rx7 strut set-up for the front you will have to buy camber plates too because the 7 struts alter the camber when bolted in. I just had my springs made up at a local spring supplier, just lower and stiffer. chucked it all back together with new shocks and she handles like she on rails
Attached Thumbnails Lowering my RX-4-dscn0068.jpg  
Old 06-17-09, 06:20 AM
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Huh, I had no idea that you could get leaf springs reset like that. I'll have to look into that and see if I can find a local place that could do that for me. For now the blocks will do the trick, but that would be a far superior way to go.
Old 06-17-09, 08:02 AM
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Bryon, I went to place in Collingwood when I got lift springs for the Taco, he charged 500 for the brand new leaf packs. Called him up in the am and were done by noon.


Collingwood Spring Service - 705-444-5306
26 Elm Street , Collingwood , ON L9Y 3J2
All Spring & Suspension Repairs Light & Heavy Trucks, Cars & Trailers Fast.

The guy has a heavy European accent, so make sure you get what you want.
Old 06-17-09, 08:54 AM
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leaf springs can be copied or re-arch. their is a local shop that charges between $100-$150 to re-arch the springs.
Old 06-18-09, 06:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Nismo Convert86
Bryon, I went to place in Collingwood when I got lift springs for the Taco, he charged 500 for the brand new leaf packs. Called him up in the am and were done by noon.


Collingwood Spring Service - 705-444-5306
26 Elm Street , Collingwood , ON L9Y 3J2
All Spring & Suspension Repairs Light & Heavy Trucks, Cars & Trailers Fast.

The guy has a heavy European accent, so make sure you get what you want.
I'll keep that in mind Kevin. I was told that McArthur Tire in Hanover can do leaf springs as well. They have the equipment to manufacture new U-bolts, re-arch the springs, and they can make brand new leafs on site. They also have a good pipe bender as well, so I may go see them to get some exhaust pipe bent.
Old 06-18-09, 05:22 PM
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de-arched leaf springs are a much better way to lower than blocks. no added weight and blocks create leverage for the axle to piviot.

composite monoleaf aka fiberglass leaf springs are best, weigh a fraction and greatly reduce wheel-hop.

http://flex-a-form.com/

Last I checked $450 a pair.
Old 06-18-09, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by DriveFast7
de-arched leaf springs are a much better way to lower than blocks. no added weight and blocks create leverage for the axle to piviot.

composite monoleaf aka fiberglass leaf springs are best, weigh a fraction and greatly reduce wheel-hop.

http://flex-a-form.com/

Last I checked $450 a pair.
thanks brad for confirming. thats what I heard but I'm just too cheap to try it. Maybe I should ask my wife for father's day but I already know what she will say: you're not my dad.

same excuse that I tell her on mother's day
Old 06-18-09, 07:16 PM
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$450 for the pair of springs is a pretty good deal. I'll have to check that out for sure. Thanks for the tip. Keep trying with your wife Wacky...eventually she'll cave.
Old 06-18-09, 08:33 PM
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Lol
Old 06-19-09, 09:06 PM
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If I swap the stock RX-4 strut mounts onto the RX-7 struts and coils would it still alter the camber? I haven't taken any of this stuff apart yet because I don't have my own shop space. I'm trying to do as much pre planning as possible so I have as few surprises as possible when I actually get working on it. For all I know they may not even fit.
Old 06-19-09, 09:54 PM
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the old school strut insert (slides to the strut tower) has a flat end so you will need to machine the 1st gen strut insert.
Old 06-19-09, 10:10 PM
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That doesn't sound too hard. I'm really pushing my budget on this one so if I can get away from buying camber plates for now would be awesome.
Old 06-20-09, 04:46 AM
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I just ordered some RX4 front lowering spring from Australia. Then I put some new old stock shock inserts in the front. Car rides very smooth and when I had my 13s the bottom of the car would scrape on speed bumps if I didnt approach them one tire at a time.
Old 06-20-09, 08:07 AM
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Do you know where you got those springs from? I searched on the internet and looked around on a few sites that I knew of but didn't find any lowering springs for the RX-4.
Old 06-21-09, 02:02 AM
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Yeah Ill get the web site for you by Monday, Sundays are usually family days so no car stuff...warden rules...they also make leaf springs for our cars...shipping is somewhat of a pain but they work with you.
Ricky
Old 06-21-09, 12:04 PM
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KingSprings australia , K-Mac, Noltek all from Australia have what you need from springs to leafs, sway bars , adjustable top mounts and bushings it's all there for the front end you have to specify either 74to 75 or 76 to 78 because the front ends are completely different all the rears are the same
Old 06-22-09, 03:55 PM
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The company I used for my springs was diffrent but im sure those stated above work too...let me know if you still need mine.
Ricky
Old 06-22-09, 08:07 PM
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All the companies I named have all you need for RX4's 3's , how do I know that ? because i am from Australia ( currently living in th US)and have bought parts from all of them through the years ( going back 25 years)and just recently as a matter of fact, now I suspect that some some people tend to think that they are the only ones that know the sources and dont want to give out any info as to where they get parts for their cars .
You can always try Pedders suspension for Springs , shocks and Leaves, then there is also Lovells suspension for front springs and leaves
Old 06-22-09, 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Buggy
I'm trying to do as much pre planning as possible so I have as few surprises as possible when I actually get working on it. For all I know they may not even fit.
The camber issue they are speaking of is due to the king pin inclination. These differ from the old school housings to the first gen housings. So, if you swap the entire first gen housing you will need camber plates to eliminate the positive caster.

I had a local driveline shop do my rear leafs for the REPU. About $150 for the pair. Same place does drive shafts so that might help find someone local to you.

-billy


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