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  1. #1
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Lowering rear, how much?

    Ok i'm not looking for a 'how to' on lowering the rear, i've read the guides and it seems pretty easy enough.....

    Anyhow just wondering how much to lower mine by, here is a pic of the current ride height



    what would be a sensible amount to lower by taking into consideration although the car will be road legal it's a track car 'project'

  2. #2
    Non-member Markey Mark (BD)'s Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    I'd personally drop it 1" and a bit, just to loose the gap between the tyre and the arch if its being used for a track car.

  3. #3
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Cheers Mark, so just bring top of the tyre up to where the bodykit is? I have standard rear dampers at the minute as well do the aftermarket ones make a significant improvement?

  4. #4
    Non-member Markey Mark (BD)'s Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Yeah bring the arch level or just tucking the tyre slightly, that'll look better but then not be too low or to harsh on the suspension.

  5. #5
    Non-member Slim's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    wow.. lower it alot.

  6. #6
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    I know you should see the front its like the R5 off road edition

  7. #7
    Non-member Slim's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?


  8. #8
    Non-member J8TRO's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    50 to 60mm in my opinion. 35mm just isn't enough. However, if you can afford them, or get a good price on 2nd hand units, id put coilovers on the front. Mines prob about 80 to 90 at the front and back, i have problems with speed bumps and the sidey.

    50-60 would be just right. I think 5's look that little cooler with the nose down stance too, the coilovers can be used to get this just right.

  9. #9
    Non-member wrightygtt's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    yeh don't go too low mate, you'll regret it, keep it 40mm, mines too low, it doesn't handle as well and catches on every bump going, its pissing me off, I am going to raise it as soon as i've got time.

  10. #10
    Non-member Slim's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by wrightygtt View Post
    yeh don't go too low mate, you'll regret it, keep it 40mm, mines too low, it doesn't handle as well and catches on every bump going, its pissing me off, I am going to raise it as soon as i've got time.
    im pretty sure mine is lower than 55mm.. feels pretty good to me (check pics)

  11. #11
    Member Woznaldo's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Like Markey Mark has said, lower it until the top of th e tyre is level or just above the arch extension. Measure that distance first as it is. It looks like it's 2.5-3.0 inches at the moment!

    Then lower the front so you've got a slight nose down rake.

  12. #12
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Thanks for all the feedback guys i'll get on it tomorrow.

    J8tro I got some coilovers sat in my room ready to go on once my top mounts arrive so setting up the front should be pretty easy.

  13. #13
    Non-member Spooky's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    i wont say what im thinking

  14. #14
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by Spooky View Post
    i wont say what im thinking
    Lets hear it ...

  15. #15
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by tiff_lee View Post
    Lets hear it ...

    We all know what Spooky's thinking, slam the fecker.

    Just be careful you don't do what I seem to have done to my shorter rear Spax RSX shock

    Although I am on the case with Spax
    Last edited by James5; 17-09-2010 at 09:29.

  16. #16
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    If you set tha back lower than 40mm than you have to shorten the rear shocks. Otherwise they will do nothing.

  17. #17
    Non-member philg's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    na slam it, none of this top of the tyre malarkey, you want the back arch level with the top of the alloy.


    Spooky style is the way

  18. #18
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by philg View Post
    na slam it, none of this top of the tyre malarkey, you want the back arch level with the top of the alloy.


    Spooky style is the way

    Spooky Style is lower than that you want to have about 2" of the alloy under the rear bodykit arch to be like spooky and even then you will still not be as low as Spooky

  19. #19
    Non-member 5teve L's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    I think Spooky has 2" of wheel showing.....

  20. #20
    Non-member Spooky's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    I think people know me too well

  21. #21
    Non-member Spooky's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by 5teve L View Post
    I think Spooky has 2" of wheel showing.....
    No that's usually my penis

  22. #22
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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  23. #23
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    how do you stop the front from crashing out? my shocks seem to be at the end of their travel and any decent sized bump causes a right racket from the front end?!?

  24. #24
    Non-member Spooky's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Awesome pics love bean

  25. #25
    Non-member Spooky's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Me Andy?

    I've never had an issue with the fronts crashing out. The Avos on the car at the time allowed quite a bit of adjustment beyond what is actually recommended and I was pretty impressed with how they coped

    What have you got up front mate?

  26. #26
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    just standard shocks with coil springs but in theary it's still the same shaft length.. maybe I just need stiffer shocks at the front..? when you turn your wheel how much shaft is showing, as yours seems a lot lower than mine!

  27. #27
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Nipped down the ironmongers today and picked up my torsion bar removal tool, I was surprised how easy they came out considering they haven't been touched in 20 odd years.

    Anyhow got the car lowered, perhaps a little too much but still not enough for spooky

    Still got it on axle stands at the moment while I do some grinding and painting inside the arches but will have a pic tomorrow, thanks for all the input.

  28. #28
    Non-member Spooky's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Awesome, glad you got them out alright

  29. #29
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Ok here is how it looks now


  30. #30
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by tiff_lee View Post
    Ok here is how it looks now

    Looks good but still needs to go lower

  31. #31
    Non-member Markey Mark (BD)'s Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    For track thats about spot on i recon, not too low and not too high.

    James your getting as bad as Spooky!

  32. #32
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    I'll see how I fair with it like that when I eventually get the car on the road and take it from there.

  33. #33
    Non-member rs250nut's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Needs to be lower, lots lower. Fives look the tits when scraping their ass.

  34. #34
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by rs250nut View Post
    Needs to be lower, lots lower. Fives look the tits when scraping their ass.
    No doubt but if I go too much lower ill probably struggle getting up and off my driveway!

    Jimmy GTT mentioned lowering the rear more than 40mm will leave the rear shocks doing nothing so is it worth getting some shorter replacement aftermarket spax/gaz dampers.

  35. #35
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by tiff_lee View Post
    No doubt but if I go too much lower ill probably struggle getting up and off my driveway!

    Jimmy GTT mentioned lowering the rear more than 40mm will leave the rear shocks doing nothing so is it worth getting some shorter replacement aftermarket spax/gaz dampers.

    Yes worth getting shorter rear shocks after my recent spax RSX problems I would keep away from Spax rears for now. But then I am not sure how low my rear was in the end as it was low

  36. #36
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by James5 View Post
    Yes worth getting shorter rear shocks after my recent spax RSX problems I would keep away from Spax rears for now. But then I am not sure how low my rear was in the end as it was low
    Was that the rear that came with the coilover kit? So I guess it was too long after lowering?

  37. #37
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by tiff_lee View Post
    Was that the rear that came with the coilover kit? So I guess it was too long after lowering?

    Yeah was the rear that came with the kit I think it was not short enough for the height I was at weird as the other side is perfect and intact. I still think it's actually a fault with the damper and not the ride height of the car.

  38. #38
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Is it possible that the dampers were bottoming out due to a loss in damping force (due to lowering) resulting in it shearing the end off?

  39. #39
    Committee, South East Regional Rep James5's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by tiff_lee View Post
    Is it possible that the dampers were bottoming out due to a loss in damping force (due to lowering) resulting in it shearing the end off?

    Very possibly but I didn't think my rear was that low there is still a fair bit of movement still in the rear damper piston rod


  40. #40
    Non-member Slim's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    i use clio 16v shocks.. and its as low as the pic above.. no probs..

  41. #41
    Non-member tiff_lee's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Are they the same length as the R5 GTT ones?

  42. #42
    Non-member J$£5GTT's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    to low an a sidey do not go together tho..
    ,mines a compromise..just right i think.

  43. #43
    Non-member Slim's Avatar
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    Re: Lowering rear, how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by tiff_lee View Post
    Are they the same length as the R5 GTT ones?
    not sure you know.. all i know is ive had a few different rear shocks. The ones before this i had Avo's on.. and they always used to have a funny knocking/rattling sound. So switched em to clio 16v shock which i had before.. and all is good

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