Hey! I have a '95 sunfire sedan, and I can't get a second glance from any "enthusiasts" because they say I need to get a better suspension setup. I'm thinking a simple 1.8" drop will do it, but I have next to no money. What would you recommend I do for handling? I live in the country so there's some potholes and such, so I worry about dropping it too much.
-95 CAVfire SE Sedan 2.2L *Retired*
-99 Sunfire GT 2.4L
-85 Dodge Shelby Turbo TII Roller Cam Build *in progress*
i have a 1.5 drop on mine, and it looks good imho, so 1.8 should be great, ill post some pics later, but honestly if u do ur suspension right (get struts and springs at once, do it all once and not worry about it again) u wont need to worry too much about handling later. A strut tower brace is a cheap little upgrade, around 100 bucks usually, and a sway bar kit if u really wanna go for it, but those arent cheap. those 3 things are the major upgrades u can do to ur handling outside of tires, so get to it!
ps: last winter we had sinkholes everywhere, up to like 8 inches deep, and as long as ur not crazy and like, dive right into em u shouldnt have any problems, just dont drive through potholes like ur in a hummer
if you have next to no money... you shouldn't be concerned about trying to modify your car..
As for lowering it and having problems with areas.. Anything can be avoided.. it depends on if you know how to or not mainly.. My driveway has a steep incline.. Just going up it at a angle more then most gets me up it fine.. pot holes you just avoid them, learn your car and where your wheels are at.. you don't have to swerve into the other lane, just position your car where the pothole goes under the car(if its not high above the road) or on the outside of the wheel path, not directly to the wheel path.. you're going to get a harsher ride lowering it so expect to feel the road more as well.
But be sure if you lower your car.. to get the proper handling struts for them as well.. Although some will argue that there stock struts are fine with their ebay coilovers.. there is so much wrong in that thought process.. Stock struts are not made to handle the lower stance and bottom out easily.. as well as just completely blow and are useless. and don't buy $100 coilovers off ebay.. My rule of thumb normally is a set of good lowering springs should cost you atleast $100-150+ dollars.. That is without struts. Coilovers should cost you roughly atleast $300+ not including struts as well.. Anything with struts its good to really just add $500-600 on top of the price of springs.. Tokico D-specs are a common choice because of ease of install and are really nice. Koni Yellows are a popular as well but arent aas easy as just bolting everything together..cutting the stock housings and mounting the Koni strut cartridges is needed..
Few Coilover options are
Tein Basics
Tein Superstreets(Come with solid pillowball mounts as well for a complete out of the box bolt in setup)
STD Coilovers(newer company have heard pretty good from them, don't quite know anything on their setup though, someone else can chime in on those)
Ground Control Coilovers with Koni Yellow struts is pretty popular but it still requires the modifying stock strut housings.
Gravana Tuning makes coilovers as well
Bottom line for you though, If you have next to no money.. Don't be expecting to do much to your car.. Lowering a car correctly will cost you at least roughly $500-600 with springs and struts..this is all new, maybe you can get lucky with used parts but who knows.. As well i will mention, If you can't properly lower your car with a good spring/strut combo or coilover setup.. Don't do it at all.. Heating, Cutting springs, or buying $50 coilovers off ebay, lowering on stock struts is not safe let alone helping your handling at all..
If you are really wanting to do so, start saving.. that is it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, September 21, 2009 8:35 AM
Just keep an eye on the classifieds for these: eibach pro kit, tein s or h techs, and save up for some decen struts. If yo want adjustability on the struts, kyb agx's have been used by many reliably for a 1.5" drop. Otherwise you could take your chances with tokico HPs or kyb gr-2s.
Personally I would be very careful buying used struts - make sure you can see them in person. Springs are not likely to be a problem, but you can come out very far ahead buying used...
From someone who has been here for a long time (Sold my car). You are better off doing suspension right the first time with struts. I know it is hard. I learnt the hard way and i will never lower a car again without the proper struts. I mean proper struts not some OEM knock of claiming to be good on lowered cars.
2004 Grand Prix GTP (Competition Group)
SOLD-->1999 Z24 5M-#30 to register on JBO
"You can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all the people'
all the time
Dan Cummings wrote:A strut tower brace is a cheap little upgrade, around 100 bucks usually,
strut tower braces can be had for much less than $100. if you can find an oem front bar from a vert in the junkyard your looking at maybe $20 (that's on the high side... i think i paid $8 for mine) ebay has front and rears in the $30-50 range.
as all have said, spend the money for springs AND struts. springs alone will net you a drop but a rough ride and blown struts.
but the key was next to no money probably should be the last thing you worry about is suspension since it never end if you have no money moding a car probably isn't for you
JBO since July 30, 2001
