All this "stance" nonsense got me thinking...

[moroza]

People who change springs purely for legitimate handling improvements, this doesn't apply to you.

People who want a lower ride height...
The way I see it, it's not about ride height per se. It's hard to see 30mm between the roofline of one car to another. Instead, it's about wheel gap. So instead of wearing suspension components faster, risking body and oilpan damage, messing up camber change curves (unless you're one of the few who springs for balljoint spacers), and worst of all ruining your E34's ride comfort (been there, done that), all to reduce the stupid jacked-up look of a stock E34 front suspension...

Why not keep a stock suspension, and instead have your fender panels modified to have a lower cut line? And maybe flared out while you're at it, both for visual (looks cool) and functional (avoiding wheel rubbing) purposes? Has anyone done this? Surely, tweaking a non-structural piece of sheetmetal can't be that much harder than designing a set of springs and then having them TÜV approved...can it?

[S61Dan]

How are you going to feel cool if you can go over speed bumps at normal speed? haha

[Steve547i]

If you don't then your "I love haters" sticker won't apply.

[zubbie]

can't wait for the trend to go the other way

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/29/sa8anypy.jpg

[5Toes]

OP you have an idiotic idea.

[imae30driver]

OP you have an idiotic idea.

LOL + 1,000..

its much more work, much more difficult. requires paint and is much more costly and time consuming.

It nets zero handling improvements and most likely RUIN the proportions and lines of the car unless the rear was done to match.

bring and old phrase to mind. (There are no stupid idea's, just stupid people!)

[me78569]

bring and old phrase to mind. (There are no stupid idea's, just stupid people!)

:rofl looking at the tape on your headlight I don't think you have any room to call anyone stupid or an idiot.


might want to look at what the OP has done in the past.


Moroza, not a dumb idea, but there is no way someone is going to go through that effort when they can just buy springs and install them.

[Steve547i]

LOL + 1,000..

its much more work, much more difficult. requires paint and is much more costly and time consuming.

It nets zero handling improvements and most likely RUIN the proportions and lines of the car unless the rear was done to match.

bring and old phrase to mind. (There are no stupid idea's, just stupid people!)

"Zero handling improvements" but you are running 19s on your boy racer e34. Angel eyes and down syndrome style tape on the headlights. Know your place before you start talking.

[Leonator134]

OP you have an idiotic idea.


LOL + 1,000..

:rofl

[imae30driver]

:rofl looking at the tape on your headlight I don't think you have any room to call anyone stupid or an idiot.


might want to look at what the OP has done in the past.


Moroza, not a dumb idea, but there is no way someone is going to go through that effort when they can just buy springs and install them.


tape is a matter of taste....


"Merica"

- - - Updated - - -


"Zero handling improvements" but you are running 19s on your boy racer e34. Angel eyes and down syndrome style tape on the headlights. Know your place before you start talking.


ok, race me on my 19's then...

since its slow..

[Steve547i]

Sure let me get in my 4 banger e30 and drive across the states so you can valid your e-toughness. Leaving now.

[aalpine1]

What you call "stance" in the US, in other parts of the world is called FIA GT, DTM, Rally on tarmac and so on. And I think in Japan and Australia is called Drifting or track days.

Most of the builds that are on foreign forums are build for track days and not cars & coffee or show & shine :))))))))))))))))))

[Redfive]

Interesting approach. I'm still working on fitting my AC Schnitzer Silhouette kit on my car, but while fitting it I noticed something. The fender flares that ACS designed don't just make the car a little wider. They actually make the opening of the wheel wells smaller. 25 years ago, the best way to close up that fender gap wasn't lowering a car till it rode on the bump stops, but making it look like it does. And in the meantime, you get a car that you can drive fast because there are still a couple inches of clearance. And rides fairly decently.

Personally, in the 16 years with my E34, i've done a lot of things with it but the best thing is to drive it. And drive it hard. Based on that, there will always be adequate clearance/wheel travel. Even on the track. it doesn't make that big of a difference, except to increase bump steer.

[Sam Son]

Is this actually a question?

[atl530i]

Here's what happens when you modify the fender to make the car look lower

http://www.toyotacolors.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2010-Toyota-Corolla-Base-5-Spd-MT-3.jpg

[priler]

aren't you supposed to be a gangbanger to join the stance club?

[cddallara]

Why I would like to bag my pos.
Parked: on the skirts.
Driving: clears the potholes, etc.
I like to drive 'fast' around the back roads, but honestly, the car sees maybe 100 miles a month. And I'm not near as good a driver as I think I am, so it handles just fine for me now.

[BleedsBlue]

Sure let me get in my 4 banger e30 and drive across the states so you can valid your e-toughness. Leaving now.

:lol

Only valid response, well done.


What you call "stance" in the US, in other parts of the world is called FIA GT, DTM, Rally on tarmac and so on. And I think in Japan and Australia is called Drifting or track days.

Most of the builds that are on foreign forums are build for track days and not cars & coffee or show & shine :))))))))))))))))))

You're claiming there are more hard parkers in the US, and I call absolute bull on that. The hard parkers here are mainly influenced by the hard parkers abroad.

[Hofmeister]

Id like to do some validation to lowering. But I also did all the mentioned performance mods so I guess I can't speak for stancers

[JCSe34m30]

What you call "stance" in the US, in other parts of the world is called FIA GT, DTM, Rally on tarmac and so on. And I think in Japan and Australia is called Drifting or track days.

Most of the builds that are on foreign forums are build for track days and not cars & coffee or show & shine :))))))))))))))))))

No, "stance" is a style or look, form before function. We have plenty of styles based on actual performance, and they are far more prevalent, not sure where you are looking.
There are thousands of amateurs every weekend participating in actual competition with there modded cars.

[kalifkid]

come on kids behave yourselves, we all enjoy our rides. you should be bagging on the the guys rolling the rice burners that are so hacked up they look like an amusement ride going down the road. he he

[E38740iMD]

come on kids behave yourselves, we all enjoy our rides. you should be bagging on the the guys rolling the rice burners that are so hacked up they look like an amusement ride going down the road. he he


You joined the forum just to say that?:lol

Since your new you haven't seen an e34 hacked up yet :rofl

[Steve547i]

come on kids behave yourselves, we all enjoy our rides. you should be bagging on the the guys rolling the rice burners that are so hacked up they look like an amusement ride going down the road. he he

sick spare account. reported.

[E34Gabe]

No offense OP, but all I could think of was Fast n Furious body kits on stock height cars. I've been debating between coils and bags myself. I'm just going to save for bags so that I can spare my beloved E34 of the shit I put my static Accord through.

[V1990]

Low looks cool, but I'm a driver; not a lawn-sitter. I see where you were going with this idea OP, but bodywork is much more difficult than bolt ons.

Lots of kids around my area constantly tell me to slam my car. Screw that. It's my daily driver that can go over speed bumps perpindicular and needs suspension work as often as a normal vehicle would.

To each their own.

[M540fella]

It's not totally true about slammed cars need new suspension components. I've only seen my sway links deteriorate a bit quicker.

[JCSe34m30]

The front ends on these bags of crap deteriorate the same regardless of what you do to them

[Binjammin]

This isn't a stupid idea, and it's one that's been done before. Depending on the amount of drop you want to do, it's just a matter of raising the body height of where the strut bolts to the body. In reality, it just means cutting the strut tower part of the fender well out, adding the amount of metal in that you want to raise it, and welding the stock metal back on. It will allow a stock height strut to sit in the car effectively lower but will ride normal. Most people don't go that way because it's far more work and expense to have that done that slapping a spring kit in, but if you had money or were building the car you wanted specifically for you, to your own plan? It's absolutely a reasonable solution.

[T444E]

This isn't a stupid idea, and it's one that's been done before. Depending on the amount of drop you want to do, it's just a matter of raising the body height of where the strut bolts to the body. In reality, it just means cutting the strut tower part of the fender well out, adding the amount of metal in that you want to raise it, and welding the stock metal back on. It will allow a stock height strut to sit in the car effectively lower but will ride normal. Most people don't go that way because it's far more work and expense to have that done that slapping a spring kit in, but if you had money or were building the car you wanted specifically for you, to your own plan? It's absolutely a reasonable solution.

Hey welcome back. When is The Prince 2 due to be published?

[Binjammin]

Hey welcome back. When is The Prince 2 due to be published?

I dont get it. :dunno

The Prince joke I mean.

[E38740iMD]

i was gonna say. : Bins Back!!!

yea i dont get prince reference either :dunnno

[JCSe34m30]

Hey welcome back. When is The Prince 2 due to be published?

Machiavelli reference?

[Tre0Tre34]

assuming absence is due to authoring???

either way, good to see you posting again Bin

[imae30driver]

This isn't a stupid idea, and it's one that's been done before. Depending on the amount of drop you want to do, it's just a matter of raising the body height of where the strut bolts to the body. In reality, it just means cutting the strut tower part of the fender well out, adding the amount of metal in that you want to raise it, and welding the stock metal back on. It will allow a stock height strut to sit in the car effectively lower but will ride normal. Most people don't go that way because it's far more work and expense to have that done that slapping a spring kit in, but if you had money or were building the car you wanted specifically for you, to your own plan? It's absolutely a reasonable solution.

The gap between the skirt/bumpers and the ground being reduced is just as important for "stance".. It gives the illusion of a "Magic carpet ride" lol.. Its not JUST about fender gap... They go to great lengths with camber, flush, poke, stretch... Ect...

[Binjammin]

The gap between the skirt/bumpers and the ground being reduced is just as important for "stance".. It gives the illusion of a "Magic carpet ride" lol.. Its not JUST about fender gap... They go to great lengths with camber, flush, poke, stretch... Ect...

Considering I said it wasn't a bad idea, I don't know what the point of your post is.

[imae30driver]

Considering I said it wasn't a bad idea, I don't know what the point of your post is.

I feel if you have a lot of ground clearance but no fender gap it would make the car look akward? Like it was on stilts...

could be wrong, or a case by case basis. But i feel ive seen it before

[E38740iMD]

I feel if you have a lot of ground clearance but no fender gap it would make the car look akward? Like it was on stilts...

could be wrong, or a case by case basis. But i feel ive seen it before

I know what your saying...like a new scion tc sport(?) With no wheel gap but sits high looking wierd. It wants to be but it's not sure

[Binjammin]

I feel if you have a lot of ground clearance but no fender gap it would make the car look akward? Like it was on stilts...

could be wrong, or a case by case basis. But i feel ive seen it before

I don't think you understand. If you do what's been described here, it lowers the car, it removes wheel gap, but it gives you stock ride, so it drives like a car that hasn't been owned by a 19 year old.

[imae30driver]

I don't think you understand. If you do what's been described here, it lowers the car, it removes wheel gap, but it gives you stock ride, so it drives like a car that hasn't been owned by a 19 year old.

Know what your right.. Im sorry i misread.

What you suggested is FAR better than the OP's idea. I though you were agreeing with him. The real limiting factor in your plan is hood clearance.. I doubt we could go more than 1-2"

[Binjammin]

Know what your right.. Im sorry i misread.

What you suggested is FAR better than the OP's idea. I though you were agreeing with him. The real limiting factor in your plan is hood clearance.. I doubt we could go more than 1-2"

Hood clearance is not much of an issue, there's plenty of room for strut bar mounting etc. Every inch you raise it is an inch you lower the car. Every inch is 25mm.

So far as "we" are concerned though, maybe you can only go 1-2", I'm perfectly capable of going much deeper than that, you can sit on your own bench.

[Leonator134]

Ladies and gentlemen...

Binjammin.

[aalpine1]

What you are saying is done in EU (and maybe in other parts of the world) by almost all the German car manufactures for the countries with bad roads; however, they are raising the chassis :)))

[imae30driver]

If the car is significantly lower, but the suspension is not more firm are you not likely to bottom out on bumps like crazy?

[BleedsBlue]

You mean bottom out the frame rails/pan/etc? Obviously as with any lowered car, but the whole point is to retain suspension travel and not bottom out the suspension, which is the "19 yr old" effect.

Also, Binjammin is explaining the OP's idea, not proposing a better idea as you said. There are some simple concepts being discussed that I feel are whooshing right over heads.

[aalpine1]

A lowered chassis will involve also stiffer springs and shocks; however, because the chassis is lowered the sport suspension will still have the same "dimensions/travel length" as a stock/standard suspension, thus no bump steer and the ride will still be "normal" plus the suspension will not "bottom-out". I think that the VW group offered this options for their sport cars in EU; I do not know if these options are still available.

I would like to point out that many of these "stance" cars are better maintained than other stock cars. Even if the methods of lowering the cars are questionable, these cars are much safer that the standard cars that did not see proper maintenance since they left the dealer.

[moroza]

:rofl looking at the tape on your headlight I don't think you have any room to call anyone stupid or an idiot.

might want to look at what the OP has done in the past.

Moroza, not a dumb idea, but there is no way someone is going to go through that effort when they can just buy springs and install them.


"Zero handling improvements" but you are running 19s on your boy racer e34. Angel eyes and down syndrome style tape on the headlights. Know your place before you start talking.

:lol :rofl

I was waiting for a couple of the older members to come in and school the flamers. :cool


Interesting approach. I'm still working on fitting my AC Schnitzer Silhouette kit on my car, but while fitting it I noticed something. The fender flares that ACS designed don't just make the car a little wider. They actually make the opening of the wheel wells smaller. 25 years ago, the best way to close up that fender gap wasn't lowering a car till it rode on the bump stops, but making it look like it does. And in the meantime, you get a car that you can drive fast because there are still a couple inches of clearance. And rides fairly decently.

Personally, in the 16 years with my E34, i've done a lot of things with it but the best thing is to drive it. And drive it hard. Based on that, there will always be adequate clearance/wheel travel. Even on the track. it doesn't make that big of a difference, except to increase bump steer.

I haven't done a fraction of what you have with an E34, but over the 10 years I've owned one, I've never enjoyed driving an E34 as much as when it was bone-stock. Except for that one time at Laguna Seca, but I also had DOT-R tires on; different beast for a different game.


This isn't a stupid idea, and it's one that's been done before. Depending on the amount of drop you want to do, it's just a matter of raising the body height of where the strut bolts to the body. In reality, it just means cutting the strut tower part of the fender well out, adding the amount of metal in that you want to raise it, and welding the stock metal back on. It will allow a stock height strut to sit in the car effectively lower but will ride normal. Most people don't go that way because it's far more work and expense to have that done that slapping a spring kit in, but if you had money or were building the car you wanted specifically for you, to your own plan? It's absolutely a reasonable solution.

I sure hope you know what you're doing with a welder. Those joints would be under tension. I wouldn't want to be in a car that hits a bump on the highway with strut towers modified like that.

Anyway, I was talking not about removing wheel gap entirely, just reducing it by about 25mm with smaller wheel well openings. The point is to be able to keep a stock suspension if that's the ride and handling you prefer.

[5Toes]

I like the way my car bumpsteers and clunks when its not hardparked