how much lower??

[upe_642]

hei guys..

my car is on a 18x8 offset 44 wheels w/ 235/40 r18 tyres...

and no, it does not rub, even on extreme cornering..
speedo does not off too. (still under the 3% factory allowance)

it has +-6cm gap from the top of the tyres to the fender..
(3fingers+)

yet the front wheels are sticking out a bit (offset).. less than 5mm..

i won't really bother to change the tyres..

now, i'm planning to lower my car..

the question is, how much lower do u guys think is the best??
i'm concern about the 44offset +235/40 tyres..

thinking of 1.2 inch or 1.9inch..

and how much is the labour cost of changing springs only??


thanks..

 

[ApexTwin]

This is pretty simple... If your wheels/tyres are sticking out past the fenders, the less drop the better.

 

[DeZZar]

should be able to change springs for an all up price of no more than 600 or so. depending on the spring you go for. don't end up buying something simply becuase its come from overseas. one of the best springs on the market are pedders.

in my opinion - the best drop creates a nice even look around the wheels compared with the guard. having tyres dissapearing under the gaurd doesn't look right to me. I would say measure it up - then measure what distance will close the gap at the top of the tyre without looking extreme....

if the tyres are sticking past the car though - a. its now illeagal and b. you won't be able to lower it that much.

 

[Jester_Fu]

In most cases, when you get a 'lowering' spring, they will increase the compression rate - which means the spring gets harder. They do this to stp rubbing and to improve 'performance' - which most people expect in an after market spring. IMO, the golf, straight from the factory, is already slightly under damped. That is, it bounces a little after a bump. If you put a stiffer spring in the car to lower it and do not replace the shocks with ones more suitable to the higher compression rating, your car will bounce around the road after it hits a bump.

Ever sat behind a ricer in a cheap car and watched how it keeps bouncing after a couple of dips in the road? This is exactly what happens when you lower a car without putting new shocks in with better damping - or match the wrong shocks to the springs you fit.

So, you have 3 choices - get lower springs without changing the compression rating = gauranteed rub on hard cornering; get lower harder springs and keep the stock shocks - bouncing like a ricers pet rabbit on acid; buy springs and shocks together and inprove how the car handles while improving 'looks'.

 

[upe_642]

humm yeah..

i thought only pressed springs that will bounce..haha silly me,..
thanks for that jester,,

dezzar> i was thinking of h&R springs...
what shocks would be suitable?bilstein?
(i'll need to consider it first)

 

[Jester_Fu]

Any after market shocks if they're sold in a kit with the springs you buy will be a safe bet. Alkso read WhiteJames' suspension threads - heaps of great info. Ian from Rennenhaus also has a pretty sweet deal on some NeuSpeed springs, Koni shocks to match, front and rear sways and the bigger sway connectors. Your ride would look sweeter and handle like the demon spawn!

 

[ApexTwin]

...and rub like a mo'fo! :biggrin:

 

[rennenhaus.com.au]

going to have to agree with steve here

I had 235/40R18's on my neuspeed RS10 rims (18x8, 45 offset)

with stock suspension height, there was the very very occasional rub on big dips

once lowered, the 235's had to go!

cheers - ian

 

[bert]

ha! why you no listen :smile:

 

[WhiteJames]

Golf + 235 series tyre = occasional rub.
Golf + 235 series tyre + lower ride height = lotsarubbing.

Fix: Clubsport coilovers set on hard with big mother H&R 28mm/24mm anti-roll bars to keep GTI front moving around.

Otherwise stick with 225 series tyres.

Although not always.

1.9" lower and insurance may say goodbye - Vic Roads Defector may say hello.

Rules may indicate you can only lower 1/3 of OEM ride height (GTI/R32 should be @ 100mm-110mm ride height).

Cheers
WJ

 

[bert]

Golf + 235 series tyre + lower ride height + ET44 = shitloadsoflotsarubbing.

Fixed YO!

 

[upe_642]

ha! why you no listen :smile:

didn't intent to not listen..but selling the tyres is a lot of work..
unless i want to sell it pretty cheap...and buy a brand new tyres for anotehr 1500..:frown:
i can't really spend that much money for a car that i'll sell next feb..

humm maybe its because the std height of r32 is already much lower than the sportline??i believe so..
i think sportlines are even slightly higher than gti..

the std ride height of r32 already looks good for me..:biggrin:
i wish i have a r32...

too bad the new golf will come at the end of next year..

 

[Capercat]

bert, what did you do to your R32 engine? post a bigger pic please.

 

[upe_642]

going to have to agree with steve here

I had 235/40R18's on my neuspeed RS10 rims (18x8, 45 offset)

with stock suspension height, there was the very very occasional rub on big dips

once lowered, the 235's had to go!

cheers - ian

hi ian, we have a similar size of wheels and tyres..just my offset is 44..
only 1mm difference..

very2 occasional rub means very-very-very rare rub rite?
do u have any idea about the size of the gap between the top of the tyres to the bottom of the fender w/ that settings?
i mean the 235/40 r18 tyres + r32 stock ride height..


PS: if i'm going to any gtg or long trip, ill use the std wheels..
to prevent rubbing if there are any spirited driving..(not hooning!!)

 

[bert]

http://gallery.mac.com/irwin77#100024