So I lowered my car awhile back with lowering springs, and it looks great IMO. The only problem is that I can't even drive up my own drive way with out damaging my front air dam.

Is there some way I can raise the front end of my car a few inches on demand?

Air bags seem a bit too expensive and involved. A front hydraulics kit is only $450. Is this a good solution? (I don't have any experience with hydraulics, so I'm not sure what to expect)

Is there any other options?

Thanks in advance.

 

After messing with both systems a little on a friends truck, air systems are much better for a driver. They are less complex. Although I wouldnt install either just to get in my driveway easier.

 

This is why I'm a fan of fully adjustable suspension components. I'd keep the car at the stock ride height most of the time and then lower it for track use once I'm out of the drive way.

In some cities and states lowering your car just isn't practical.

 

Take the driveway at a 45* or more to avoid scraping. You can't just go straight in.

 

Put on set of 1 inch lowering spring if you don't like them sell them to me.

 

Could you elaborate? What do you mean "better for a driver?"

I thought air bags were more complex in terms of installation, no?

I'm completely ignorant of both systems.

 

both systems would require similar components, one just uses air in the lines, the other fluid.

Whatever hydraulic system you are looking at for 450 is not a complete setup, can be for that price.

drive slow, and take the driveway at an angle, or if you really need a on demand system, use airbags

 

I thought I was being extra careful with my suspension build on my 88 Iroc as I'm fully aware that the extra long front end of our cars geometrically are not designed well; but I scrape going up the driveway too. The only true solution is to install a completely adjustable air suspension, which are expensive, take up all of the room in our 'trunk' area, and call attention to our cars by theives.

What I'm going to do is install a metal skid plate underneath the front spoiler so it dosn't get damaged, ripped, etc. also, my factory air dam that funnels air to the radiator is what scrapes the most, so I'm going to make a couple 'V' wedges that push that air dam more forward and pushes it up off the ground. I've thought about building an aluminum airdam to replace the plastic factory unit, but I've got an engine to switch out right now instead. good luck! Nitro Nicky

 

I lowered the iroc 1 inch with hotchkis springs, perfect stance. My friend has sportlines and IMO it's just too damn low. I could never pull into my driveway nose in, even with stock springs. I'd tear the front bumper off backing out. I always back into my driveway, and pull straight out when leaving, ZERO problems and I have a steep *** driveway. Something to think about.

 

You should start with shortening your signature...do you really need a a sig that's half of a page?

Why not put a less aggressive lowering spring in? Not being able to get into driveways is sometimes a consequence of lowering these cars so much, they have horrible ground clearance to begin with.

 

He really does need to post a pic for us. These cars just look so chicken squakin good when their down in the weeds with the sportlines!

Now, since he hasn't told us what he has actually done, nor what type of driving style he ultimately needs once he's done high-teetering off the driveway edge, nor indulged us with the remotest bit of politeness by posting a picture so we can see what he's got or what he's up against; here's what I propose:

Go down to you local Snow Gear supply store and pick up one of those inflatable water bladders they make for the back of pick-up trux (for snow traxshun). Fill it up with water before you leave the house and it will keep the front end from dragging. Of course you must fill it with water in the back trunk area for it to work this way and not in the passenger seat area. Then once you are backed out onto the pavement, just drain all the water out. You'll be good to go! Nitro

 

Taking the driveway at an angle is not an option.

Here's some pics. I think this was before I lowered it.





I'm about to have it painted, which is why I'm looking into an on demand system. I don't want to screw up the paint on the front bumper.

I'm not a hardcore driver or anything, I just got it lowered because I like the way it looks.

If airbags are my only option, I'll prbably just sell the thing.

 

So you'd sell you car because you slammed a car that already sits low to begin with? OK then....

 

Just run a flat metal plate down along the bottom of the spoiler edge and live with it. Seriously, you've put lots of time and work into your Camaro and they look fantastic slammed.

Don't let our smart remarks influence you. If it's really that important, than pull the springs and install the Hotchkis units. It'll still look good with a 1inch lowering spring, just not as dramatic. What color are you thinking of shooting it?

 

I just cant justify dropping another $3K into this thing.

As for the metal plate, I'm not sure what that would achieve. The front spoiler would still be getting damaged.

Planning on painting it white.

 

I wouldnt worry about just hitting the paint on the underside. Hell, even my grand am has scrape marks there. You just dont want to hit it hard enough to damage the bumper.

As far as dumping another 3K, I wish I only wanted another 3K worth of stuff I've got 5 times that already into it and my latest project, which started as just redoing the exhaust, is costing over 3K again. Trust me, once you start building the car, it never ends.

If you were to put an aluminum piece under the front, it would mean that the driveway hits the aluminum and not the paint. I really wouldnt sell the car just because it scrapes your driveway. I think if your willing to sell it over that, then you dont really want the car now. And I dont think you should put airbags on the car just because it scrapes your driveway. I think the underside of every third and fourth gen ever made have scrape marks on it.

 

i say be as careful as possible back in maybe... im pretty sure ive never seen a 3rd gen that didnt have at least a few scrapes i just got mine painted last summer and it has a few already ive had a third gen since i was 15 so ive just gotten used to it scraping every now and then im not saying i dont care but it happens... in fact i almost got into a fight with a cop cause he tried to make me drive my car down a steep grade onto the street i was at a local hang out one entrance in even and the other is at least a 70 to 80 degree slope he sid we had to go i watched like 4 cars scrape leaving i told the cop i wasnt doin it to my 2 week old paint job that he had to back up and let me leave the other way.. he was pissed but he let me out and my dumb *** was pullin out and chirped the tires and he payed me another visit about 3 blocks away and wrote me a 200 dollar ticket...

 

Doesn't someone make adjustable coil-overs for these things? Seems I once did a bit of research (OK, very little bit) and found out it was a good option.

 

yes, there are adjustable coilovers available. they're a good option for some people, for others, they're not. also, you're not going to want to adjust them once you get out of the driveway then once you are about to pull in, again. if you want to run wide front tires, you are limited because the coil spring over the strut takes up more room.

 

I have them and I'm still up in the air as to wether I actually like them. You have almost no adjustment for camber/caster and the springs rub the opening in the wheel well and make all kinds of popping noises.

 

Weight Jacks are a good solution for adjustability like the coil-overs & don't restrict the tire size any, since they fit into the stock spring locations..

 

The more I see these the more I like them over the coilover kit I have. I am really considering getting these later on.

 

sometimes those pubic safety officers can get really vindictive.....

 

Screw all that. Don't change anything on your car. Go get some cement mix and build up part of your driveway to less of an angle of attack. Then try hitting it at a different angle and nice and slow. Cost less and easier to do.