Suggestions on dropping my ride
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 33
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From: Northern NJ
Car: 84 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305HO
Transmission: 5 Spd
Axle/Gears: 373 Gears
Suggestions on dropping my ride
Hey gang... I have a stock 84 z28 with a air suspension in the rear from the previous owner. I'm looking to get rid of some of the wheel gap in between the front and rear tire and the fender wells. The back I suppose I can let air out of the shocks to lower, but the front I would need to change the springs. I'm looking to drop about an inch... nothing drastic that would give me problems with turning and tire rubbing. Should I do both front and rear springs, or just front? Also what manufacture do I go with? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Birmingham Alabama
Car: 1991 Firebird convertible
Engine: LQ4 ls 6.0
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 342 Limited slip
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
Coilovers is the best way to go so much adjustable and if you go with double adjustable just more fine tuning
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,807
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
The best adjustable setup for these cars is a weight jack setup since they are no designed or setup properly for coilovers. Even basic lowering springs work just fine for a bit less money. Eibach prokit or sportlines are the common ones, there are others too. Prokit is about an inch drop.
If you actually have rear air shocks, take them out before you break something, seriously.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 859
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From: Birmingham Alabama
Car: 1991 Firebird convertible
Engine: LQ4 ls 6.0
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 342 Limited slip
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
Ive never had weight jacks Ive had lowering springs and coilovers and no valving has nothing to do with ride height I like the option of adjusting my ride height and I never said they were magical
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,379
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From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
Umm no. Coilovers are an expensive buzz word and are not something magical. Aside from packaging the two parts closer together, a conventional spring and shock do the same thing. Double adjustable is shock valving and has nothing to do with height adjustment.
The best adjustable setup for these cars is a weight jack setup since they are no designed or setup properly for coilovers. Even basic lowering springs work just fine for a bit less money. Eibach prokit or sportlines are the common ones, there are others too. Prokit is about an inch drop.
If you actually have rear air shocks, take them out before you break something, seriously.
The best adjustable setup for these cars is a weight jack setup since they are no designed or setup properly for coilovers. Even basic lowering springs work just fine for a bit less money. Eibach prokit or sportlines are the common ones, there are others too. Prokit is about an inch drop.
If you actually have rear air shocks, take them out before you break something, seriously.
I Agree
lowering springs are ok for looks but performance wise front spring rates are similar to stock Irocz rates and rears are all progressive which is fine for cruising but suck when push hard
but weight jack system either put together yourself and or pre made kits with springs are the way to go , coilovers you are limited in front wheel size as usually the widest is about a 9.5
adjustability is with the shocks you get and many will say Koni are the best which they are and AGX are not bad either for price
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Knoxville, TN
Car: 1988 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T56 swap ongoing
Axle/Gears: 2.77 9-bolt Posi
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
Are dropped spindles still available for our cars? It does the job of lowering the car, but leaves suspension travel and spring rates stock.
They were a thing back in the day IIRC, but I've not looked into them in decades.
They were a thing back in the day IIRC, but I've not looked into them in decades.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Birmingham Alabama
Car: 1991 Firebird convertible
Engine: LQ4 ls 6.0
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 342 Limited slip
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
I Agree
you just stated it was the best tho ?
lowering springs are ok for looks but performance wise front spring rates are similar to stock Irocz rates and rears are all progressive which is fine for cruising but suck when push hard
but weight jack system either put together yourself and or pre made kits with springs are the way to go , coilovers you are limited in front wheel size as usually the widest is about a 9.5
adjustability is with the shocks you get and many will say Koni are the best which they are and AGX are not bad either for price
you just stated it was the best tho ?
lowering springs are ok for looks but performance wise front spring rates are similar to stock Irocz rates and rears are all progressive which is fine for cruising but suck when push hard
but weight jack system either put together yourself and or pre made kits with springs are the way to go , coilovers you are limited in front wheel size as usually the widest is about a 9.5
adjustability is with the shocks you get and many will say Koni are the best which they are and AGX are not bad either for price
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
I ran have ran 10 and 10.5 up front even tried a 11 lol and with my specs on wheels it was close to strut with right set of wheels and spacer It can work but coil overs upfront eat up some space I haven't look into them and or cared too as performance doesn't justify the price for me
I would like to see pics of your clearance upfront in your thread only see the 9.5 up front with 245s
so others can have picture reference of clearance
Last edited by Zach/90\irocZ; Oct 11, 2018 at 10:45 AM.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 10
From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
can use extended ball joint
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From: Birmingham Alabama
Car: 1991 Firebird convertible
Engine: LQ4 ls 6.0
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 342 Limited slip
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
tight fit I would assume
I ran have ran 10 and 10.5 up front even tried a 11 lol and with my specs on wheels it was close to strut with right set of wheels and spacer It can work but coil overs upfront eat up some space I haven't look into them and or cared too as performance doesn't justify the price for me
I would like to see pics of your clearance upfront in your thread only see the 9.5 up front with 245s
so others can have picture reference of clearance
I ran have ran 10 and 10.5 up front even tried a 11 lol and with my specs on wheels it was close to strut with right set of wheels and spacer It can work but coil overs upfront eat up some space I haven't look into them and or cared too as performance doesn't justify the price for me
I would like to see pics of your clearance upfront in your thread only see the 9.5 up front with 245s
so others can have picture reference of clearance
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 10
From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 859
Likes: 5
From: Birmingham Alabama
Car: 1991 Firebird convertible
Engine: LQ4 ls 6.0
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 342 Limited slip
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
ive done this setup I will be installing 8 inch springs
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 10
From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 78
From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: Suggestions on dropping my ride
Hey gang... I have a stock 84 z28 with a air suspension in the rear from the previous owner. I'm looking to get rid of some of the wheel gap in between the front and rear tire and the fender wells. The back I suppose I can let air out of the shocks to lower, but the front I would need to change the springs. I'm looking to drop about an inch... nothing drastic that would give me problems with turning and tire rubbing. Should I do both front and rear springs, or just front? Also what manufacture do I go with? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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