What are major issues when lowering?

[Superdude87]

I'm thinking about dropping my p5 about 1.5 inches, just to give it a more aggressive look. I'm new to modding, and just wanted to get some opinions about what to keep in mind when deciding to lower your car. Pretty much looking for all the pros and cons. What are some differences that are inevitable after you've lowered (ie: driving problems, mechanical problems, etc...)

Thanks!

 

[StealthWyvern]

to put it simple rubbing and getting used to how low it sits.

 

[Superdude87]

Yeah I figured I'd probably have to drive differently to prevent it from banging on the ground. Overall does it put more strain and wear/tear on the car? How about getting under it to do maintainence?

 

[mountjonas]

depends on how much you lower it.

 

[StealthWyvern]

my car I just got was already lowered and so far I've noticed that i cant park to close to the bump stop things in the parking lot. I also cant get the tires up on a ramp properly. You will also need to do and alignment.

 

[gottacatchup]

If you don't change out your stock struts when you change springs you will decrease their life span. They'll probably last maybe 70% as long but its not a huge issue.

 

[dd123]

If you don't change out your stock struts when you change springs you will decrease their life span. They'll probably last maybe 70% as long but its not a huge issue.

Usually, how long the stock struts/springs last assuming car is not abused/ just moderately used....

 

[TWISFM]

sub

 

[dxaveP5]

Main things u want to do when lowering the car is, the alignment, and maybe ur rear endlinks stripping. Many protege 5 owners had that problem so they ended up replacing the rear endlinks or rear sway bar.
but when u lower ur car it makes ur car look that much better

here are pics of my newly installed tokico shock/spring combo i bought
its a 1" drop but seems more than a 1" drop in the rear cause of the rear being heavy so it sags a lil
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h296/dxave90/Cars/Drop/

 

[lil_red_wagon]

yes, take it to the shop immediately after a drop and have an alignment done and check the camber. you may have to add an adjustable camber kit.

[threadjack]if you want to drop just a little bit and not have to worry about all of that, i have a set of MSP springs for sale right now that don't require any serious mods on a p5. you can keep the stock struts and don't need camber correction.[/threadjack]

 

[808MP5]

What everyone else said

Alignment
Camber
Struts Wearing Prematurely
New Driving Habits
+Lowering Bumpstops
+Rolling fenders

Endlinks im not to sure

buy the MSP springs from lil_red_wagon and be done with it... you can stick with the stock struts.

 

[susamafone]

never heard of anybody needing a camber kit with just springs. i dont think they make springs that drop us enough to require it.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

Depending on the springs you use, good luck with the stock struts. I would not recommend just doing springs. Save up and buy struts too so you can do it at the same time. Trust me, It'll be worth it.

 

[dxaveP5]

What everyone else said

Alignment
Camber
Struts Wearing Prematurely
New Driving Habits
+Lowering Bumpstops
+Rolling fenders

Endlinks im not to sure

buy the MSP springs from lil_red_wagon and be done with it... you can stick with the stock struts.

i had problems with the endlink bolts stripping and the stud spinnin and i tried to lock it with the allen key but all stripped only way to get it off was to cut it off and replace with new endlink.
there were sum p5's with this problem
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123713218

 

[lil_red_wagon]

with a 1.5+ inch drop you will definitely need to adjust camber.

never heard of anybody needing a camber kit with just springs. i dont think they make springs that drop us enough to require it.

 

[Sveivo]

Assuming you lower properly:

-various crap on the road: animals, bricks, branches, large pieces of ice, snow
-high curbs
-steep grades (scraping)

All this can be avoided, if you drive with care!

 

[danielschweer]

What are some differences that are inevitable after you've lowered
Thanks!

looking good and getting more ladies

 

[Sveivo]

looking good and getting more ladies

Yes, and the realization that you will never, ever go back to stock (yippy)

 

[la2lvtom]

I have Tanabe 1.1" lowering springs on my '03 Pro5 and I still have the factory struts. I did blow out the passenger side strut so I had both rear struts replaced (it takes a couple of hours to take out the sub box so they can get to the top of the strut tower to remove it). It rides like factory but definately as soon as you put the lowering springs on get an alignment done. You'll love the cornering and the profile will look just amazing, the body lines beg to be lower to the ground. the bad thing is that speed bumps will become your worst enemy you will have to crawl over them, pissing off the speed demons driving behind you, and you WILL feel dips, potholes and lane dots so be prepared.

 

[MSP2003.5_Nick]

You feel like an asshole sometimes but its better to drive slow then **** your car. Just listen to low rider by war, it's the way to be lol. Dodge potholes like they are the black death. You'll get pulled over a lot too for eratic driving but if you explain why you're doing it they dont really care, they just think you're drunk haha. Eventually you will memorize every street and find alternate ways to avoid bad spots.

Whatever you do don't be like the fast and the furious and go a million miles an hour into toreto's driveway slamming your front lip. If you're low you gotta go slow.