Lowering My Protege5...

[BlackMP5]

If I have 17x7 wheels with 205/45/17 tires with a 42mm offset will I be able to lower my car? If so, what would be best: Springs (1.5" drop max) or Coil-overs (so I can control the amount of drop)? Also, anyone know what Coil-overs will cost me?

Thanks!

 

[KYMP5]

I THINK YOU WOULD BE FINE WITH THE SPRINGS. I MOUNTED A 19 TO MINE THE OTHER DAY WITH NO PROBLEM. IT WAS TIGHT BUT IT DIDNT RUB

 

[Protege5 kid]

Weird cause i droped mine 1.5 and i rubbed iwth a 44 offset with 215's

 

[BDF02PR5]

lowering

Thats the problem right there... you had 215/45's with a lowering..I had an unlowered P5 with 215/45s to start with and rubbed like hell...than I lowered 2" with intrax and got 205/40's and was fine ... still rubbed over some things...but that is cause i had 40mm offset.

 

[G_MAN75]

Coilovers are no good without the aftermarket shocks. They bounce like crazy... Unless you have 1700 or so to spend on a complete kit. I springs will do you just fine, better ride same factory shocks.

 

[Andres]

Hello G_Man75...

A complete kit (of coilovers) around $1700 ?
What brands are available for the P5 ?

Thanks in advance...
Fede.

 

[G_MAN75]

Try this site out.. hope it helps you out
http://web2.airmail.net/emann/protegefaq/mods_suspension.html

 

[jsgolfer]

the 1700 he is talking about would have to be jic-magic. they are the best thing since sliced bread from what i hear. contact ardmp5-rishie. he has a set and so does someone else. do a search. whatever you do, don't go with those fake coilovers like ground-control or skunk two. tien also makes a set that are 16way adjustable for dampening. hope that helps

 

[BadDSM]

Just so you know ground controls are not fake crap.
They are good stuff if you get the correct spring rates and shocks.

 

[Sir Nuke]

lets address a few different things.....your tires....205/45/17's....by running this size tire your tires DIAMETER is greater than stock .... and this will cause rubbing SOONER....from a purely technical standpoint...the 205/40/17 is MUCH closer to the stock diameter.....and with that tire size...you should be running at LEAST a +45 offsett to ensure nothing rubbs. this information is straight from Rishie....our resident tire/wheel expert. you can find this information on the top of the forum in the FITMENT RECIPE thread.

SO...with the offsett you are running...and the tires you are using....you MAY rub no matter what you use to lower your car.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Re: lowering

Thats the problem right there... you had 215/45's with a lowering..I had an unlowered P5 with 215/45s to start with and rubbed like hell...than I lowered 2" with intrax and got 205/40's and was fine ... still rubbed over some things...but that is cause i had 40mm offset.

that was your problem too....215/45/17's that size tire is even worse than the 205/45/17's, you NEED to keep the tires diameter as close to the stock diameter as posible...and the CLOSEST tire size is going to be 215/40. its only .4% off of stock....you won't even be albe to notice the speedo error its so small....and if you use a 215/40/17 and for a P-5 run a wheel with a +48 offset....you won't rub at all. or the same offset with a 205/40/17 all will be good.

 

[iamcanadian2]

i have not been on any of these boards forever . . . i was looking for some info on after-market shocks for a lowered p5 when i saw this string.

there is a combination of size components that need to be matched up to lower and get no rub: rim diameter, rim offset, tire width and tire aspect ratio. my point is that it is more than diameter being close to stock (which is important to keep the speedo etc. close)

ultimately i can tell you that you can (i do) run a 215/45/17 tire on a lowered p5 (i have eibachs) if you get a rim with a high enough offset (at least +48) with absolutely NO rubbing with a full load.

i think you will have problems with the 45 series 205/17 and +42 offset. the +42 will not move the wheel into the wheel well enough to clear the fender. go with a 40 series as the other members were saying and you should be fine.

Cheers, Mark