Its a miniature build up thread...!(56k--WARNING)

[madking411]

I'm FINALLY lowering my car this weeekend and i wanted to make a build thread to help other new people who are lowering their cars, but dont really know how to do it, and maybe try to get them to wanna give it a shot! :goodjob:

anyways. Here's a few pix....



Heres the goods....

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3929/0000905qp5.jpg





Obviously...Theres a pair of fronts and a pair of rears......:rolleyes:
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9841/0000906vj2.jpg


You're going to NEED at least a pair of these, if you dont have any. Because, the car is probably going to be sitting up there for at least acouple of hours and i dont think you'd want it sitting on that tiny little jack that you use whent you're on the side of the road and need to replace a tire...cuz you're replacing much more than just a tire. I picked these up for $16.00 at Wal-mart.:goodjob:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6253/0000908jv9.jpg


Just some more preparation....a Haynes manual for your car will be helpful...And some PB blaster to loosen up those nuts and bolts a lil bit and make everything a little bit easier to do..
http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/926/0000909rh8.jpg


The sleeve and coil. This is what you are going to install.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6206/0000910xf0.jpg


The actual install hasnt been done yet. I'll get started on the fronts when i get home in a little bit. For now, its just PREPARATION. Gathering parts, lubricants, tools, etc. to get the job done the right way.:goodjob:

[madking411]

Here's How my car's stance is as of NOW....
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/227/0000921nf6.jpg

The front...
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3531/0000922eg6.jpg

I hope it'll look BETTER when i lower it!:yes:

[JITB]

looks like fun, whats next wheels?

[joesblk_teg]

it should look alot better lower, and find some simple wheels to put on it.

[Josh...]

...

Did you go to McEachern? Because their was a guy that had a sunfire that looked just like yours.

[madking411]

Well, I've ALREADY run into a fairly BIG issue....I've got the struts taken apart, but they're still kinda stuck in the car, by the lower mounts. I dont think i can get them out, and i dont have an impact wrench AND.....i can't drive it right now, because the struts/shocks arent in one piece anymore...

And, no i didnt go to McEachern...my car came from new york, and i've only owned it for a few months.

[JITB]

use a mallet and beat the wrench..until the bolt breaks

[cornercarver78]

Well, I've ALREADY run into a fairly BIG issue....I've got the struts taken apart, but they're still kinda stuck in the car, by the lower mounts. I dont think i can get them out, and i dont have an impact wrench AND.....i can't drive it right now, because the struts/shocks arent in one piece anymore...

And, no i didnt go to McEachern...my car came from new york, and i've only owned it for a few months.

lol, i should have told youto go ahead and loosen everything before you start actualy taking anything off. Its easier that way and you know if you are going to run into any problems.

[changaroo]

what kind of suspension is that, ebay special? get a breaker bar...

[cactusEG]

make that thing scrape the ground homie ...

[madking411]

ughhhhh....i KANT DO IT..............:no: :cry:

I took EVERYTHING out except for the spring....and i cant get the spring..its the only piece left, and i HAVE TO take it out, cuz i cant drive my car unless i get this DONE.

And, i DO have a breaker, i just dont have the right sized socket....

[cactusEG]

ughhhhh....i KANT DO IT..............:no: :cry:

I took EVERYTHING out except for the spring....and i cant get the spring..its the only piece left, and i HAVE TO take it out, cuz i cant drive my car unless i get this DONE.

And, i DO have a breaker, i just dont have the right sized socket....

Need any help let me know..

[madking411]

Hehh, thanxxx man. But, i got it off. Sadly, we only got ONE done today because it took soooo long to do..We didnt have the right 7/8'' socket. I ended up using the same wrench you would use to take lugs off a car, to take out the lower strut mounts....So, i was ridin around with only one half the front of my car SLAMMED to the ground, and the other half at stock ride height. It hopefully can/will get done tomorrow, but on the other side, one of the strut mounts is ALMOST stripped. Thats the only issue im having now, is not stripping that nut. I'll post up some more pics.
it looks NICE riding on the floor. I like it.

I DO need an alignment, tho, pretty badly. and, im surprised that i didnt even need a camber kit like all the rest of y'all kept on tellling me!



Here's the point it was at when i got REEALLY frustrated, and was ready to give up on the project...:cussing:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2903/0000923ud1.jpg


Stock spring vs. Lowering Spring.....:D
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/4103/0000924eh6.jpg


Wooooo, ridin SLAMMED!!! ...but only Half slammed tho....still need to do the other side....the pic really doesnt give it justice though, it looks better in real life.
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7443/0000925qs3.jpg

One more...ridin half-slammed....Different camera angle...
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7102/0000926pi0.jpg

Hehh. So, thats pretty much it for today. Thanks for lookin!
Day 2...the FINAL day...will be posted up tomorrow.:goodjob:
Stay tuned.

[madking411]

looks like fun, whats next wheels?

oh....and, yes...thats whats next.:goodjob:

[puregroove]

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2903/0000923ud1.jpg



wow, man. that would have been easier with a spring compressor. --not saying you needed one.

wouldn't it have been easier to remove the spring/shock unit as a whole and then, put it all back on with the lowering spring?

[ORGANIZATIONXIII]

umm.. number one springs.. and an eibach sticker? :thinking:

[madking411]

wow, man. that would have been easier with a spring compressor. --not saying you needed one.

wouldn't it have been easier to remove the spring/shock unit as a whole and then, put it all back on with the lowering spring?

No, i DO/did have a spring compressor! thats the thing....I didnt know HOW to remove the bottom nuts to take the strut completely out until about an hour later than that pic, and when i took THAT pic, i had gotten the idea to try to compress the spring enough so that i could kinda bend the axle/strut assembly, etc. at a certain angle so i could just slide the spring off. But, it never worked out, and we/I just ended up figuring out like magic...how to remove those nuts without the breaker bar. and it all went smoothly from there.

Now, TOMORROW....i'll hafta deal with a nut in the bottom strut mount thats probably almost completely stripped off, so i dont know HOW im going to deal with that....I PM'ed vuong's to see if he could help me with it...possibly blast it with an impact wrench acouple times just to get it loose...cuz i think thats all it'll need...

[atlantamx3]

Wow that looks dangerous.

WTF are you doing??

you have to take those two lower strut bolts out and remove it all as one piece.

Also, I am noticing that your strut's rod is in the down position... which means its blown.

Have fun riding on stiff-ass springs with no struts to dampen the ride.

[Maniaç]

LOFL!!!


Wowness, that is SO cool...

[Dracc]

fellow Jbody owner.. gets some nice 17's on that.. it will look good man

[MachNU]

number1# aftermarket parts + cavaliar/sunfire = RICER! :goodjob:

[Dracc]

i smell hate

[esiatlanta]

get rims man ...simple not jdm.....

[madking411]

i smell hate


...uhhh yeah.....me too....:ninja:

See, i'll probably BET that if i had done this exact same thread with a civic, or an integ., or ANY other car made by HONDA or ACURA.... Nobody would be tryin to call me rice.

[cactusEG]

fellow Jbody owner.. gets some nice 17's on that.. it will look good man

17FTL and 15 FTW

[OaTmeaL]

LAWL!

[kfzemx3]

...uhhh yeah.....me too....:ninja:

See, i'll probably BET that if i had done this exact same thread with a civic, or an integ., or ANY other car made by HONDA or ACURA.... Nobody would be tryin to call me rice.


Its your car not theres, do what you want to it, but keep in mind those who give you constructive criticism and those who just hate on you. the ones that just hate are nothing but some closed minded idiots that have nothing better to do with there time.

with that being said, this would not be my 1st choice of cars to do anything to, but then again i chose a mx-3 it's a car that has always caught my eye and its a car i continue to love even with the abuse it has given me.

I will say you are starting out a bit on the wrong foot, i understand getting excited because the mod monkey is hanging on your back. but before you start a project you need to make sure you know exactly what you need to do before you do it. Atlantamx3 was somewhat correct with WTF are you doing question though i might say it was a bit harsh, but he got the point across.

do your research get the right tools, and no what parts need to come off with what tool and in what order. That haynes manual is OK but personally i would start trying to find a factory spec manual for your car, you can find them on ebay and they will have the same info that the dealerships mech. would have with alot more info and specs. the Haynes manuals are more like a brief description of little jobs.

all in all have fun with it and just make sure you do the work right, after all its not just your life on the line on the road

[JITB]

people quick to call #1 stuff crap, but they will got pay 3x as much for megan racings, when they where the ebay special selling 40-50$ coilovers..a year ago.
u should rock these
http://www.innerauto.com/includes/images/Inner_Auto/Pontiac_Parts/Pontiac_Parts/Pon_Grnd_Prx_Whel.JPG

14's, 15's are only cool on hondas....well for this year that is...lol

[madking411]

Ooo, those WOULD be pretty niceee....

[Dracc]

Chrome pontiac GTP wheels

[0DISPLACMENT]

why would you do that to that car...? wheels = poo

and its A LOT easier to take the whole thing off in one part. just disconect the lower arm and make sure u get an alignment asap when ur done or you will have no tires.

[Brian*]

Deff take the whole thing out as one, use an impact or breaker bar... only reason I say that is that shit looks dangerous not using a spring compressor can be BAD lol
anyway good luck man, and don't listen to the haters!! as much as I love Jap cars anything that someone puts time and money into is a respectable ride!

[madking411]

Well...im glad i got all these responses...And, id just like to tell all of you that, about an hour after that pic where the spring is still stuck in the car, i FIGURED out how to remove the complete strut, etc. and the rest of the process went smoothly from there. Only, i didnt use the breaker bar, i used a 4 sided lug nut wrench. I've got more pix of the car..i only lowered the front though. Not sure if i wanna lower the back either...

[madking411]

pics... Closeup of the front...AFTER the drop.
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6972/0000926pg0.jpg



Wooo, my new intake!! freshly installed today!
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1073/0000927xe9.jpg



Hmm...seems like im lackin in the amount of pix. I'll take some more of the actual RESULT of the weekend project...tomorrow.....:yes:

[0DISPLACMENT]

lower the back... its not a rwd v8 beast... it doesnt even have rwd... or 100hp...

just my 2C

[gtikid]

Well...im glad i got all these responses...And, id just like to tell all of you that, about an hour after that pic where the spring is still stuck in the car, i FIGURED out how to remove the complete strut, etc. and the rest of the process went smoothly from there. Only, i didnt use the breaker bar, i used a 4 sided lug nut wrench. I've got more pix of the car..i only lowered the front though. Not sure if i wanna lower the back either...

You don't know what a breaker bar is, do you?

[madking411]

You don't know what a breaker bar is, do you?

yea i do....The reason i didnt use the breaker before is because i had the wrong socket on it. It was the right size, but it was a 12-point socket, and it was stripping the CRAP outta the nut...so i stopped using it, and i used the lug wrench instead, until later on that day, i went and bought the right kind of socket with a 6-point, that i could use with my breaker bar.

[mxglory258]

lower the back... its not a rwd v8 beast... it doesnt even have rwd... or 100hp...

just my 2C
Fuck your 2 cents dude. Your an idiot. He had full intentions on lowering the back (if he already hasn't).


Read the thread, don't just look at the pictures. I guess you would, of course, have to graduate from pre-school to be able to do so.


Nice work man. I little bit of jumping the gun, but it happens. Don't go to over board. I would say 17's on that car would be pretty cool. I personally don't like anything smaller than a 16 myself. TO ME!!! it leaves to much wheel well open.

[speedminded]

Fuck your 2 cents dude. Your an idiot. He had full intentions on lowering the back (if he already hasn't).


Read the thread, don't just look at the pictures. I guess you would, of course, have to graduate from pre-school to be able to do so.


Nice work man. I little bit of jumping the gun, but it happens. Don't go to over board. I would say 17's on that car would be pretty cool. I personally don't like anything smaller than a 16 myself. TO ME!!! it leaves to much wheel well open.What does the following quote in red say? ;)

As for the wheel gap, the size of the wheel has NOTHING to do with the amount of wheel gap unless you buy a wheel that's larger than the outside diameter of the original tire. You go up a size with the wheel then you go down a profile size in the tire, it's really simple beginner math to figure that one out.


Well...im glad i got all these responses...And, id just like to tell all of you that, about an hour after that pic where the spring is still stuck in the car, i FIGURED out how to remove the complete strut, etc. and the rest of the process went smoothly from there. Only, i didnt use the breaker bar, i used a 4 sided lug nut wrench. I've got more pix of the car..i only lowered the front though. Not sure if i wanna lower the back either...You gotta learn sometime but either way it's a half-assed job. There is no function what so ever in the time & money spent and being spent other than looks. It's going to ride horrible and won't be safe...you hit a bump in the rain and will probably loose control. You need shocks to go with those springs: no if's, ands, or buts...period. Other than that it looks a million times better.

As for the lower bolt holding the strut on, was it a bolt & a nut where you had to hold one while turning the other one to get it off? ;)

[Fr33way]

No offense but this is not the thread for valid suspension information.

[mxglory258]

What does the following quote in red say? ;)

As for the wheel gap, the size of the wheel has NOTHING to do with the amount of wheel gap unless you buy a wheel that's larger than the outside diameter of the original tire. You go up a size with the wheel then you go down a profile size in the tire, it's really simple beginner math to figure that one out.

You gotta learn sometime but either way it's a half-assed job. There is no function what so ever in the time & money spent and being spent other than looks. It's going to ride horrible and won't be safe...you hit a bump in the rain and will probably loose control. You need shocks to go with those springs: no if's, ands, or buts...period. Other than that it looks a million times better.

As for the lower bolt holding the strut on, was it a bolt & a nut where you had to hold one while turning the other one to get it off? ;)
I don't like having to much tire in the case of the car.


I did miss the not sure if i'm lowering the rear. My bad. Sad thing is, i read that post :( lol

[madking411]

Yeah, this build WAS ~90% JUST for looks.....the other 10% was for me to get better high-speed cornering....sure, i mean, it DOES bounce but it reaally isnt bad at all. To me, its more worth it to have the cornering/swerving ability than be worried about bouncin....


No offense but this is not the thread for valid suspension information.

I know. I realized that once i started really gettin into the thread, and as i was takin more and more pix. Hah, i was just REALLY excited about finally getting my car lowered.:D :goodjob:



I did miss the not sure if i'm lowering the rear. My bad. Sad thing is, i read that post :( lol

But....i AM thinkin of lowering the back, just not as much as the front, cuz i DO actually like that ''v8'' look or whatever. i dont CARE if its rice. I like the way it looks, and its not a BAD look for my car either. If i do lower it in the back, it'll just be to even it up with the front a bit. Not slam to the ground though.

[atlantamx3]

As for the lower bolt holding the strut on, was it a bolt & a nut where you had to hold one while turning the other one to get it off? ;)

My guess would be YES.

Most struts are like that!

LOL

[EmminoDaGreat]

Mcpherson struts are the easiest i <3 lowering cars with that kind of setup.

[madking411]

As for the lower bolt holding the strut on, was it a bolt & a nut where you had to hold one while turning the other one to get it off? ;)


Yeah, there is a bolt and a nut, but i didnt hafta hold onto the bolt to loose the nut...Thats how tight it was/is.

[speedminded]

Yeah, this build WAS ~90% JUST for looks.....the other 10% was for me to get better high-speed cornering....sure, i mean, it DOES bounce but it reaally isnt bad at all. To me, its more worth it to have the cornering/swerving ability than be worried about bouncin....

I know. I realized that once i started really gettin into the thread, and as i was takin more and more pix. Hah, i was just REALLY excited about finally getting my car lowered.:D :goodjob:

But....i AM thinkin of lowering the back, just not as much as the front, cuz i DO actually like that ''v8'' look or whatever. i dont CARE if its rice. I like the way it looks, and its not a BAD look for my car either. If i do lower it in the back, it'll just be to even it up with the front a bit. Not slam to the ground though.A Sunfire with stock springs and good stock shocks will run circles around your car in its current state, are you familiar with the term understeer at all? You might as well be towing a jetski because it's going to plow through the turns like there is one behind it. SRT4's are jacked up in the rear for traction, it's too much power for a FWD and they have to have that extra weight up front in order to get any...but it also comprises the handling.

Anti-sway bars and shocks are by far more important for handling than springs or the ride height of a vehicle, lowering the car with stiffer springs only makes it less predictable while do little if anything for the handling. Handling is a balance of several components and right now you have 1 of the 3+, without the rest working together each one useless and actually makes things worse...

[homemadeS14s]

looks good man

[speedminded]

Mcpherson struts are the easiest i <3 lowering cars with that kind of setup.wha...you don't like working on the double reverse wishbone bs like the Accord in your avatar? Or maybe that's only on the coupes? The first time I worked on one of those was putting on Tein SS on a 2001 Accord Coupe...sitting there looking and studying it wondering if I released this one bolt is the entire thing going to flip around like a transformer and cut my arm off, haha. It apparently works but seems like Honda over engineered it a lil.

[Frög]

wow!!! im just going to stay out of this..

[ryanh300]

wow!!! im just going to stay out of this..


Good idea, I think I'll join you in not getting into this.

[an0therh22]

i think this is the worst build up thread ive seen. or is it because i keep thinking about the k20 eg thread. well this thread has little to no usable information, no research done, no procedure. all in all nice try.

car looks alot better though. props for wrenching on your own car too.:goodjob:

[madking411]

i think this is the worst build up thread ive seen. or is it because i keep thinking about the k20 eg thread. well this thread has little to no usable information, no research done, no procedure. all in all nice try.

car looks alot better though. props for wrenching on your own car too.:goodjob:


hehhh...thanks...:???: :rolleyes: :D

[speedminded]

Here ya go! springs and dead shocks...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=8030536

[speedminded]

oh wait, here's another one...lololol
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=1794566

[madking411]

By the way.....i AM going to get new shocks......just not for at least a few weeks though. I read that i've got a window of about a month to a month and a half to get some new shocks before they blow...

[atlantamx3]

ummm by the looks of the pics you posted... they are ALREADY blown EVEN BEFORE you put the new springs on. I said that in an earlier post.

Sorry Bro.

[madking411]

ummm by the looks of the pics you posted... they are ALREADY blown EVEN BEFORE you put the new springs on. I said that in an earlier post.

Sorry Bro.

cuz theyre already all the way down? They werent ALL the way down...i pushed em down with my hand when i was takin it apart, cuz i wanted to see what they felt like...they came back up too...i dont think theyre blown..

[speedminded]

cuz theyre already all the way down? They werent ALL the way down...i pushed em down with my hand when i was takin it apart, cuz i wanted to see what they felt like...they came back up too...i dont think theyre blown..lol, but you don't weigh 1/4 the weight of the car nor have the strength to equal that weight ;)

[madking411]

lol, but you don't weigh 1/4 the weight of the car nor have the strength to equal that weight ;)

Soooo, wait....ur sayin i had already had blown shocks, since i could move them with my hand?? I didnt say it was EASY to move them either now...

[Brian*]

HOLY SHIT SOMEONE LOCK THIS SHIT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried being nice but now this has turned into some Domestic ass rice BULLSHIT!!! I'm out and retract my previous statement about no bashing...

[madking411]

just askin a Q......just wonderin....how is it that, when I decide to lower my car...i buy the parts....i install them....take pix of the car...and try to just post up the progress on my car, i get SOOO much HATE??

[DeeAOne]

pics... Closeup of the front...AFTER the drop.




Wooo, my new intake!! freshly installed today!
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1073/0000927xe9.jpg



Hmm...seems like im lackin in the amount of pix. I'll take some more of the actual RESULT of the weekend project...tomorrow.....:yes:
what motor is that? my friend has a sunfire gt and the engine looks nothiing like that.

[madking411]

Its the non-Ecotec. its the 2.2/2200 OHV engine.

[speedminded]

just askin a Q......just wonderin....how is it that, when I decide to lower my car...i buy the parts....i install them....take pix of the car...and try to just post up the progress on my car, i get SOOO much HATE??Didn't you make another thread asking what you should get and how you should do it?

[DeeAOne]

Its the non-Ecotec. its the 2.2/2200 OHV engine. oh my buddy has the 2.4 twin cam (ecotec? not sure)

[atlantamx3]

Yeah if you can push them down by hand AND THEY STAY DOWN like in that pic... then they are blown.

There should be enough gas pressure in the strut to raise back up on its own.

[madking411]

Didn't you make another thread asking what you should get and how you should do it?


yeah, i think i did...a long time ago, before i did alil research and actually saved up the cash to pay for them..

[madking411]

Yeah if you can push them down by hand AND THEY STAY DOWN like in that pic... then they are blown.

There should be enough gas pressure in the strut to raise back up on its own.

Ohhhh...okay....i gotchya.

soo, now that i have my car lowered (with...blown shocks...), what kind of shocks should i get so i can still have my super-low stance, but without bouncing?

[speedminded]

Ohhhh...okay....i gotchya.

soo, now that i have my car lowered (with...blown shocks...), what kind of shocks should i get so i can still have my super-low stance, but without bouncing?Shocks have nothing to do with the ride height of the car...

[madking411]

Shocks have nothing to do with the ride height of the car...

Well, i was just wondering because ive heard they have something like ''lowering shocks''?? Or that id need adjustable shocks??

maybe i should just get some KYB's.....?

[puregroove]

oh wait, here's another one...lololol
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=1794566

LOL :lmfao: repped::

[madking411]

You know....i think im gonna try another ''build-up'' thread later on down the road, whenever i start another BIG project....like.....maybe if/whenever i decide to turbo my car...or swap engines, or something like that...



I didnt think about acutually puttin procedures in the thread, cuz IMO that would've turned it into a ''walkthrough'', not a ''build-up'' though....