Lowering Car

[CR34M]

Hey all,

I have an R34 GT, i wasn't really sure if this would come under the cosmetics and styling section since it really won't do too much for my car, or if i should post it here.

Well anyhow, i was wondering what would be a good drop, i was thinking nothing more than an inch, although i just installed some new rims and tires on that are 18" (don't know exact dimensions off top of my head) but the car is sitting quite high from the guards and it really looks like a jeep more than anything now!

I'm not too keen on spending alot on it either, although i would spend a good amount on suspension if the quality was good.

I am fitting a bodykit (Bomex for R34GTT's) on it in a little over a months time and i thought that would rectify the height problem. But i only realised now that the guards will still look quite high up and fairly douche like.

Heres an an attached picture of what bodykit it is from the rear, and if you look at how flush the guards are, i would like something that would sit fairly similar on the wheels. But right now its ridiculously high looking higher than stock! i also realise i would have to roll the gaurds in this case, which is not a problem.

If anyone can take some time out to help me here would be appreciated greatly. Thanks.

[n/aTurbo]

as low as legally possible would be good for me but not 2 low.

[CR34M]

as low as legally possible would be good for me but not 2 low.

how low would that be?? thats the quesiton really lol

Whats the ground clearance needed if i had the kit put on?

[Kranker]

From memory a car can be 100mm from the ground at its lowest point.

Fit the kit, find the lowest point (lowest point might be the exhaust).

Then work out how much you can drop your car from there.

Hope that helps

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

Your exhaust will be your lowest point and it does not matter how low you bodykit is. You can scrap birdshit off the gound, thats how low the kit can go. Its under the car that counts.

So if you put a 3" exhaust, measure 100mm from the exhaust to the ground.

[R34NRG]

theres no real answer. it depends on your bodywork, your wheels, your tyres, ect ect.

on the factory R34 GTT youd get away looking real low with 18-20" rims and only slightly lowered.

on the other hand someone like myself with low/wide bodykits....19" rims still make the car look stupid high.

josh, the bomex is also a pretty big bodykit, so the car will look very veyr low by dropping it.

here are a few pics of bomex kits.

as you can see, the cars running factory rims (17") and no lowering...and the car is scraping on its ass.

so keep that in mind aswell.

best bet with a kit like the bomex is prob 19" wheels, some minor lowering...and you should be sweet.

but 18s can work aswell. take a photo of the car and get someone to chop it....if you havnt tried already

Edited June 4, 2008 by R34NRG

[adam-__-]

Your exhaust will be your lowest point and it does not matter how low you bodykit is. You can scrap birdshit off the gound, thats how low the kit can go. Its under the car that counts.

So if you put a 3" exhaust, measure 100mm from the exhaust to the ground.

Where'd you hear this from? I'm pretty sure it's that any part of your car can't be lower than 100mm unless it's a part of the suspension or something.

Let me check with the Vicroads site though.

Edit: Here's a piece from the VicRoads modifications pdf file.

So pretty much everything, but the wheels, hubs, etc. THIS IS FOR VICTORIA, not too sure if other states are the same.

Edited June 4, 2008 by adam-__-

[Silver_R34_GT-T]

hmm the lowest part of my 34, i can just squish my fist under

however, i lowered the car evenely but found the rear still looks higher than the front (( the stock rear bar curves up, whilst front bar is flat ))

anyway, i know this is horrible, and it only scraps occassinoally when i dont have room to come up on angle, im thinking off fitting an entire bomex body kit to my car aswell, so when i get my c spanners back of my mate, i iwll raise it up to suit

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

Hey adam- -

A friend told me and he had a Vertex bodykit on his 4 door r32.

Well when they pulled out the stick with the wheel they stick it where your exhaust is and under the engine.

I should have edit and explained it better in my 1st post about it.

[adam-__-]

Hey adam- -

A friend told me and he had a Vertex bodykit on his 4 door r32.

Well when they pulled out the stick with the wheel they stick it where your exhaust is and under the engine.

I should have edit and explained it better in my 1st post about it.

Hmm yeah, I guess it would depend on the officer checking your car out because when my brother's friend got defected for height, all they checked before they cleared it (at VicRoads) was the height of his side skirts and front bar.

[some_cs_student]

however, i lowered the car evenely but found the rear still looks higher than the front (( the stock rear bar curves up, whilst front bar is flat ))

All depends on the car, on my R33 GTR with standard "rake" (is that the right term?), ie the centre of wheel to guards measurement is 10mm more on the rear than the front, there is a big difference between the front and back of my car from the ground because I have a 400R front bar.

The exhaust is well of the ground but the front bar is about 110mm off the ground or slightly less at its lowest point (very close to the 100mm underneath the centre)....(I've raised it twice since putting the Japanese suspension in, it used to be 85mm off the ground at the front bar which looked cool but was very very impractical).

SydneyKid has some info in his group buy threads for suspension about optimum heights for handling, I'm actually well above that measurement because of the bodykit.

[CR34M]

Thanks NRG, you always seem to come to my rescue haha that pic should give me a good idea of what i can do with my car, i got 18"s so i will work around that, thanks adam as well for the actual vic road report cause that helps clarify things too. Ill tell the guys not to dorp it past the lowest point of 100mm anyhow, theyll hoist it up and check it out while we are there, but like i said, i don't want it too low, cause sometimes they look ridiculous, especially since its not a performance gain or anything by doing it, just want those gaurds around the tires to be more flush all round.

Thanks for everyones help i think im pretty set here with that matter, the kit should come by end of this month so fingers crossed when i drop it, i don't get a yellow sticker when pulled over thanks again guys.

[some_cs_student]

Thanks for everyones help i think im pretty set here with that matter, the kit should come by end of this month so fingers crossed when i drop it, i don't get a yellow sticker when pulled over thanks again guys.

If your getting it done professionally it should be fine but just be warned that after you adjust it and but it back down the height will go down a little more after driving when the shocks/springs settle into place.

I noticed 1-2cm difference from the height it was at before the first time it was driven after the adjustment and after it was driven briefly.

[CR34M]

If your getting it done professionally it should be fine but just be warned that after you adjust it and but it back down the height will go down a little more after driving when the shocks/springs settle into place.

I noticed 1-2cm difference from the height it was at before the first time it was driven after the adjustment and after it was driven briefly.

ah oh k...i didn't even think about that to be honest, yeh i wouldnt have thought they would settle and lower another 1-2 cm more, thanks for the heads up

[MBS206]

If your getting it done professionally it should be fine but just be warned that after you adjust it and but it back down the height will go down a little more after driving when the shocks/springs settle into place.

I noticed 1-2cm difference from the height it was at before the first time it was driven after the adjustment and after it was driven briefly.

When you put the car back on the ground, you go around, and push down on all 4 corners HARD so the shocks and springs settle. It's easier then driving it...

Also, in NSW, the minimum height the car can be is 100mm, this is when FULLY LOADED.

The minimum height it can be when empty, is 120mm FROM THE LOWEST POINT OF THE CAR.

But skylines look ridiculous scraping there asses out.

Mine sits at factory height... All I want is around half an inch lower.

[some_cs_student]

When you put the car back on the ground, you go around, and push down on all 4 corners HARD so the shocks and springs settle. It's easier then driving it...

Also, in NSW, the minimum height the car can be is 100mm, this is when FULLY LOADED.

The minimum height it can be when empty, is 120mm FROM THE LOWEST POINT OF THE CAR.

Point taken, but my springs are pretty hard and I don't think that worked perfectly on my car.

Anyway, Victoria is 100mm off the ground from the lowest point of the car from what the legislation says, either way its too impractical to be below 100mm, I fear all driveways and I'm 11cm off the ground lol.

[Yawn]

I reckon a good rough point to start, irrelevant of the lowest point off the ground, is just enough room between the guards and the tyre to fit a finger.

[CR34M]

I reckon a good rough point to start, irrelevant of the lowest point off the ground, is just enough room between the guards and the tyre to fit a finger.

thats pretty tight fitting man, i was hopping a good fist maybe...since right now i could probably fit a small child between the guards and the tire....

Then again it would look alot better, but like some people have said and myself, i think i don't want it too low cause they look gay....and als the fact that bomex kit kinda sweeps the roads as is...so ya...not too sure.. i will se ehow it goes, still waiting on the bodykit but should be resolved within the month

Thanks for all the inputs ^.^

[Yawn]

Yeah thats why i said irrelevant of the kit, a good point to start is a finger or two. If your kit is too low then compromise from that. But theres no way I think even a stock 34 will have a fist in between the tyre and the guard, four fingers at max.

Just as a point of reference, my 32 has the stock kit and front lip, and with 18" rims, there is room for just over a finger at the rears. And at the lowest point, the cat, it is almost exactly a 100mm off the ground with only the driver inside. I know this has almost no relevance to your car as I understand aftermarket kits can be very chunky, but I thought id just put it out

Edited June 9, 2008 by Yawn

[CR34M]

Nah it is, thanks mate, i appreciate your time you take to write here

Will figure it out...will need to stuff around a little with it, might see what it looks with it on.

And for reference...i tried fitting my fist under and i can!!! its pretty high up, i thought i was exhagerating but it fits...if i get my card reader to work ill take a pic and send it over your way.