I have a 2000 SE 88,000mi and I have 5 amps built in the trunk floor with sub box = alot of weight, so my rear sags lower than the front ...aside from pulling my audio stuff (never) ....how can I get it more level? ...can I use lowering springs only in front with new shocks all around or would lowered springs in front only mess the whole suspension balance? I saw a Ground Control coil-over kit that you can adjust 0-3" would this be workable?....my goal is to level the car and improve handling performance and not ride crazy rough...I'm a stay at home dad with kids in car so I still need a decently smooth ride...

 

Posting up a side view of the car sitting on a level road would assist to determine the level of sag you are describing. As you have mentioned you are carry some additional weight in the trunk (as do I) but I have no noticeable sagging and I am running with S-Tech springs on KYB GR2 struts. I am assuming that you are currently running on a stock suspension? and if so your rear struts giving the mileage on the car may be getting just a tad bit lazy and require replacement. I have seen some of guys run with just HR springs and either KYB's or Blues on the front and leave the rear as stock. This gives them a very mild drop on the front but doesn't cause any ride quality lose. Without a side view to see just what you are describing it does make it a bit difficult to suggest options. For ride quality I would consider a full swap for HR springs and Tokico HP Blues struts ... do post up a pic or two so some of the other guys can toss in some more suggestions.

 

Personally I don't like the idea of mixed spring combos on cars, I think it messes with the geometry of the car and the way it handles. But I know there are lot's of people out there who do it. I know it's more expensive, but I would go with coilovers to even it out

 

Here is pic of front and rear ...I am home with kids 2 and 3 so I counld't get a full side ...I do have prob close to 200lbs with amps, sub etc

Rear:

Front:

 

I have the same problem if not worse in the rear! I just ignore it... but always been a thorn in my side..

 

Uggg I hate it ...just want to know how to fix it .....the springs maybe? Would struts play a factor?

 

From what I have gathered having the same issue as you. Doing a MINOR drop in the front would be the thing to look at to MINIMIZE the difference. If you don't care about ride quality then go out but I was always told to do little if not no drop if you like the way the car is now. I am a professional car and kart driver so I am very picky. Hence, dealing with the visual to keep the driveability.

Whats considered minor? I don't know with out researching again.

 

Well I also have a sub with 2x10 in the trunk, maybe an extra 100lb. but seriously your wheel gaps look perfectly normal for riding on a stock setup. Normal 4x4 look on the front gap and not so much on the rear gap ... you do realize that the wheel fender opens are completely different cuts and give you that optical illusion that the rear is sitting down lower. Check out this link and look at the stock setup in the first pic, and when you have a moment check your ground to center edge of the fender - front and rear and see how close your measurements are. http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html

 

Ok I measured my car and my front is 27 1/2 (tad more really) and rear is 26 ....that is all stock and if I go by link below I should be measuring front 28 1/16 and rear: 27 1/4 so I am way off for all being stock....so do I have bad springs ?

http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html

 

You could run a rubber spring spacer on the top of your rear springs to level out the ride without effecting ride comfort. http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/60830/10002/-1

Also I think the stock height maxima on that site is a manual which are lighter up front and Im gonna assume you have an auto?

 

Yes I have an auto.....It looks like the are different oem springs for auto or manual I saw that at a nissan website...the spacer idea might be a good thing..Thanks!, but if I need springs I can do that too...I am going to upgrade to blues I think too......has anyone had sagging like this?

 

sounds like some seriose system bumppppp

 

I fig its 150 to 200 extra lbs ....surely It should hold this much weight without causing the sagging...

 

idk, I figure the rear spring rate for SEs is around 150lb/in so it stands to reason that the rear is sagging about an inch.