looking to make the car sit even
08-16-2010, 08:33 PM
#1
looking to make the car sit even
as we know 5th gens tend to sit a lil higher in the front than the rear, my question is if i install 4th gen front oem springs will they sit flush or will it still sit uneven. im not looking to slam the car or anything like that just want it to sit flush. any input?
08-17-2010, 04:14 AM
#2
08-17-2010, 04:25 AM
#3
Example pic from Housecor's website:
Last edited by nismopc; 08-17-2010 at 04:27 AM.
08-17-2010, 05:45 AM
#6
So... if I park the car on flat (relatively level) pavement, and measure the distance from the side skirts to the ground, you're saying the front of the skirt will measure higher than the rear?
Doesn't that seem kind of silly?
08-17-2010, 06:22 AM
#8
This is just about the worst way I could imagine (well, ok, maybe not "the worst", but certainly right up there) leveling our cars, but I also got sick of the stance shortly after getting my car on the road, and knowing how far down struts and springs were on my "to-do" list, I went this route for now:
Approx. $15 from napa for two pair, what the job calls for. That picture shows them in a "lifting" orientation, but if you flip 'em around, they also clamp real nicely. I pulled my front strut assemblies out, clamped two coils together, and put it all back together. Took me about an hour, and I got an instant front end drop, which leveled the car out nicely. 'Course, it bottoms out real easy now since I've severely limited the front springs' range of motion, and yeah, the nuts could come loose or the bolts could snap and then there's parts flying and springs releasing and all hell breaking loose, potentially, but I was willing to take the risk.
They've been in there for a little over a month and a half now, and I've had no issues, I've learned how to minimize the bottoming, so they'll do for now.
Throw veggies if ya want....
Approx. $15 from napa for two pair, what the job calls for. That picture shows them in a "lifting" orientation, but if you flip 'em around, they also clamp real nicely. I pulled my front strut assemblies out, clamped two coils together, and put it all back together. Took me about an hour, and I got an instant front end drop, which leveled the car out nicely. 'Course, it bottoms out real easy now since I've severely limited the front springs' range of motion, and yeah, the nuts could come loose or the bolts could snap and then there's parts flying and springs releasing and all hell breaking loose, potentially, but I was willing to take the risk.
They've been in there for a little over a month and a half now, and I've had no issues, I've learned how to minimize the bottoming, so they'll do for now.
Throw veggies if ya want....
08-17-2010, 06:40 AM
#11
Hustler got it right the first time. If you want to constantly tweak your ride height, pony up for some coilovers. Compromising the suspension solely for appearance sake is a fail.
Cuts and clamps...
Cuts and clamps...
08-17-2010, 07:06 AM
#12
Cutting or heating springs to weaken and therefor drop, yeah, those two methods would be what I was referring to, when I mentioned "worse ways" of affecting ride height. This is non-permanent, which is what I intended. When I get around to focusing on my suspension, they'll be thrown away. Till then, at least it sits right, instead of all goofy high front end-ish. If I get labeled with a "ricer" or "looks over performance" moniker as a result, sobeit, I see it and drive it everyday.
08-17-2010, 07:13 AM
#13
'Course, it bottoms out real easy now since I've severely limited the front springs' range of motion, and yeah, the nuts could come loose or the bolts could snap and then there's parts flying and springs releasing and all hell breaking loose, potentially, but I was willing to take the risk.
08-17-2010, 07:30 AM
#14
lol! well played, John. 
Ok, so I was being a bit overly melodramatic, when I typed out the potential for failure, sue me, I don't honestly think that's going to happen, but in the interest of "caveat emptor", I had to say it.
We all agree there's a certain risk for failure in any "mod" done, to anything, yet we push on anyway, willing to accept the odds. As I said, my car's ride height was sickening, much moreso than the resulting ride quality. To each his own, duplicate if you want, remove 'em if you don't like the results.
Ok, so I was being a bit overly melodramatic, when I typed out the potential for failure, sue me, I don't honestly think that's going to happen, but in the interest of "caveat emptor", I had to say it.
We all agree there's a certain risk for failure in any "mod" done, to anything, yet we push on anyway, willing to accept the odds. As I said, my car's ride height was sickening, much moreso than the resulting ride quality. To each his own, duplicate if you want, remove 'em if you don't like the results.
08-17-2010, 07:57 AM
#16
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just replace your front springs with H&R's and be done with it. I will most likely be doing this within a month or so.....
But do a search. Housecor had a thread about that and i think quite a few people on here have done it with some pretty good success appearance and handling wise. If you go that route, I would definitely get a RSB as well to help counteract the softer springs in the rear.
But do a search. Housecor had a thread about that and i think quite a few people on here have done it with some pretty good success appearance and handling wise. If you go that route, I would definitely get a RSB as well to help counteract the softer springs in the rear.
08-17-2010, 08:01 AM
#17
I do wish I had coilovers for their handling performance. And if I did, I'd probably tweak the ride height... not as a priority, but because it's a coilover feature to play with. But I just couldn't justify the cost when looking at the big picture. (My personal big picture, not yours.)
So, HP Blues and stock springs... that's my compromise.
Looking deeper into Spring Clamps, they seem a reasonable way to assess height adjustment, but not at all as a final solution. You don't have to be a physicist to look at this picture and realize that recoil and integrity is compromised (there's that word again.)
I'd ride on these things the way I'd ride on bald tires... very nervous. Well, I wouldn't actually ride on bald tires, but you get my point.
So, HP Blues and stock springs... that's my compromise.
Looking deeper into Spring Clamps, they seem a reasonable way to assess height adjustment, but not at all as a final solution. You don't have to be a physicist to look at this picture and realize that recoil and integrity is compromised (there's that word again.)
I'd ride on these things the way I'd ride on bald tires... very nervous. Well, I wouldn't actually ride on bald tires, but you get my point.
08-17-2010, 08:01 AM
#18
just replace your front springs with H&R's and be done with it. I will most likely be doing this within a month or so.....
But do a search. Housecor had a thread about that and i think quite a few people on here have done it with some pretty good success appearance and handling wise. If you go that route, I would definitely get a RSB as well to help counteract the softer springs in the rear.
But do a search. Housecor had a thread about that and i think quite a few people on here have done it with some pretty good success appearance and handling wise. If you go that route, I would definitely get a RSB as well to help counteract the softer springs in the rear.
08-17-2010, 09:47 AM
#20
Not suggesting this to anyone!~ Just my experience.
08-17-2010, 10:31 AM
#23
Oddly enough, I've got a rear set of Progress in my garage now.
08-17-2010, 02:14 PM
#26
08-17-2010, 03:41 PM
#28
^s-techs would prolly drop the front so low that it would look more raked than even. I would avoid these cheaper methods to achieve the appearance you want without regard to how your suspension is going to handle. Just get some h&r springs for the fronts if you plan on keeping your stock shocks.
08-17-2010, 06:28 PM
#29
...been a trait of Nissan design's for a while now.
Surprised many were not aware of that. One of the biggest complaints from fellow Nissan owners to why they want to lower front more than back. Even several aftermarket springs lower car evenly which in turn still keeps the front "side skirt" higher than back.
From experience:
Maxspeed have a slight rake to them (Currently installed)
Vogtland lower car almost even front to rear and cause front to sit higher like stock look.
Housecor's pics and measurements tell the story much better...
http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html
If got the dough or some Eibach's or Progress Springs pretty cheap cause damn 15 dollar clamps 
08-17-2010, 07:44 PM
#31
^s-techs would prolly drop the front so low that it would look more raked than even. I would avoid these cheaper methods to achieve the appearance you want without regard to how your suspension is going to handle. Just get some h&r springs for the fronts if you plan on keeping your stock shocks.
08-17-2010, 08:13 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stone Mountain, Georgia
Posts: 339
If you really want to lower your car inexpensively, try a set of Megan Racing springs (1.6F 1.5R). They work very well with stock struts and greatly improve dive, squat, body roll, and stance. I got mine for $108 on meganracingperformance.com. Here's a pic of my Max with the Megans installed:
08-17-2010, 09:29 PM
#33
If you really want to lower your car inexpensively, try a set of Megan Racing springs (1.6F 1.5R). They work very well with stock struts and greatly improve dive, squat, body roll, and stance. I got mine for $108 on meganracingperformance.com. Here's a pic of my Max with the Megans installed:
08-17-2010, 11:54 PM
#35
08-18-2010, 05:21 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Leicester, Ma
Posts: 1,124
Just to add my .02. Before i lowered my car with SPrints i cut my front coil half a coil. That little of a removal didn't alter my handling but made a difference in the way it looked. Dropped the front just enough to make it look good. If you cut springs the right way, and don't remove to much, you will not have a problem. I can tell you removing 1/2 a coil lowered it almost close to and inch, maybe 5/8 or so. I wanted to keep going lower until i cut a little more than a coil and i was f'd. So just don't overdue it if you do. I pony'd up for Sprints once i f'd up and the look is probably the lowest you can go on springs before coil-overs come in. Paired them with illumina's since they killed the stock shocks, and the stance is perfect.
KB i don't know about Colorado but the Mass roads are horrific. Anywhere you go potholes, big dips, cracks, everything, and don't get me started on the winter months, but once i memorized the bad spots my car rides great. With all the swerving to avoid stuff i should be an ace at the slalom course.
KB i don't know about Colorado but the Mass roads are horrific. Anywhere you go potholes, big dips, cracks, everything, and don't get me started on the winter months, but once i memorized the bad spots my car rides great. With all the swerving to avoid stuff i should be an ace at the slalom course.
08-18-2010, 10:59 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Leicester, Ma
Posts: 1,124
cut coils will not reduce the safety of the vehicle if cut correctly and not beyond the struts total rebound. When i had cut my front springs the 1/2 coil i still needed a spring compressor to attach it to the strut. when all was together it was still as tight as before i touched it. Also you dont cut it off with a torch as it does heat the metal and weaken it. i used a cutoff wheel, less heat, no fatigue. When cut more than what i should of the spring didnt sit tight unless loaded on the car and that was not gonna be driven that way. i drove for a good while with just the 1/2 coil off and it handled no different and looked better than the 4x4.
08-18-2010, 01:26 PM
#40
Yes and yes...
...been a trait of Nissan design's for a while now.
Surprised many were not aware of that.
Housecor's pics and measurements tell the story much better...
http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html
...been a trait of Nissan design's for a while now.
Surprised many were not aware of that.
Housecor's pics and measurements tell the story much better...
http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html
How do you measure, other than on the uneven wheel arches?
Where do you put a level? Door sills?