So, I've been reading up on some of these lowering springs and I'm confused. The drop for most of them, both front and rear, is around 1.5".

I've got my '99 on 18s right now and the gap between the tire and wheel well is probably about 4".

Hence, by my calculations, even with the lowering springs, I'd still have a 2.5" gap (4" current gap-1.5" lowering).

Yet, I've checked out a bunch of cars on 17s and 18s at cardomain.com with a variety of springs--eibachs, H&Rs, etc--and typically the KYBGR2 shocks and they all seem to have a much narrower gap.

How is this possible?

 

Maybe your tires aren't the correct size.

 

I've got 235/40s.

 

I checked out Maxmods.org, but I think it would be helpful to see a comparison of undropped vs. dropped.

Does anybody have any "before" and "after" pictures with the various springs?

 

235/45/R17 is the correct size.
Your tires are part of your gap problem.

 

The correct size for 18s? I've seen a lot with 235/40s with no gap.

 

yea 235/40 is for 18's.....