advice for lowering

[JustinBTE]

Alright i'm in a little need of some advice and opinions.
I have a 99 ga se with a set of 18's. Im wanting to lower it now and i've looked around at different springs and struts but i dont yet know what the best choice is. I want the best bang for my buck. which springs would be the best bet and what about struts and shocks too? also do i have to replace the struts and shocks and/or the strut mounts or would i just be able to get by with just springs. I know its best to do it all at once but how long would the stock struts last? Lastly does anyone have any before and after pics of their ga se before they lowered and then after?

[red98grandamse]

First it depends on how much of a drop you want, which comes down to the roads you drive on, etc. Eibach is a really popular choice. Sorry I dont have pics of anything like that personally as far as before and after.

As far as replacing struts.... how old are the ones on your car? Im guessing they are the original struts? If so theyve got alot of miles on them, and trying to use them will result in you replacing struts in a couple thousand miles.

BTW you dont have shocks IIRC... the 99+ have struts in the rear as well as the front.

[JustinBTE]

well im wanting a low drop...i've seen the intrax is around 1.7 inches and the eibachs are 1.5 so i want to stay in that ballpark. also i live in ohio so streets arent the smoothest around here but i do quite of a lot of short highway driving. also the car has 93k miles on it and they are the original struts. So if im gonna do it now then i might as well change the struts at the same time to save any trouble?

[Foxy]

I would change the struts... that's a lot of miles for struts, and if you did it later, it'd basically be the same exact work :-P

[red98grandamse]

Exactly.. just change them so you dont have to pay for an alignment twice.. once now and once in 3k miles when you do struts.

[Dave C]

I agree, I would also recommend changing the struts as well. If I remember correctly, no one makes struts designed for lowered GA's. Many GA owners get the KYB's, but they are still designed for stock ride height. Also, I thought the Eibach's were only a 1.2-1.3" drop? Either way, I believe that they are the smallest drop of any springs made for our cars.

[jordanGT]

As has already been said, better swap those struts at the same time. I had Intrax springs and loved them. Looked great, rode well, and handled pretty well, too. I don't seem to have any pictures of the car with them on there anymore, though, but I can tell you that it was noticably lower than Grand Ams I've seen with Eibach springs, so if you're after a good drop, I'd choose Intrax over Eibach.

[JustinBTE]

well if i put on the kybs when i put on the springs...is that going to eventually kill the struts since they are designed for stock height or will they be fine?

[Dave C]

as long as they don't bottom out during driving, then they should be OK...

[SCGA1]

Install KYB struts all around and H & R springs. H&R springs have a very good ride quality. :cool:

[tkoch2]

i've got B&G springs on my '02. i am really happy with them. they lower the car about 1.3 front and 1.5 in the back. I'll try to post before and after pics if I get a chance.

[JustinBTE]

Also do i have to change the strut mounts all around and a camber kit or will i be fine with just getting the struts and springs?

[VanishingImage]

won't need a camber kit but if there adjustible camber kits out for the GA(haven't looked) then might wanna look into them later down the road,they are kind of nice to have for quick adjustments.

Ive got Sprint springs and KYB shocks/struts. I love the stance,still a little rake look,front lowered 2inches back about 1.75 or so. Rides good but Im already used to the bumpy ride since my stock struts/shocks were blown before I even got lowered

[JustinBTE]

well im looking at the same struts but with the intrax springs. they advertise as having a 1.7 drop front and back. but this all will probably come in the spring with tax returns but its never too early to start the research on it all

[red98grandamse]

Originally posted by JustinBTE
but its never too early to start the research on it all

... absolutely.. the best mods are the ones that are thought out and researched so tha tyou know exactly whats up... esp with something like this, where many many people have been there before:)

[Bob March]

I put the Eibach springs with the Monroe sensa trac struts on my 03 ga ( I also have 18s w/40 series tires). It lowered my car significantly but I wish it would have been a little lower. I am thinking 1.5 to 2.0" drop is perfect. On the other hand if the roads you are driving on are tore up then you might want to stick with closser to 1.5 in.