GTO lowering...opinions please...

[SShep71]

I got all the suspension done on the GTO...its teh stock control arms with poly bushings, and a 1.25 sway bar. The wheels are on it and now it sits like a freakin chevy 1500. What can I do on a budget to lower it and how much do you think I should go? Here is a quick pic, ill try to get more later. Ohh im a on pretty strict budget, but thats what you get for being in the army.

[gearheads78]

Before I started building my car I could not stand the stock height so I trimmed the stock springs. Worked great. Just be careful not to go too far. I was scared to cut too much and ended up doing it twice to get it just right.

Also since it was all just done. Any chance the suspension bolts were tightened while unloaded. If so that will make it higher than it should be.

[shizzy]

what was "done" with the suspension? what springs are in it? I have the Hotchkiss springs in my cutlass and it sits like this.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/05/IMG_1380-1.jpg

[SShep71]

Im not sure of what springs I have in it. I was looking at the hotchkiss springs. Its the stock upper and lower control arms, there is poly bushings and moog ball joint in both. If I could get mine to sit like that it would be perfect.

[shizzy]

I have all stock control arms front and rear with poly busings.

[Roadbuster]

When you put in the control arms, did you torque the bolts with all the weight on the suspension? this should get you to a stock ride height.

As mentioned before to get it down low you will probably have to trim the springs, or get shorter springs. Circle track springs and hidden adjusters are not too expensive.

Jon

[impalatpi66]

cut the springs.

[Marcus SC&C]

First check what Roadbuster said.

If that doesn`t do it then your best option is to buy a set of performance rate drop springs. A set of 4 matched rate SPC Performance or Hotchkis etc. springs will run less than $300. Front springs alone would be even less. If you can`t afford it right away just leave the car like it is for another couple paychecks and save up a few extra bucks. Do it once, do it right and you`ll be way ahead of the game. They`ll also do a lot more than lower the car,they`ll provide more spring rate and much better handling performance. FWIW we offer a discount to all US military personal. Thanks for your service we appreciate it!
Cutting stock springs will make the car lower,so will letting the air out of the tires. It doesn`t mean that`s your best choice. Cutting old worn out springs will just give you shorter old worn out springs. You can get away with it if the springs are fairly recent but it`s far from ideal.
As the car gets lower you need to add spring and shock rate to prevent the headers from getting too friendly with the road. Lower ride height means less distance for the springs and shocks to control suspension movement in jounce. Cutting the springs ads a very small amount of rate but not enough to make up for their drop. Mark SC&C