lowering help needed

[74dodge]

hey guys im fairly new here so i might aswell introduce myself my names brandon and im from surrey bc i currently own a 74 dodge dart and a 78 malibu landau and im really wanting to lower the malibu ive been told i can just cut the springs?but i had a friend that did that and the car handled bad and was just bouncy so how good is a eibach kit?anyone ever used this kit on there car before?i want a 2inch drop all round and then i plan on doing 18/19 staggered rims so it will give it just a little bit of rake but if i use the lowering springs will i have to replace the shocks to? is 2inchs to much to get away with with stock height shocks?and what about ball joints would i have to replace them for this much of a drop?any help is greatly appreciated im new to this all suspension thing lol

[shep]

That year Malibu is a G body I believe, so any G body kit should work. If you do a search you will find more info than you can use. There are several was to lower a car you need to decide what your plans for the car are and then what kind of budget you have and go from there.

[74dodge]

what are the 2 ways?and im not looking to spend to much i just want to stiffen it up and make it be able to take a corner without rolling over lol eventually i want to do coilovers but at 900 bucks thats not in my price range right now.the 280 dollar eibach kit is but im wondering will i have to change my shocks for a 2inch drop?

[shep]

You can use dropped spindles. The ones that work well are not cheap ATS and L&H . There are tall lower ball joints from SC&C along with adjustable uppers (really good value). You can run circle track springs and spaces (cheap and works well). Coil overs are another option. You could even modify your lower control arms and drop the spring bucket. You an cut the stock springs. The list goes on and on. Cheapest way is cut the springs with a saws-all or similar using a torch causes the springs to lose their stiffness. Cutting the springs should also stiffen them up. As for needing new shocks for a 2 inch drop probably not completely necessary but if the shocks haven't been replaced recently might as well update. You should be able to find shock strokes and installed measurements online. Look around and see if you can find a set that will bolt in and has a shorter installed measurement and the shorter stroke.

On my 69 Maibu I will be using SC&C stage 2 plus kit with circle track springs and spacers and will be using afco street stock shocks heavy valved that are a bolt in. There are other ways to accomplish what I want this is just the way that fits best into my budget and will meet my expectations.

[74dodge]

whats the difference betweem lowering springs and drop spindals?sry im new at this whole suspension thing.so would a eibach type kit work?also why would i need new ball joints?i do need new ball joints so what would i tell the guy at the counter for these taller ball joints?

[shep]

The guy at the counter will look at you like you have three heads if you ask him for tall ball joints. Call Marcus at SC&C he has the tall ball joints and could also set you up with a complete front and rear suspension. You may not need new ball joints depending on when they were last replaced. You asked for ways to lower the car I told you.The eibach kit may work then again it may raise the car depends on how worn your original springs are. What are you trying to do with your car just lower it for looks or are you going to be doing auto-x or track days, drag race? As for the difference between springs and spindles they are two different parts completely. They both achieve the same thing just in different ways. the springs will allow the lower control arm to raise up making it more parallel to the ground. Parallel to the ground would be ideal in a perfect world. In the real world sometimes it is not feasible to go that low. Dropped spindles raise the mounting point for the wheel higher on the spindle. Do a search for G body suspension you will find all the info you can use.

[74dodge]

thanks for the info and i just want to lowering it and stiffen it up a bit so it doesnt body roll so bad wen taking a corner.i do want to do a track day or two and the street legals aswell but im thinking buying a kit is the way to go cause i dont really want to spend more then 500 bucks