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Lowering question

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Old Jun 7, 2006 | 10:14 PM
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Default Lowering question

Sup guys anyone lower their cars with or without getting a 4 wheel alignment? If you did what kind electronic or manual alignment, will it align the 4 wheels consistantly over the years or do I have to repeat the process. I don't want inside premature wearing of the tires. Planning on getting coilovers or lowering springs.
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Old Jun 7, 2006 | 10:16 PM
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You'll need an alignment after you lower. Alignments are kind of like a "wear item". Over time, it comes out of spec, which is what causes poor handling and premature tire wear.
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Old Jun 7, 2006 | 10:55 PM
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Would it help uneven wear as well? The insides of my front tires seem to be baldiing faster than the rest of the tires after I dropped my car.
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Old Jun 7, 2006 | 10:59 PM
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Yes, in most cases an alignment will cure your problem
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Old Jun 7, 2006 | 11:36 PM
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i got Tein springs that lower an inch went without allignment for a year before getting coilovers then allignment. with the springs my front inners would wear, so i would have to flip the tire up front, but the rears wore preatty evenly over the corse of its life. after installing the coilovers with a wheel to fender gap of a diagnal finger(not too low) i got before and after allignment figures. \
the before was:
Left front right front
-.8* camber -1.1*
6.7* caster 5.9*
-.41* toe -.37*

L rear R rear
-2.5* camber -2.6*
0.27* toe -.13

looking at the old specs it seems that the front toe in? was wearing the inside of the tire. this is purely a guess as the drop is different but i think the front is fairly close to the old drop. it seems that the rears lower fairly evenly, even looking at my friends old specs his rear was close between the left and right, but the front toe and camber was uneven.
the car after allignment became waaaaay more responsive to steering input, i assume becasue of the toe becoming zero again.
oh and the allignment guys were using a reflector type allignment machine.
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Old Jun 7, 2006 | 11:38 PM
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Jonny I bet your car doesn't handle as well as it was with stock springs correct me if I'm wrong. I've learned from passed experiences with HOndas if you lower your car gotta get alignment or else it will handle like crap.
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 04:39 PM
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I lowered mine and had an alignment. I went in with the UK specs, but they couldn't get the camber I wanted on the rears because it is so low. They got it as close as they could.
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 04:58 PM
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Absolutely do an alignment, man. Don't go through the expense of lowering without getting it right.

For that matter, the dang car tends to come from the factory out of alignment (well it DID anyway, back a few years ago -- maybe the Suzuka factory has finally gotten it right).
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 05:36 PM
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When it comes to lowering a car, the job is not completed until the car is aligned.

Even at stock ride height the car needs to be aligned periodocally.
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 06:35 PM
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wait a week after you install the springs for them to settle, then get an alignment.

alignment will help with tire wear but will not cure it.. not even 0 camber.
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