Hey guys,
I dropped my car yesterday and now I need some help. The car doesn't take bumps very well at all. But I expected it. I hear some rubbing in the back and assume I'm gonna need my fenders rolled. Is this a common thing to do with a drop? My front doesn't rub, however I hear a strectching sound with the steering wheel. I did the work myself and I didn't see any rubber whatsoever. I'm wondering if the old topcap and bottom mount of the spring have to adjust to the new spring? Again is this common? My stats for suspension are below.

Front:
Stock strut assembly (105k miles)
KYB strut insert
TEIN S-Spring 1.5" Dropped spring
19" x 8.5 rims on 225/35/19

Back:
KYB strut assembly
TEIN S-Spring 1" Dropped spring
19" x 8.5 rims on 245/35/19

Now aside from that - the car looks B-E-A-UTIFUL. The rear is soooo wide on 245 tires and dropped. Pictures below. My car is very dirty and I just took them so its night time.

I'm no expert with wheels. Actually, I don't know sh*t about wheels. But it kinda seems like it's a massive drop for those 19's.

wow, I knew you could fit 19" but with a 1.5" drop, I didn't think it possible

I'm probably totally wrong, but wouldn't you need a bigger drop for bigger wheels? The larger radius makes the monster-truck look even worse, right?

-flipside97LTD+Aug 12, 2004 - 10:17 PM

lol - no one answered my questions...

The drop is nice. Not too low, but low enough. I'm about 1" lower than stock.

NO, that is not common.

I think that the reason you're having these problems is because 1.5 " drop does'nt work well with 19's. Now another thing that comes into play is how good your shocks are, cause if they'er bad, bumps feel like crap and the car bounces more and rubs on the tires. As for the Tein springs, I dont know much about them, bu you should find out what spring rates are on them.

I might be talking out of my a**, so if I don't make any sense, someone please correct me.

Shocks (struts) are brand new. I talked with my friend who's dropped cars before and he thinks its the NEW spring settling into the old rubber caps. I was told to give it a week. Any thoughts? Also, sphinx, you never meantioned which isn't common... the fenders or the strectching sound.

neither are common

This post has been edited by sphinx: Aug 13, 2004 - 1:34 PM

man, those wheels are freakin huge! You are probably rubbing the inner fender lip in the rear. Just watch it scrape up your tires. Get some daytime pics.

Found out whats up today.

The sound in back is my fender's lip like dan and I said eariler. Problem of course is the 2 layers of metal with the spot welds. I'm having my bodyshop guys cut at a cresant starting from the top of the mudflap and hitting its inward point at the peak of the well. At the same time, I'm going to be spraying the car with water to keep the heat transfer underneath the well lip. It should be done on wednesday and I'll take pictures then.

Problem in front. The stretching noise I figured out must be the upper bushing and bearings of the old strut. I'm going to order OEM stuff today and install later. I'm not rubbing my tire on anything. I have full 360^ turning ability. My suspension is perfect. I have the maximum allowed rim size, with maximum allowed offset, with maximum allowed drop in both front and back. My mechanics were impressed with it. And overall, so am I.

You may have full turn when the car isn't in motion, but get the thing moving, you'll probably rub regardless. If you wanna keep the 19's, you should go with a stiffer shock. You may not be rubbing while driving, but I bet you are. I suggest koni yellows.

I'm not rubbing - at any speed. Not in the front anyway. With the problems being fixed this week, I except no problems with suspension anywhere.

And your logic is off. Your front wheels move more at a stand still than they ever will while moving. The only way moving will cause rubbing is bodyroll and pressure of the front of the car while stopping. You guys have to realize that I'm not doing autocross. Its a street car that at most will speed a little. No air jumps, no fast cornering.. just a street car. Koni Yellows - last time i'll say this - is a waste of money unless the driver entends the car to be more than street driving.

No, i've never been on Koni Yellows. However, I am a suspension nut and realize when a serious upgrade is needed. My previous GSX. Yes, something like Koni Yellows is needed. Do I want to spend 400 more dollars minus the work of having to weld on Koni Yellows when the most I'll ever do with my Celica is go down my street and make 5 mph turns. Its not needed. I'm glad you like them, but I wouldn't have a use for them at all. It's like getting 3" exhaust on a N/A motor. Yeah it'll work... but it's overkill. 2 or 2 1/2" works just fine. Sometimes the best in the business isn't always the best pick.

-turboinduction+Aug 17, 2004 - 7:26 PM