Ok, so the awesome pictures will come in a bit. Just scroll down a ways if you don't care about the install pics/notes.
A few weekends ago, I finally lowered my car. I went with the 01 Bullitt springs (used), Bullitt sway bars (used), new Tokico Blue HP series shocks/struts, Steeda X2 ball joints, and Moog tie rod ends. I also put on new tires (Nitto NT555 275/40-17 all around) and got it aligned. Wow, what a difference did that make! I also got the windows re-tinted.
Overall, I'm very happy with the handling, ride, and looks, but we'll get to that later. I'll start with some install pics.
Here is almost all of the parts I installed.
The shocks/struts.
Tie rod ends.
Bullitt springs.
Bullitt sway bars.
Steeda X2 ball joints. Man, were these things a pain!!
The mess I had amassed shortly into the install.
Stock rear spring vs. Bullitt rear spring.
Stock front spring vs. Bullitt front spring. Quite a difference!
Stock front sway bar on top, Bullitt front sway bar on bottom.
Stock front sway bar diameter.
Bullitt front sway bar diameter.
I measured the rear sway bars as well, but didn't remember to take a picture of it. The Bullitt one was several millimeters smaller, like the front one.
Now, I have some before and after photos from similar angles just to show how much better the car looks lowered.
Before.
After.
Before.
After.
Before.
After.
Before (Front Tire).
Fender gap
After (Front Tire).
Fender gap
Before (Rear Tire).
Fender gap
After (Rear Tire)
Fender gap
So when you take into account the taller new tires, the Bullitt springs, with no isolators and Steeda X2 ball joints (with the spacers installed) lowered my car 1.31 inches in the front and .89 inches in the rear, and resulted in a stance that is .27 inches lower in the front.
While the rear drop seems small, I'm relatively sure that the old stock springs were somehow sagging. When I did this install, the rear was actually sitting lower than the front; it didn't use to be that way. I suspect the Bullitt springs actually lower the rear about 1.2 inches. But what is important is the end-result fender gap and stance, and this info should be valid.
I am very satisfied with the handling and ride quality. While there is still some amount of body roll, it is non-existent compared to the way it used to be. The car is way more nimble and responsive than it was stock. While I have never pushed my car to or over the edge, I can tell that it is much, much better around the curves. I am way more confident in its abilities now. The car is definitely stiffer than it was stock, but not necessarily in a bad way. While I do feel more bumps in the road, the car doesn't bounce and move all over everywhere when I go over larger bumps. All in all, I like it better than I did when it was stock.
Also, I wrapped the springs in a few layers of electrical tape instead of using the isolators. I cannot tell one bit of difference from stock.
Finally, I initially put everything back together WITHOUT the spacers included in the Steeda X2 ball joint kit. The front end was SLAMMED. I didn't take a measurement, but it was AT LEAST an inch lower in the front than the back. IMO, it looked pretty dumb. I put the spacers back in and it looks PERFECT to me. Just a little note for anyone wondering.
OK, enough talking, time for some pictures! I need to give credit to my buddy Jordan from school, and to big Joe from BIG & Little Photography. Both took some awesome photos, but some of Joe's were absolutely amazing!
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
And my favorite of the night:
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
WOW, that took a long time to write up. Well, it's the first Friday night after classes are over, so I'm out for the night. Hope you guys enjoy the pictures!
A few weekends ago, I finally lowered my car. I went with the 01 Bullitt springs (used), Bullitt sway bars (used), new Tokico Blue HP series shocks/struts, Steeda X2 ball joints, and Moog tie rod ends. I also put on new tires (Nitto NT555 275/40-17 all around) and got it aligned. Wow, what a difference did that make! I also got the windows re-tinted.
Overall, I'm very happy with the handling, ride, and looks, but we'll get to that later. I'll start with some install pics.
Here is almost all of the parts I installed.
The shocks/struts.
Tie rod ends.
Bullitt springs.
Bullitt sway bars.
Steeda X2 ball joints. Man, were these things a pain!!
The mess I had amassed shortly into the install.
Stock rear spring vs. Bullitt rear spring.
Stock front spring vs. Bullitt front spring. Quite a difference!
Stock front sway bar on top, Bullitt front sway bar on bottom.
Stock front sway bar diameter.
Bullitt front sway bar diameter.
I measured the rear sway bars as well, but didn't remember to take a picture of it. The Bullitt one was several millimeters smaller, like the front one.
Now, I have some before and after photos from similar angles just to show how much better the car looks lowered.
Before.
After.
Before.
After.
Before.
After.
Before (Front Tire).
Fender gap
After (Front Tire).
Fender gap
Before (Rear Tire).
Fender gap
After (Rear Tire)
Fender gap
So when you take into account the taller new tires, the Bullitt springs, with no isolators and Steeda X2 ball joints (with the spacers installed) lowered my car 1.31 inches in the front and .89 inches in the rear, and resulted in a stance that is .27 inches lower in the front.
While the rear drop seems small, I'm relatively sure that the old stock springs were somehow sagging. When I did this install, the rear was actually sitting lower than the front; it didn't use to be that way. I suspect the Bullitt springs actually lower the rear about 1.2 inches. But what is important is the end-result fender gap and stance, and this info should be valid.
I am very satisfied with the handling and ride quality. While there is still some amount of body roll, it is non-existent compared to the way it used to be. The car is way more nimble and responsive than it was stock. While I have never pushed my car to or over the edge, I can tell that it is much, much better around the curves. I am way more confident in its abilities now. The car is definitely stiffer than it was stock, but not necessarily in a bad way. While I do feel more bumps in the road, the car doesn't bounce and move all over everywhere when I go over larger bumps. All in all, I like it better than I did when it was stock.
Also, I wrapped the springs in a few layers of electrical tape instead of using the isolators. I cannot tell one bit of difference from stock.
Finally, I initially put everything back together WITHOUT the spacers included in the Steeda X2 ball joint kit. The front end was SLAMMED. I didn't take a measurement, but it was AT LEAST an inch lower in the front than the back. IMO, it looked pretty dumb. I put the spacers back in and it looks PERFECT to me. Just a little note for anyone wondering.
OK, enough talking, time for some pictures! I need to give credit to my buddy Jordan from school, and to big Joe from BIG & Little Photography. Both took some awesome photos, but some of Joe's were absolutely amazing!
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
And my favorite of the night:
Courtesy Joe with BIG & Little Photography
WOW, that took a long time to write up. Well, it's the first Friday night after classes are over, so I'm out for the night. Hope you guys enjoy the pictures!