How Low Can We Go?

Back when we replaced the air shocks and installed the 2" drop Hotchkis leaf springs on the rear I felt the front end need come down the same amount.  After I replaced the front brakes I started collecting front end components when good deals would come up on ebay. My goal was to lower the front end a couple more inches and hopefully make the car handle better in the process.

I went with a set of the Tubular A-Arms that have a coil spring drop pocket and a pair of 2" drop spindles. I felt this combined with a set of stock height springs would give me just the right ride height in the front.

 
ebay Tubular A-Arms

ebay Tall 2" Drop Spindles

Rock Auto Rockwell Constant Rate RC5370 Coil Springs

Rock Auto KYB Gas Adjust #KG4515  Front Shocks

The only problem was taking the front end this low put the front rims right on the fender wells so hitting any bump caused the front tires to rub on (actually bang into) the inner fender well. Ever since we lowered the rear there was a little rubbing on the passenger rear under load but the PO had rolled the inner lip so the rubbing was minimal. But when we got this low in the the front the rubbing was way too much.

 The Nova with 2" drop in the back and 4" drop in the front.

The old wheels were a fairly standard 4.5" backspace the solution was some 5.25 backspace wheels. So I changed to this wheel in silver.

Vision Legend 5 - 17x8, 5x4.75 bolt pattern,
5.25" backspace (+19mm offset), Silver Rims

The 5.25 was perfect on the back the rubbing out back was gone and the 17" rim clears the rear shocks in the stock location. In the front a 5" backspace would be perfect so I ordered a set of custom spacers from http://www.motorsport-tech.com. These were $90 but worth every penny to get it right.

Motorsport-Tech.com 10mm Spacers

These spacers have the added advantage of being hub-centric so the wheel is not riding on the log nuts but instead it rides on the wheel hub. The 10mm spacers move the wheels out 1/4" and still leave 8 full threads on the lug nuts.

The front tires are still P225/45R-17 and the backs are P245/45R-17. With the front this low, the front tires are maxed out. But when we replace the rear tires we might go a little wider/taller as there is plenty of room for more tire in the back now.

Someday I'd like to add a Posi Rear, 1" lowering blocks, Disc Brakes and a set of 17x9 rims back there!