I just put Zenetti Five Chrome 18 x 8.5 with a 225/40/18 tire wheel on my 03 TL. I'm a noobie to all this car talk so I need help on the safest and best way to drop the car. Can anyone help recommend a way to drop it enough to ride smooth and not rub?

 

I'd say the two best springs are the H&R SPorts or the Comptech springs. I personally have the H&R Sports and I love them. The only thing is that the H&R's drop a bit more then the Comptechs, and if you're runing 8.5" wide.. you may have a problem with them... so the safest drop would be the Comptechs.....

 

Do you think it was a bad idea to put 18x8.5?

This is what I found on the internet. Are these good? Also what about Eibach branch or Coilovers?

Comptech Sport
Sport Springs
Retail Price: $299.99
Our Price: $274.99
Shipping: $26


Applications:

1999-2003 TL (all)
Drops F/R: 1.5"/1"
Part #: 110-135
Retail Price: $299.99
Our Price: $274.99

 

Yup, those are the Comptech's... probably the most popular springs out there... and our best seller too

Eibachs are good, but you may run into the same problem as you would with the H&R's. Coilovers are the best since you can adjust the height.... but they're pretty expensive.

I don't think it was a bad idea to go 8.5", you just have to keep that in mind when lowering your car

 

Sorry for all these newbie questions, but I want to get this right the first time. So all I have to buy are these Comptech's springs and nothing else? Do you think 1.5" in the front and 1" in the rear is good with the 18x8.5 wheel? Also can you recommend a good coilover?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

Sorry to steer off topic but I was thinkin of getting the same rims but in 19X8 and I was wondering if they would fit with the Comptech drop. Also do u have any pics RiveraP??

 

I don't know if the Zenetti Five come in 19x8? I think they are 19x8.5 but I may be wrong. I have some quick shots I took yesturday but I have to find a way to get them posted on here

 

If you want u can email them to me at latinosmoke@yahoo.com

 

OK...I took a ride with 2 guys in the back seat and the car rubbed on bumps. Anyone have a solution for this? Can I tighten anything to make it not bounce as much to avoid the rubbing?

 

8.5 wide on a TL is a little too wide. The most you should go is 18x8 with a +50 offset. Do you know the offset of your wheels? Did you cut the fender Tab? You can also try to roll the fenders. But if your wheels are sticking out passed the fenders rolling them won't help. Stand behind your car and take some pics of the wheels on an angle and post pics to see what we are dealing with.

 

Oh and lowering your TL will just cause more rubbage. If you get the wheels to clear the fender then you can lower it, but until then, don't even think about it.

 

I think I'm going to exchange the rims for either 18x8 or 18x7.5

 

if lowered, you will need to shave or roll the rear inner fender for rims with 8.5" width

 

What exactly is rolling the inner fender? This car is leased so I want to know before I do anything.

 

Thanks for the pics RiveraP. Sorry for all the rubbing issues but the wheels look hott!!!!

I found the sames rims in 19X8 with a 40 offset. Would these wheels fit the TL-S???

 

No those won't fit.

Here is the rule of thumb for the 2nd Gen TL for 18's

18x7.5 +45 offset 225/40/18
18x8 +50 offset 225/40/18 or 235/40/18

And rolling the fenders means to roll that little lip(bout 1/2 or so) on the fender up to give you more wheel clearance.

2nd Gen TL for 19's

19x7.5 +45 offset 225/35/19
19x8 +50 offset 225/35/19 or 235/35/19

 

I went back to the store this morning where I bought the rims and they put spacers to stop the shocks from bouncing a lot on bumpy roads. This seemed to help a lot as the rubbing has stopped. Now the disappoinment......I go home and get ready to wash the car with the new rims and notice that they damaged one of my rims. The chrome was scratched and a little chunk was missing. Now I have to wait about 4 days until they get a replacement from Zenetti.

 

spacers to help the shocks from bouncing???? what the hell are those?

 

Yes spacers....I didn't know about them either until now. They are these thick rubber pieces that they install inbetween the shock and they help stop the shock from bouncing too much. The car still rides smooth and handles the bumps but the shocks are limited to stop any rubbing to the tire.

 

i have 18in zinetti's and lowered my car w the eibach springs.....i had 2 cut the rear wheel lips to stop the rubbing..............

 

Are they 18x8.5?

 

If you lower your car with springs and keep the stock shocks, wouldnt these shocks blew over time ???

 

Are you referring to spring isolators - these are rubber pieces that wrap around EACH coil of your spring? These rubber pieces help to prevent squeeks, especially if your TL is lowered. But it does squat for your original problem, which is a low offset wheel - you will still get rubbing problems, especially if you lower your car. Listen to Lightbeing's advice on wheel offset, he learned it the hard way.

 

Go to this link. They are rubber spacers like this

http://mrgasket.com/pdf/Suspension.pdf

 

I understand what you're saying, but it doesn't solve the problem of rubbing. Your rubber spacers are only a quick fix solution right now, but what happens if you drop your car? What if 3 of your buddies sit in the back seat? Your rubbing problem still exists.

 

So what is my best solution? I don't know much about this so any advice is helpful. Should I just get rid of the 18x8.5 rims?

 

If they are sticking out passed the fenders..........then yes. There is no solution to your problem except maybe fender flares

Throw them bishes on Ebay unless you can live with the rubbage and not being able to lower your car.

 

you should have got some 7.5 with a 45 offset thats what i am rolling on with about 2 inch drop all the way around. i put my friends 8.0 with a 45 offset on the back and the mothers where ok not too bad but once we had some people in there we knew we had a little problem..

 

I have to think about what I'm going to do.....As far as dropping the car I really can't even if I wanted to because of my driveway. It will rub coming in and out everyday. I really like the look of the rims but after hearing all these opinions don't know if I want to keep them.

 

I just called the place where I bought the rims and they are willing to exchange them for me.....any recommendations so I can get this right once and for all. Anyone have a nice rim in mind with the correct offset? I was looking at the Armano Dumanis 18x8, will this fit correctly?

 

hey guys!
I also have questions in lowering your car.
1. If i get springs, deciding on comptech or h&r, do i need to get new shocks also??
2. if not, how quickly will the shocks wear?
3. What are some good recommendation of shocks? which is cheaper way to go.. getting springs and shocks seperately or getting the tiens for 850.
4. Also, if i decided to get 18x7.5 /w lowering the car, do i need a rear camber adjuster?

sorry for all the questions, but i really want to know this. Thanks

 

What wheel to get is your choice. Just go with Lightbeing's wheel/tire/offset advice he posted earlier and you should be OK. But from browsing wheels in the past, most wheel companies don't make high enough offset wheels. Usually it's the higher end Japanese wheels that have the right offset (it sucks I know).

 

Will a +42 offset be good?

 

1) You will need to get new shocks in due time. If you had your car for a few years already, it is recommended to swap out the oem shocks for aftermarket shocks at the same time you install the springs.

2) I find that oem shocks will lose its capabilities after 3-4 years city driving - but it all depends on how you drive, road conditions etc. This factor won't be the same for everyone.

3) Koni & Tokico are good name brands. You can't go wrong with either one of them. Don't know about which is cheaper, but if I had the money I would go with coilover.

4) It is recommended that you get a camber kit, especially if you lower your car. Note that the camber kit will fix your camber (duh!), and as a result, you better make sure your wheel has a high enough offset or you will have rubbing problems. Some guys have wheels that are just barely the right offset with no rubbing problems, and when they later install a camber kit, get rubbing problems. If you don't have high offset wheels, I don't recommend getting the camber kit (your only choice would be to do tire rotation refrequently to prevent premature tire wear). If you do get a camber kit, make sure you get a 4 wheel alignment done after the camber kit is installed.

 

RiveraP:

See Light's post above! +42 offset on a 18x8 Armano Dumanis wheel WILL rub! You need +50 offset to fit 18x8 wheels.

 

yes, stock shocks go to garbage...real quick!.
i did the springs.
didn't replace the shock..the front at least!...

and now the car really needs a set of front.

i think the stock rear on a lowered car might last a little longer.

8.5 inch is too wide.
i have 8 and i think i have rear camber issues and had to trim fender tabs.
AND i get alot more stuff kicked up against the body panels, from road.

there's no way an 8.5 will work for this car!.