So here is my rather unique question:

I am not a big fan of slamming cars, but I need to lower my TL a bit for it to look more aggressive and handle better. I am going to go with tien s tech springs just because of their low price and recommendation from some friends. The only thing holding me back from my purchase is my fear of scraping too much and busting my oil pan or even getting stuck. I park at a parking garage that I have a pass to downtown, the only con being that the exit of the garage has a giant curb that I only have .5 to 1 inch of clearance on. When I have a bunch of friends and stuff in the car I will scrape on this curb. Im worried that lowering my car the 2.1" in the front and the 1.6" in the rear will cause me to seriously damage my car. I park there almost everyday. I don't really care about scraping as long as I don't hurt my car or get stuck. Can anyone give me some input on weather this would be alright?

 

2.1" in the front and 1.6" in the rear will not even be close to low enough to bust an oil pan. I was tucking about a finger of tire front and rear (way lower than 2.1"/1.6") and I would only occasionally scrape, only over severe speed bumps. If anything, you may scrape the underside of your bumper or sometimes your exhaust tips, but I don't think that will be low enough to cause concern of busting an oil pan.

You will be fine! Getting rid of the horrid fender gap is worth scraping once in a blue moon!

 

Yeah, but ThePattyWagon was more concerned about his daily adventure at the parking garage and the occasional loading up with his buddie's weight bogging the clearance even more.

 

Most of the lowering is the body sits down lower on the frame. The bottom of the frame is not lowered much.

 

This information is incorrect.

 

nope its all lowered together, but with Tein S.Tech springs you will be nowhere near even close to being able to bust your oil pan. Matter of fact a lot of people that get those springs want to go even lower because they aren't low enough for their liking. Also remember these springs will be stiffer than your stock springs so you can put a bigger load in the car (ppl or materials) and the car won't sag as much as it would with stock springs when you have any added weight inside.

 

You won't be breaking ur oil pan on springs... lol. Get shocks as well, OEM ones can't handle lowering springs. I'd be surprised if you scrape AT ALL.

I drive with a full trunk and my girlfriend in the passenger seat usually and I have yet to see a scrape on my oil pan.

 

Yeah, and HairyMonkey019 is sittin' really low !!!
But, ThePattyWagon may have a bit more weight than only a "GF"..... with all his buddies fully loaded up.

 

I was under the impression that the Lower Sub-Frame bars are actually lower than our oil pan? So if anything the Sub-frame will hit before the oil pan (Obviously depends on the angle).. Is this incorrect?.

 

You are correct, sub-frame would hit first IF it's something wide such as a bump. Now if it's like a big rock and you drive over it, it will all depend on which part of the car you let it go under.

Although it will not happen on a car with springs. Even with a full car it'll be hard to break the oil pan.

OP you have no worries. Breaking the oil pan should be the least of your concerns when lowering the car on springs.

 

I'm on H&R Springs (Not the Sport ones) so I'm safe I only wanted to get rid of wheel gap which I fully didn't but at least its not the stock 4x4 look anymore.

 

Lol, didn't you go to Mexico with ur car?

I know the roads there are SHIT compared to US roads. You are a prime example of not having problems with springs.

 

I always go to México (Business).. I literally go every weekend.. This weekend I was in Ensenada B.C.


Never had any problems Neither with the Roads or the People (Violence).

 

Thanks everyone!

I know that crcking the pan isnt usually a worry on springs, I was just concerned because now I know im going to be scraping hard over the curb I was talking about.

I have read around a little, but what BUDGET struts would you guys recommend? Koni yellows are a bit out of my price range haha.

 

*shocks

 

^ Once you are lowered there aren't any "Budget" Shocks.. Lowered Shocks are Premium Grade most of them and it will cost!.. I'm using Tokico Iluminas and they made A HUGE Hole in my Pockets +500 bucks.. But the Adjustability is worth it.


The most inexpensive "Lowered" Shocks you could find are the Tokico Blues and Still they are +110 a Piece for the Rears and almost +160 each for the Fronts.

 

shocks are something that u can't go cheap on specially when you're lowered because they take a beating. Koni yellows are the absolute best but like you said they aren't cheap at all, you do get what you pay for when it comes to shocks though. Id just make sure i get something well worth it so you don't have a blown shock a few months down the road. Which ever ones you do end up getting i recommend adjustable shocks also like Skirmich said.

 

thank god i don't have any issues with shocks or height because i have full adjustability with my coilovers and they were only about $150 more than any spring and shock combo you find, well worth the extra $100-$200.

 

Nah, Tokicos aren't that expensive. Excelerate has the fronts for $100 each and the rears for $104 each + shipping. I bought all four from him five years ago for $315 shipped.

 

Good to know! I just popped a random online page so I didn't look that much..