Hi, I am a suspension newbie, and just got a good offer on a Eibach PRO-KIT-4041. I am also shopping for aftermarket shocks.
I have stock 16 inch wheels on my 99 TL-p, but I do have Eibach (front and rear) sway bars. I hear these reduce ground clearance by an inch or so?
I want to drop the car about 1-1.5 inch max. Would I need a camber kit? Is the Eibach's drop 2 inches (front) absolutely unavoidable, or can I use them and reduce the drop a little?


Thanks. Feel so confused and ignorant right now...

 

It's possible you might need a rear camber kit but you really have to get an alignment to figure out how much your camber is off.

 

Josh, I just got my alignment done a month ago, it drives true and straight. Does that mean my camber is "not off?"

Thanks!

 

the normal setting for camber on a gen 2 TL is 0 degrees, with negative 1 degree max.

With a drop like you want, it will probably came out about neg 1.0-neg 1.4
Is that what your printout says from the alignment shop?
What exactly does the printout say?

The experience of members here says a little extra camber is not a problem on tire wear.
If you go severe drop- like it reads negative 2 degress, then camber kits are in order-

The car likes some neg camber in the front- turns in better at speed~

My 01 came out at neg 1.2 and neg 1.4, depending on which corner,
Close enough,
they set the TOE to its proper spec so the car drives straight down the freeway no problem, and its been driving fine for a year on 235/18s with tein ss shocks and teins spec setting drop of 1.5-1.75 inch lower than stock

 

Once lowered you will HAVE to get an alignment again.

 

TOE is what makes the car go straight
and as fsttmys said- when you lower the car, or raise or lower it more after alignment it WILL need a fresh alignment!!

Height changes camber

Look at slammed dropped cars like integras-- with the rear wheel tilted in at the top all crazy- thats excess negative camber and eats half the tires tread width

 

On a stock TL the only thing you can adjust is TOE,

camber kits replace control arms in the rear with threaded adjustment style rod, and ball joints in the front with adjustable units to correct camber

If the camber is off on a stock TL -its got something bent!!!

Caster is an imaginary vertical line of no importance to us.

 

If you plan to play with the height a lot, get a lifetime or 4 visits for $150 type alignment deal- firestone offers that