Cheapest way to lower a 88 festiva

[TominMO]

What is the easiest way to lower a festiva? I have an 88 festiva L that I am itching to lower since I put 13 inch rims on her. She seems to sit a little taller now. I have found spring compression kits for 50 bucks, but I am sure there is another way. I have heard of cutting the springs, but what will that do to the ride and posssible wear and tear on the suspension? Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you for your help.

How tall are the tires you're using? Lowering the tire profile will lower the car. For example:
155/80x13 = 22.8" tall
175/50x13 = 20.9 " tall
Since half of the sidewall is below the rim and half above, the difference in tire height divided by 2 is the amount lowered with the 50 series tire: about 1 inch. Plus you get much better handling and braking. A 155/80x12 tire is 21.8" tall, so the 50-series tire is even shorter than that.

[alpaccino]

what i done was to cut the honda integra springs because the car is a bit heavier, mi car rides very great. it is stiff and reduce body roll and not too bouncy.

[brickdog2000]

How tall are the tires you're using? Lowering the tire profile will lower the car. For example:
155/80x13 = 22.8" tall
175/50x13 = 20.9 " tall
Since half of the sidewall is below the rim and half above, the difference in tire height divided by 2 is the amount lowered with the 50 series tire: about 1 inch. Plus you get much better handling and braking. A 155/80x12 tire is 21.8" tall, so the 50-series tire is even shorter than that.

My tire size is 175/70r13

[brickdog2000]

I like the look of your lowered festiva lanemeyer14. I also like the aspire ruppenduro. I just wish my wife would let me buy more cars.

[Arnie]

I cut 2 coils from mine, front and back. I haven't measured, but I think it's about a 2 inch drop. Went from being able to stick almost entire hand in between top of wheel and bottom of fender, to just barely two fingers in front and a tad higher in the rear. Has a slight rake like Ruppenduro mentions above....

what size tires are you running there?

[FestYboy]

isn't that 195/45/15 ?

[lanemeyer14]

what size tires are you running there?

185/60/14...tires are pretty much worn and ready to be replaced though

[pr0nst4r]

To answer BrickDog's question definitively, the easiest and most economical way to lower his car would be to cut the springs properly/evenly.

[ejp2fast]

i've cut mine too ...

see this thread for pics and info

[brickdog2000]

ejp2fast Thanks for the link to your thread. I hopefully going to it this weekend.

[ejp2fast]

brickdog2000.. i pm'd you.

[MONSOON]

185/60/14...tires are pretty much worn and ready to be replaced though

How is it running that size tire? Are you getting much rubbing? How far off is the speedo?

[lanemeyer14]

How is it running that size tire? Are you getting much rubbing? How far off is the speedo?

Still haven't been able to drive it yet, other than pulling it in and out of the garage...hopefully soon!

[MONSOON]

Keepin my fingers crossed for you!

[brickdog2000]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Go to this website and you put your orignal tire size in, hten put in the tire size you want. The picture of tire will adjust to show you how much bigger or smaller the tire will be. I used this to research what tire sized 13 I would need that would be close to the original tire size. Hopefully this makes sense for those of you that have questions on tire sizes. i also do believe that it will tell how far off your speedo will be with the new tire size. If not I would google it. Gotta love google, thats how I found you guys.