How low is to low to drop a festiva?

[gurry624]

I plan on dropping my festiva as low as it can go. It will not be a daily, more of a show piece / weekend cruiser. Does anybody know the actual drop in inches that is TOO far as to where the car will rub the tires? For instance, if it can go down 6"s, then I'll drop it 6". Or 8" or 4" or whatever it is. I'll custome fit pieces of whatever suspension pieces will work. Just Lookin to see if anyone knows already. If not, trial and error will be my new best friend.

[JPT]

Don't know how low is too low, but I do know that McPherson strut suspensions do weird things when lowered too far. Once your control arms go past level, you start gaining positive camber.

Something to think about.

[FestYboy]

if you really want a festy to get low, you need to move your LCA mount points, invert the outer tierods and move your rear beam chassis mounts.

in other words: you need to fab, alot.....

if you're not willing or don't have the skills to do that, the typical limit is a 165/60/14 level with the fender (no tuck, hella flush).

[Advancedynamix]

Don't know how low is too low, but I do know that McPherson strut suspensions do weird things when lowered too far. Once your control arms go past level, you start gaining positive camber.

Something to think about.

Not on a Festiva, The camber arc extends past where the wheels will contact the body. I DD my car with my control arms pointed upwards about 5 degrees and zero camber with no abnormal tire wear at all. It tracks nicely and isn't "grabby" even with 2.5" wider than stock wheels. My toe is also zero on the street.

How low can you go? That is mostly dependent on tire size. If you want to slam your car with big wheels I suggest these 165/45-15" Federal Formoza tires.



They are actually a smaller diameter than the stock 12" tires so you get lower just with that, plus, they are narrow and fit up inside the stock wheel wells, and they are fairly cheap and V rated.
I think you can drop the car overall 6" and still have decent ride quality with these tires on 15x6" wheels with a 35mm offset. You may need to roll the fenders, but no cutting will be required. My car is 4" lower than stock, but it's set up to carry a load comfortably.
4" drop, with 7" wide wheels, fenders have been stretched, tires are 185/45/15

[gurry624]

Not on a Festiva, The camber arc extends past where the wheels will contact the body. I DD my car with my control arms pointed upwards about 5 degrees and zero camber with no abnormal tire wear at all. It tracks nicely and isn't "grabby" even with 2.5" wider than stock wheels. My toe is also zero on the street.

How low can you go? That is mostly dependent on tire size. If you want to slam your car with big wheels I suggest these 165/45-15" Federal Formoza tires.



They are actually a smaller diameter than the stock 12" tires so you get lower just with that, plus, they are narrow and fit up inside the stock wheel wells, and they are fairly cheap and V rated.
I think you can drop the car overall 6" and still have decent ride quality with these tires on 15x6" wheels with a 35mm offset. You may need to roll the fenders, but no cutting will be required. My car is 4" lower than stock, but it's set up to carry a load comfortably.
4" drop, with 7" wide wheels, fenders have been stretched, tires are 185/45/15

Thanks for the info. What suspension are you running??

[Damkid]

Thanks for the info. What suspension are you running??

This will tell you everything you need to know, and I do mean everything :lol:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42850

[gurry624]

This will tell you everything you need to know, and I do mean everything :lol:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=42850

Thanks!!

[PhoenixSHO]

When you can taste your balls when you hit a bump , its too low.

[Nerd Racing]

take the wheels, knuckles, and rear swing arm off and set it on the ground. That's how low you can go! Oh wait I forgot, fold over the pinch weld too.

[Damkid]

I seen a pic once of a miata so low that a car key was on the ground leaning against the pinch weld

[deathrace2000]

As Advanced stated, you can go "pretty low" with the right tires. 165/45/15, 155/55/14 etc. It takes a lot of work to have a low car that doesn't look and ride like total crap.

[deathrace2000]

if you're not willing or don't have the skills to do that, the typical limit is a 165/60/14 level with the fender (no tuck, hella flush).

You can go much lower than the fender line on that size and still retain drivability.

This set-up will tuck all the way to the rim on a 165/60 and drive.

[Aaronbrook37]

Oh my goodness... and I thought mine was low. Guess not haha. 14x5 steelies with P185/60-R14 and rear spacers, KYBs, and coilovers.

[BUSTIVA]

I've tucked the stock 12in wheel lip with mine, and drove it fine. This is about as low as you can go for this tire height, because it would scrub the top/middle of the fenderliners on some occasions, but not bad. Its all about the suspension setup.

[eurotiva]

I was gonna say contact BUSTIVA, but he got here 1st.