[jdos1]

I've searched already, so don't get mad and tell me to search. I've found bits and pieces but want to be certain as to what I need.

I need a list of exactly what I need to drop my 02 GT.

Are the 1.5" drop Pro-kit's enough to look great or do I need to go ahead and go with the 2.0" Sportlines?

I DO NOT want anything to rub when turning, hitting bumps etc.

What else do I need? New shocks/struts, spring isolators, caster camber kits, anti-roll kit...any thing else?


How much would I expect to pay to have this installed? I normally do most of my own stuff but not sure that I want to try and tackle this at home with an el-cheapo $10 spring compressor.
I know I'm looking at about $1200 for parts alone.
Has ANYONE had ANY problems after lowering their car?

[ModularSteed]

to do the drop just buy the kit you want. They wont rub, they are designed not to. The sportline will probably cause speedbumps to be an annoyance. As for the other stuff, they just add better handling.

[YeloPony]

any spring kit will be fine, you dont NEED shocks and struts, but they will make the ride nicer.. Eibach has a nice 'pro damper kit' it's around $400, or I hear good things on the Bilsteens..

I've got Steeda Springs, & Eibach Pro Damper kit, no rubbing or scraping EXCEPT on my steep @$$ driveway, but if I hit it at an angle I'm fine.. I take all speed bumps slow..

[asiansensation78]

Well to do it absolutely correctly, you'd want:

-Springs
-New Spring Isolators
-Shocks/Struts
-CC Plates
-Bump-steer kit
-X2 ball joints
-Proper alignment

Not all of these components are necessary, but I'm sure other users will chime in on the importance of each.

[jdos1]

No speed bumps around here....but within the next 2 years I'll be moving to Boone, NC (mountain territory) and need (well mostly want) something that's still got a nice ride/handling.

I've also heard that without shocks and struts the ride is jouncy and rough. Correct?

[jdos1]

97stang....I think I know the girl in your av pic....looks just like a girl from near hear, huge ass and everything lol

[ModularSteed]

lol you better be hittin it then!

I had the sportline kit for a while but my exhaust hit on everything so i changed to prokit.

[YeloPony]

Originally Posted by asiansensation78 Well to do it absolutely correctly, you'd want: -Springs -New Spring Isolators -Shocks/Struts -CC Plates -Bump-steer kit -Proper alignment Not all of these components are necessary, but I'm sure other users will chime in on the importance of each.

Good point on the Isolators and Alignment.. you can get away without doing CC plates or bump-steer but they are a nice addition.

[jdos1]

Originally Posted by 97stang4.6l lol you better be hittin it then! I had the sportline kit for a while but my exhaust hit on everything so i changed to prokit.

I probably better go with Pro-Kit...I didn't think about that...My mufflers were welded in at a slight angle...

Damn that cheap shop...Why must I always try to save $25????

[DanishStallion]

BBK 1.5 inch and tokico struts and shocks i put on last week. i now take spur of the moment cruises around town again. i am glad i didnt pay 2-400 bucks extra for eibach

[01KnightRiderGT]

Originally Posted by asiansensation78 Well to do it absolutely correctly, you'd want: -Springs -New Spring Isolators -Shocks/Struts -CC Plates -Bump-steer kit -X2 ball joints -Proper alignment Not all of these components are necessary, but I'm sure other users will chime in on the importance of each.

+1

If you go under a 1.5" drop, I would recommend all those components to have nice tight responsive turning

[LAWNDART02]

You can check out the customer picks at americanmuscle.com and see how the different drops look. I think the Pro-kit is a perfect slam.
Don't forget that the drop is only half the appearance thing, the other half is the wheel/tire selcetion to best fill the wheel well and adjust the rake of the car and appearance to the wheel well lip and fender.

If you are planning on carving corners (sounds like you wil be) it would be worth the investment in better shocks/struts and CC plates for correct alignment.

Sometimes waiting on the cash is better then doing it halfassed now and then getting pissed about it and spending more to fix the ride. The better the system you build, the more kickass it will feel on the day you swap all the stuff in at once.

[goren813]

^Very well said by Mr. Dart. Do everything at once, not only to not cheap out, but its easier to get into everything one single time, since most components must be removed to install one thing. I run prokit, yes on a v6 bash bash, but I wouldn't want any lower, speed bumps and anything unlevel is a pain, lots of scraping. Actually measured to a stock Stang on stock wheels mine is 1.75" lower at the side skirt.

I suggest doing the shocks and struts at the same time, the stockers won't like the change in ride height, and probably won't last very long. Also, CC plates are a good idea, just helps get the geometry back to where it should be. Ball joints and bumpsteer helped me as well, but are the least NECESSARY pieces. This can start to get expensive so depending on budget you should consider these parts. Also, if you really want to be carving corners, full length weld-in sub frame connectors are a great addition and are highly recommended for these cars. Beyond that a good set of lower control arms can help, if you want to go that far more can be said on those. Finally, some strut braces and sway bars are good finishing pieces depending on how happy you are with the ride with all the above parts.

[Pittbull]

FYI OP American muscle has eibach pro kit and MM caster camber plates on sale thru the whole month. Jut lettin ya kno.

[Blitz34]

Specifically ask Jazzer about this. He and the reverend I think are all about suspension.

[Pittbull]

I pm'ed jazzer a couple days ago and he said to get shocks, struts, springs and CC plates. The next couple hundred dollars u get (or u can save a couple hundred more) pick u up a bumpsteer kit and ball joints.

[marcuslee842]

You will love your car even more after u change out the suspension. I did everything at the same time (mods in sig) and my car felt extremely different. It handled, stopped, and accelerated soooo much better. U might be like me and kinda noticed things differently after the install. For example maybe because my springs have a high spring rate, when someone gets in or out of the car the car doesn't tilt even slightly. and there was a steep hill that I would go down that gave me that falling feeling in my stomach for years, after the suspension it went away but I still feel it in other cars. weird lol

[Pittbull]

I'm like you^ I wanna do it all at once, so I get that 'it's feels like a new car' feeling xD

[XxBEAVISxX]

2002 gt

H&R supersports, steeda bumpsteer, and maximum motorsports CC plates. Havent done the struts/shocks yet.

i think they have settled since the install. maybe .25-.5 inch
sorry its dirty in pics

[jdos1]

I definitely want to drop mine...Most likely going with 1.5 inch Pro-Kit drop springs. Definitely new shocks/struts, spring isolators, and CC plates. I doubt I'll do bumpsteer.

And it'll probably be in the next six months (They'll always be on sale again at American Muscle), a fellow MM member has offered a great deal on a JLT RAI and BBK intake plenum that I can't refuse...