View Full Version : Close up the wheel well.


L33TFooMaster
06-21-2010, 10:28 PM
So I've decided that I don't really feel the need to get closer to the ground. I just want the massive, gaping wheel well to go away. I'm still kinda stupid when it comes to suspension stuff. I would like to keep it close to stock height, the roads around here suck and my driveway is crap.

What can I do to close up the wheel well, stay close to stock height, make it safe and reliable and do it on the cheap?

Thanks in advance everybody! :bow: :bow:

brainneeded_
06-22-2010, 12:21 AM
nothing with your criteria. you either lower the car and close the gap, ergo losing stock height, or you leave it as is and live with it.

Vulkinator
06-22-2010, 12:29 AM
You can probably get bigger rims and tires to close up the gap but you may have an issue with the tires rubbing.

Stevemg
06-22-2010, 12:29 AM
22 inch rims.

L33TFooMaster
06-22-2010, 03:31 AM
I said close to stock height. If I drop it an inch or two it won't kill me.

You can probably get bigger rims and tires to close up the gap but you may have an issue with the tires rubbing.

That's more of what I'm after. How big can I go and still be safe for a daily driver? Is there any combo of bigger wheel and mild drop that is safe for a daily and stays close to stock height?

STlTCHES
06-22-2010, 04:19 AM
Nothing stays close to stock height. You need a combo of 18" wheels and about 1.8 drop all the way around to get to where you want to be. I drive daily on progress springs and i live in Colorado no issue with snow/bad roads; just drive smarter.

brainneeded_
06-22-2010, 04:26 AM
i have a 3 inch drop and am barely tucking tire.

Vulkinator
06-22-2010, 07:04 AM
Having 18" rims and 225/40/18 or 225/45/18 tires will definitely help. As for the suspension I'm not really sure, the easiest and cheapest thing would be to get lowering springs. Most will give you just the drop your looking for.

L33TFooMaster
06-22-2010, 08:10 AM
i have a 3 inch drop and am barely tucking tire.


I'm not trying to tuck tire, I just want to shrink the wheel well gap.


Having 18" rims and 225/40/18 or 225/45/18 tires will definitely help. As for the suspension I'm not really sure, the easiest and cheapest thing would be to get lowering springs. Most will give you just the drop your looking for.


Thank you for the information. I did a little looking myself.

A quick look at a wheel/tire calculator says that 185/65/15 is 24.4" tall. 225/45/18 is 26" tall. So unless I'm completely wrong, the size you suggested, on stock suspension, would fill in the wheel well by an additional 1". It should also make the car sit about 1" further away from the road. Then, if I dropped the car 1.5" the net affect should be that the wheel well is filled in by 2.5" and the car sits 0.5" inches lower. Very close to stock ride height.

Am I wrong? Am I stupid? Can this be done without rubbing?

Vulkinator
06-24-2010, 01:20 AM
I'm not an expert when it comes to this stuff but I'm pretty sure if you are only planning on lowering that much then you should be fine. Just get progressive springs(S-Techs) rather than linear springs(H-Techs). Those are just examples, not trying to suggest you get s-techs.

brainneeded_
06-24-2010, 01:23 AM
i'm just saying, with a 3 inch drop i'm barely tucking tire and that's with 16s and a 205/55. you're going to need at least 2 inches to achieve the look you want and close up the gap. i still have about half an inch on 15s with a185/60

monoxide101
06-25-2010, 12:15 PM
I'm not an expert when it comes to this stuff but I'm pretty sure if you are only planning on lowering that much then you should be fine. Just get progressive springs(S-Techs) rather than linear springs(H-Techs). Those are just examples, not trying to suggest you get s-techs.


The S-Techs are close to 2" where the H-Techs are ~1". I had the H-Techs on mine for a year and they rode fine, better than stock.

brainneeded_
06-25-2010, 05:18 PM
i had my sportlines on for 2 months. still a 2 finger gap.