OGTS Intermediate Lowering Spring

[flyboytroy99]

Does anyone have a picture of a GT utilizing the intermediate lowering spring from OGTS ( lowers about one inch). I'm trying to decide if it lowers enough to be worth the trouble. Also, how harsh is the ride with the more extreme lowering spring for a weekend street driver? I really like the lowered ride height.

[bq97]

Does this help? Intermediate spring with 13" wheels

http://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/500/DSCN1941.JPG

[opellane]

I been using the OGTS Sport lowering front spring, for about four years,w/stock rear springs. Lowers the car 1", Not noticeable in photo, but Big Big improvement in handling over stock. Give the car more stick on the road like a magnet. Little harder on the bumps. Need good set of shocks. If you live with rough roads might be too hard of a ride.

Mike

[bosco]

I bypassed the intermediate, went with the full lowering, and have not been sorry. I don't have low profile tires, am still running 185/70/13s and the ride is fine....I didn't notice much difference at all and it looks great. The only problem is I cant get the floor jack under the front of the car anymore!!! Not a big deal. The rear springs are stock but had sagged so much that I didn't even have to cut them down.

http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showpho...0/ppuser/14993

[ConreroGT]

Go all the way.

Unless you drive like grandpa....your not going to miss the soft spongy feel. It rides fine.....to me at least.

[flyboytroy99]

Thanks for the advice folks. The lower profile does look good on the car so I think I'll go with the full lowering spring.

[hustlerzlife]

I would think that on most opels if they still have the stock springs they would have sagged enough to be lowered an inch or even two already. I can just barely squeeze my head underneith the side (maybe 8 inches?).

[Ooooner]

OK guys... I know this may have been talked about before but isn't it true that you have to realign the front end to different specs than stock specs when you lower the front end?

[simplemind7]

i have read that to re-align the front end all you have to do is rotate the upper ball joints 180 degrees and it will be pretty much correct, which is what i have done.

i just finished installing my lowering spring today, i bought it not knowing which one it was but it is definately the full lowering, looks sooo much better than stock. i love the look of it.

[jeff denton]

That's not alignment, that's a camber adjustment, details of which are in other threads. Camber adjustment really is as easy as you think (rotating the upper ball joint) but occasionally this isn't enough. This is all covered elsewhere.
Check out the Legere Shackle method of lowering, this is my favorite since we have to run stock springs, plus it removes the built in problem of A-arm bushing stress when the springs are put into bump position. The stock springs really are extremely "tune-able", believe it or not! This was the most challenging aspect of getting Speedway GT to work.

[jordan]

I am trying to make a same decision, 1" lowering or 2" lowering for the same price. Does anyone else have any input on the intermediate lowering spring and maybe a comparison to the 2" spring. Bottoming out? speed bump issues? how much actual ground clearance remains with the 2" drop? Does anyone have any more pictures?

[hallgeir]

I am actually going the other way. I`m going back to stock. My GT is lowered 2 Inches both front and rear. It looks ok, but as one guy pointed out to me, the front wheel doesn`t seem to fit in the wheel well. The reason I am going back to stock springs is that I can`t drive everywhere I want because of the speed bumps. I don`t know about your speedbumps, but around here it seems like they are made for SUVs, and they are everywhere. I got tired of trying to climb them like a crab and scraping the exhaust in the bump every time. When I got a passenger it`s completely hopeless without people stopping and watch while they get that certain smile on their faces. I would like to get the 1 inch lowering spring because I think it looks a little better when it`s lower than stock, but I have spent way to much money on springs now, so back to stock it is.

[Nathan Acree]

I have the two inch lowering springs on one of my GTs as well, and as Hallgeir says, you have to crawl over speed bumps and steep drives are an issue two.

Plus the ride is rock-hard. I mean you hit a bump and you will slam your head against the roof of the car. My front bump stops are cut in half and the control arms still hit them on the most minor bumps. Ground clearance is maybe 4 or 5 inches. You will hit your exhaust on everything. To jack the car up you have to use a jack at one of the original jacking points just to get a floor jack under the diff or the front crossmember.

The car looks really nice that low. I'm 5'6" and I can actually just sit on the hood like I'm sitting on a chair it's that low. I'm not sure its worth the horrible ride though. I would try Rallybobs spring shackles first but to use those you probably have to go to 15" wheels.

-Nathan Acree
Albuquerque New Mexico.

[opelenvy]

I have the 2" drop with 13" rims. I love the look. I think it is perfect. The handling is awsome. Front and rear sway bars, keep in the throttle and cut corners like you are on rails. I love surprising people when I give them a ride for the first time and I carve a corner going 60. You can see them start to stand up when I come into the corner then, ziiiiiiiiiiiiip,....DAMN!!
The ride is harsh, I need new/repadded seats. My old foam doesn't privide much cushion. Clearance on the exhaust is the worst part. Really have to watch the road in front of you. I was cruising down the highway once and there was one of those collapsable chairs (in the collapsed position) laying in my lane. I took it down the middle then looked in my rear mirror to see if it moved. Well it was gone! So pulled over on the shoulder and backed up, and there it was. I just took it for a ride.
The full drop shifts your rear end to the left too. Bob Legere has talked and shown pictures of an adjustable pan hard rod that can take care of this. That is on my wish list. How much Bob?
If I ever went back to stock I would have to get bigger wheels, 15" probably.
Here is one of my current set up.
http://www.opelgt.com/photos//data/5...7rightside.jpg
Here is one with stock 75 rims with 185 tires.
http://www.opelgt.com/photos//data/5..._75_wheels.jpg

[jordan]

I see that OGTS in their catalog says that #3001 the sport spring lowers the car 1.5" though the same part number on their website says it lowers the car 2". Does the intermediate spring stiffen the ride quality much over stock? Which is what I'm looking to do along with lowering the stance.

[markandson]

Jordan,
I have the 1" spring, although not installed in car yet. When I spoke to Gil a long time ago, he convinced me not to go the 2" route, due to all the comments made previously in this thread. I am putting Koni Reds in along with the spring and front and rear sway bars. I can't imagine that the ride is going to be too smooth, but I am sure it will handle like crazy, BTW I also have 15" wheels. I also have a 2" spring in my stock pile, I believe it originally came from Opels Unreachable, if you are interested.