Why the BIG DEAL about wheel gap?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That is true as well but I didn't count those.
The old 76 Pacer blew both rear shocks so we drove it around on just the springs. When both springs broke I jacked it up and clamped a chunk of 4X4 pine in between the axle and the body. Was good for 6 more months until the driveshaft fell out and we just took the plates off on the side of the road and rode a bus home.

.........and, it's still there ....


humfrz

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Yep! But I like the look of my shopping cart better. I am under zero impression that I have fixed anything and I lower just for appearance.
I am Ricer!

You have your car lowered because the dealer cut you a deal on a stock unit with TRD parts already installed. I'd be surprised if you would have specifically requested those lowering springs???

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by wbradley

You have your car lowered because the dealer cut you a deal on a stock unit with TRD parts already installed. I'd be surprised if you would have specifically requested those lowering springs???

They are actually RSR super downs not TRDs (there is a whole thread on that confusion). But yes they are EXACTLY what I would have gone with had they not already been there. I have gone the coilover route on cars before and had a bad time so the springs would have been my first choice to try something different. They are exactly the drop and ride that I was looking for. I just got very, very, very lucky that what they did to the car was precisely what I would have done had I bought it stock and did the work myself.

[BRZBlack]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

I never understood why people would prefer no wheel gap over having the wheel actually match the arch of the wheel well. I also dont wanna scrape all over NYC.

I ended up getting bigger tires to fill in the gap a bit without losing any clearance. Some might say this looks like 4x4 fitment but I love it.

17x9 +35 and 255/40

Is this on stock suspension? If so I love it. Don't really want to change the suspension on my BRZ.

[8RZ]

Wheel gap for dayssssssssssssssssss.

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by BRZBlack

Is this on stock suspension? If so I love it. Don't really want to change the suspension on my BRZ.

Nah, sorry lol. Its on Tein Monosports at whatever their max height is, so a little lower than stock I believe. I need coilovers to fit the 255/40 tires.

[Taka]

I think the stock height is perfect on these cars. I'd never lower it any lower. It's already very low compared to most cars on the roads today.

A lot of the slammed ones look like $500 civics. If you like $500 civics than I guess your good to go.

[JohnnyK]

Originally Posted by Mr.Impreza

I never understood the issue with wheel gap.

It seems a lot of enthusiasts make it out to be some crazy big deal and it's always one of the first mods on cars. Even when I had my Subaru all I would ever hear is "lower it"....same with this car.

Yet it's only from enthusiasts. Everyone else always tells me the stock height is perfect.

So why is it such a big deal among us enthusiasts?

It may have already been said, I did not read through 7 pages.


But 'enthusiast' is where you are getting thrown off. This car, and I suspect the other cars you are thinking about, have a 'younger' demographic (not that I'm old, but...) and are cheaper cars.


Kids like the look of really lowered cars. It's just about the look. My car in my avatar picture is lowered slightly, but that's pretty much just a byproduct of changing the suspension. I didn't set out to lower it.


The guy driving the Aston is probably an 'enthusiast' too but he's not lowering his car.

[fitcious]

Wheel gaps allow you to put on snow chains


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[JD001]

Snow Chains...

[8R6]

ive been lowering almost every car ive owned for the past 20yrs (exception being a 4runner). from cut springs in the 90s to adjustable coilovers, its basically all for looks lol. before "jdm" parts were available, cutting springs was pretty much the only way to lower a car back in the day to make it look like a race car. and then after so many years, it's just the way it is and lowering a car is a must hahah

[ImAdopted]

does anyone know the exact measurements of stock wheel gap? like the top of the tire to the lowest bottom part of the fender? or how to measure correctly? i bought used and its lowered so i just want an idea of difference in height

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ImAdopted

does anyone know the exact measurements of stock wheel gap? like the top of the tire to the lowest bottom part of the fender? or how to measure correctly? i bought used and its lowered so i just want an idea of difference in height

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30129

[Zoid]

A smaller wheel gap just looks better imo, but I don't think I'll ever lower mine. It's my daily and it already scrapes a bit when entering/leaving some parking garages if I don't slow down enough. Also, the stock height does look good on this car, it just looks better with a slightly smaller wheel gap. Slammed and camber though... that just looks bad to me.