Should i go lower?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
I have read that a few people who did the washer lowering, had to get a alignment. is this correct?
This morning was the first time driving the car and it is now pulling to the right. has anyone else experienced this?
This morning was the first time driving the car and it is now pulling to the right. has anyone else experienced this?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
These cars go up and down. it's made for that. only when it's 'slammed" might you have an alignment need only for the tire wear but never pulling. That's something else.
BTW. you should go lower. At least the back so that it looks even. My target is always 1/4 " to 3/8" between the front and the back. your back look a lot higher did you even adjust it or you just washered the front?
Off the subject a bit
What size and brand 19" tires are you using?
I'm changing to 20's next month because I have just found my 19's to be a very high maintenance tire. The prices are sick compared to 18's or 20's but I don't want to go back to 18's.
No more staggered if I can help it. I want to be able to maximize my ride and tread wear and I just have not been able to do it running 19's for the past year and a half.
I spent almost 2K on tires alone last year with less than 10K miles on the rears a pop.
This year I'm doing things different. $1600 to $1900 for a complete wheel, tire and TPMS sensor change, and no more tires for at least a year or better, and then only 5 to 700 depending on the tires. This makes a lot more $ sense to me. I hope.....
Last edited by my06clk; Mar 19, 2007 at 12:34 PM.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
That is what I was thinking that lowering it should not make a difference, but on a few of the threads they say to get an alignment after you lower it. But I’m going to pull the washers off tonight and see what if it is that.
Tires I have 275-30-19 in the rear and 245-35-19 in the front the tires are Nittos I just bought a new set and it was about 1200. My rims are really wide I have 9.5 in the front and 10.5 in the rear. I know the fronts are two wide but that’s what I get for buying them at a hole in the wall shop. The handling is awesome I can take corners with a ease.
Good luck with the change
Tires I have 275-30-19 in the rear and 245-35-19 in the front the tires are Nittos I just bought a new set and it was about 1200. My rims are really wide I have 9.5 in the front and 10.5 in the rear. I know the fronts are two wide but that’s what I get for buying them at a hole in the wall shop. The handling is awesome I can take corners with a ease.
Good luck with the change
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
That is what I was thinking that lowering it should not make a difference, but on a few of the threads they say to get an alignment after you lower it. But I’m going to pull the washers off tonight and see what if it is that.
Tires I have 275-30-19 in the rear and 245-35-19 in the front the tires are Nittos I just bought a new set and it was about 1200. My rims are really wide I have 9.5 in the front and 10.5 in the rear. I know the fronts are two wide but that’s what I get for buying them at a hole in the wall shop. The handling is awesome I can take corners with a ease.
Good luck with the change
Tires I have 275-30-19 in the rear and 245-35-19 in the front the tires are Nittos I just bought a new set and it was about 1200. My rims are really wide I have 9.5 in the front and 10.5 in the rear. I know the fronts are two wide but that’s what I get for buying them at a hole in the wall shop. The handling is awesome I can take corners with a ease.
Good luck with the change
I actually meant that you could use the dash switch to raise your car and drive it to see if it pulls. You can go neighborhood speeds without it automatically dropping back down just to test the pull.
Actually it might have a lot more to do with the 9.5 wide wheels in the front than anything.
1200 is about the going rate for this set. I'm just dine with shelling out that much so often. 20's are half the price. and last longer.
Is this your first set like this? Don't be surprise when your 275's are past the wear marks in about 8K miles.
BTW.
You should have 245.40. 19's front and 275.35.19's rear on that car.
I have been running the same size as you have now just to eat rubber and buy myself time to get the new set. but it throws your nav by a few hundred feet. at some speeds.
But that is a very nice looking car.. I was wondering about the actual impact of using 9.5's in the front. I just figured it would track crazy which seems to be what you are experiencing.. Keep us updated...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
I had the alignment done about a month ago and the car drove straight on Saturday night, and Sunday I lowered it and did not get a chance to drive it until today. That’s when I noticed it pulling, I used mix matched washers so I’m going to buy some new ones today and see if that helps.
As for the 19’s this is my second set of tires they lasted me one year but one of my years equals about 20K miles. I agree with you on that note the tires do not last that long at all.
In regards to the impact other then great handling I cannot tell the difference from my stock AMG wheels. There is no rubbing and I still have excellent steering capability.
As for the 19’s this is my second set of tires they lasted me one year but one of my years equals about 20K miles. I agree with you on that note the tires do not last that long at all.
In regards to the impact other then great handling I cannot tell the difference from my stock AMG wheels. There is no rubbing and I still have excellent steering capability.
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
Grind the head with a Dremel. I used the reinforced, thin cutting disc for metals. It works very well, but be careful not to grind down the bracket itself. I couldn't find a stud slightly longer than the stock one, so I just went crazy and bought a stud three times the length of the stock one. I can throw 12 washers on this thing and still have thread left on top. LOL.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 689
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From: So Cal
07 GL450, 91 NSX, 12 Prius
LOL.. I like this airmatic lingo. I just get these dialogs in my head, makes me laugh.
" Hey dud, washers? "
" How many washers are you running? "
" Should I use more washers?"
" I'm stacking more washers than you."
" No washers for me, I have too much money so I'm running modules"
" WTF 's a Washer?"
Anyways I'm glad this "washer" thing is going mainstream.
" Hey dud, washers? "
" How many washers are you running? "
" Should I use more washers?"
" I'm stacking more washers than you."
" No washers for me, I have too much money so I'm running modules"
" WTF 's a Washer?"
Anyways I'm glad this "washer" thing is going mainstream.
Last edited by fkong777; Mar 20, 2007 at 06:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
Hey Fkong,
you should be proud of yourself after all you are the "Godfather of Washers" lol. but really thanks to your threads people know about this.
O and by the ways guys i pulled the washers off and my car still pulls so looks like i need another alingment
you should be proud of yourself after all you are the "Godfather of Washers" lol. but really thanks to your threads people know about this.
O and by the ways guys i pulled the washers off and my car still pulls so looks like i need another alingment
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
Fkong.
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
Glad to hear you got it figured out. Hope the alignment goes well..
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 689
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From: So Cal
07 GL450, 91 NSX, 12 Prius
Your tires worn unevenly so the car pulls. I had 2 alignment before I got new tires.. then the pulling went away.
If you got a good alignment recently dont get another one.. Just get new tires.
If you got a good alignment recently dont get another one.. Just get new tires.
Last edited by fkong777; Mar 20, 2007 at 06:28 PM.
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From: Silicon Valley, CA
1999 C280 Previous / 2008 E350
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
Good call on the tires from the outside the tires look perfect, so i pulled them off and you are correct o great "Godfather" the tires have bad wearing on the inside looks like i need another pair of tires.
