I have a question about lowering Eddie Bauers

[NoLimits C.C.]

I have a 98 Eddie Bauer 4x4 and have dropped the front 2" by twisting the torsion bolt out some. I went to get it aligned and the guy told me that I would have to raise it back up an 1" along with buying a camer kit to get it to align properly. But the other thing is that I have the factory air ride shocks and had to turn them off to get it to stay lowered.

My Question is -

1) is it a major project to take the air shocks out and replace them with the Eldelbrock shocks???

2) is there a better way of lowering the X without damaging things after driving it for a while???

I lowered a car a long time ago by just putting on smaller rims and tires back in the day when a major offset was cool. After a year I killed my axle and bearings. I was told that riding the X on lowered torsion bolts would kill the front end something simalar to that.

I was planning on buy a set of 22" rims and just call it quits and not worry about lowering it, but a lowered X looks killer. I have 18" rims on it now. I also have seen pics of X's with 20" rims and they look alright but still have a gap in the wheel well area. I also saw an X with 22" rims and it looked alright (pic didnt do it justice) but the tires were 30 series and looked like rubber bands and there was still a GAP, dont know if he could lower it any or not with those.

Any help on this would be great.

 

[tbomb]

well, as far as having to lift it back up 1" to get it aligned, thats BS. take it to another shop; though you will need a camber adjustment kit - not really a big deal.

 

[aldive]

How did you lower the rear?

That alignment shop is useless, go elsewhere.

I wiould definately dump the air shock syste,

Take a look at Dead Link Removed

Good luck.

 

[Hartman]

I was told that riding the X on lowered torsion bolts would kill the front end something simalar to that. [/B]

Simply untrue. It might make some things wear a little faster, but it will not kill the front end. Keep in mind that the guys at these shops think they know it all, but they don't.

 

[james t]

about the only thing that it will do is place a very small amount of extra stress on the upper and lower balljoints. and i mean, very VERY small. not enough to even matter, really.

i agree, dont even let them work on your truck. mine is exactly 2" lower in front, and i am running factory spec alignment right now.

there is no other way to lower it. no one makes an actual kit. backing the bolts out is your only option.

 

[Hartman]

Off-topic - James, you have CVs right? AWD?

 

[james t]

nope. mine's 2WD. im either lucky, or unlucky, depending on how you look at it.

 

[Hartman]

VERY lucky.

 

[james t]

BTW- NoLimits, thats an awesome X you have there. killer install, too. i wouldnt go 22's, because then you couldnt lower it. just my opinion.

 

[NoLimits C.C.]

Thanks man, well after reading some threads about 22's I am a little in-between now on wether to get 20's or 22's.

 

[Hartman]

I would not get 22s if I were you, it's not worth it.

 

[19Xplora99]

21"s...lol solve all ya problems

 

[nnnick]

but ur X isnt a Daily driver (right?), so whats really the disadvantages to 22's? It may have a harsh ride, but its not a daily driver, so who cares? And if you get a small enough tire, then the overall size should be the same that you could still lower it, i dont see the problem

I'd say go for the 22's, you would be different. I've only seen 2 X's on 22's, and didnt like either only because i didnt like the design of the rims themselves, but i think if someone got a nice clean wheel in 22", it could look sweet

 

[NoLimits C.C.]

Yes, you are right nnnick, its NOT a daily driver and I agree with you that the 22's are the same radius as factory. Thats why they put such a low series tire on it -to keep the same radius as factory. I also have looked at a couple of X's with 22's and one was an XLT 4door which I didnt like the rims and the other was a Sport which looked great, But an Eddie Bauer's design is different since it has the flares, so rims look alot smaller. That's one reason why I was thinking of going 22's. From what I have been researching I can still drop it some with 22's. I like the more chrome than tire look anyway. Also since it is not a daily driver the comfort ride is not an issue. I put only 2,x.. miles on it last year. And thats only because I wanted to drive it and not trailer it.

Dont get me wrong, I appriciate all the post, thats how I do my research and this forum is the best!

Thanks guys!!!!