Does this SVX have Lowering Springs???
 

Okay, I'm looking at purchasing this '96 SVX L from a dealer here in VA on Sat, May 1st and I've already taken her for extensive test drives. She runs great, tranny shifts perfectly and is in top condition considering the 95K miles on her odometer.

However, when I was looking her over, I noticed that she sits kinda low to the ground and there isn't much gap between the tires and the body.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...etkd/16243.jpg

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...etkd/16242.jpg

For comparison, here is Mychailo's SVX which is lowered a 1/2 inch front and rear:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...czko/10409.jpg

Thanks!:D

(Ahem) (right front wheel)

If this car doesn't have a 'matched set' of wheels on the other side, there's trouble.

....but to answer your question- it doesn't look lowered to me; they all sit that low.

-Mark

The right front wheel? Do you mean that it's on backwards?

The wheels on the other side are the stock 16", but I'm not sure if they are reversed in the same way. Will look into it though...

Thanks!

Chike

P.S. Why could it be trouble?

the rims are directional....

You MUST have 2 set of 2. Two for each side. There is a good chance that they put it on wrong at the rotation. Who knows...


why directional? They bring air in to cool the brakes down a little.


As for the height, the only way to do it is to measure it. But every svx has a slight height issue. They are different from use and who's in it etc.

Seraph,

Since I've been doing the lo-carb thing my SVX keeps riding higher and higher. It's quicker and gets better milage too. :D

Seraph,

I saw this 94 L in your locker:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Seraph/2388.jpg

Were the rear wheels put on backwards on purpose and did you have any ill-effects from doing this?

-Chike

If you have access to an accurate measuring caliper, the easiest way to check would be to measure the wire diameter of the springs.

Stock front: 0.565"
Stock rear: 0.505"

Be sure to clean off as much crud as possible from the wire, and measure the wire from an angle where the curvature of the wire has no effect on the measured diameter.

Awesome! Thanks a million. I'll definitely check that out when the SVX is on level ground!

-Chike

Putting the wheels on backwards has no major negative effects:

It would A) *possibly* reduce brake cooling slightly, B) look strange, C) result in getting made fun of for having your wheels on backwards

I think Mark meant that one wheel could have been replaced with an incorrect wheel so it could have 3 left wheels. As long as the other side has one wheel backwards as well there are no problems (unless the tires are unidirectional and were put on backwards) except visually.

It will be much easier if you can get the shop to put the car on a lift.

How much do they want for this red SVX???

Another possible reason that it seems to be sitting low is that one or both of the rear strut mounts could be bad.

They are asking $7966, but I've talked them down to $7000.

-Chike

I thought about that, but after driving it for over a 1/2 hour during my last trip, I seriously doubt. The ride is not lumpy and the car corners flat.

My wife's old car, an early '90s 240SX had some bad struts, and I definitely know what it feels like to drive a car around with a damaged suspension.

-Chike

I just recently found a bad strut mount,not the strut itself, on my car. It rides and drives fine. It only sits lower.You can look under the car to see if the spring is up against the body or if there is a gap in between the spring and the body.This seems to be a common problem if the car has spent alot of time in a snow belt state.