I put H&R lowering springs on my car right after purchasing it. It lowered the front significantly which I wanted but the rear seems to have barely changed. I would like to have the ability to adjust the height. Because of the stock adjustable dampers I chose not to install coil-overs. At this point I am unsure how to proceed. One option is to try lowering clamps on the rear springs and adjust the rear about .5 inches lower. I have read nothing positive about this method. Usually the word "ghetto" comes up immediately after a search for lowering clamps. The other option is to ditch the stock dampers/springs and put coil-overs on the car. I don't want to spend $5K or more just to lower the rear 1/2 inch. The ride quality is fine and I wish the springs were better matched between the front and rear height adjustment.
Are there any options I am not thinking of or other suggestions?

 

If you are particular in dialing in the ride height to exactly where you want it, I think coilovers are your only option.

 

From your avatar your height looks pretty good. You definitely have gotten rid of the "ranchero" stock spacing for sure.

As as has been mentioned, coilovers are the only option for true height adjustability.

I would not mess with the geometry of the suspension by taking out some spring travel. I am sure some engineer is rolling over in his grave somewhere just at the mention of it.

Ed

 

You're right; I couldn't bring myself to do that. The avatar picture is with 20's on the car and they did look great. The red wheels are 20x11 in the rear and came with the car (I had them powder coated from silver) and the sidewalls are perfectly vertical all around. They look great. I'm running a set of flow formed 19x8 in the front and 19x12 in the rear now. I think the problem is that I used a 305/30/19 tire in back when I should have gone with 325/30. The tires on my current wheels are just too narrow and the sidewall is forced inward which gives the appearance of a gap. I think I will just see how 325 series rubber looks. After further measurement the gap isn't from a large height difference but the odd sidewall angle. Ride height is actually good on both axles and ride quality is fine for my taste in regular or sport mode depending on the road quality.

 

You might consider some wheel spacers. That might be a cheap, easy, reversible solution to make the wheels/tires look more flush

 

I was thinking the same thing and the first step I tried were some 15mm spacers. They pushed the wheels out nicely but the more I look and measure, the more I can see that I need more like 10mm spacers with 325/30 tires. It sucks because I just bought these tires (Bridgestone Potenza RE71-R in stock sizes F + R) and 305/30 on a 12" wheel just doesn't look right - at least in my situation. They also are not available in 325/30/19 so I need to replace all 4 tires. I think I'm going to put the 20's back on and order the correct sized tires for my 19" wheels. I had the 19s powder coated in a dark candy metallic blue and they are just stunning to look at so I really want to make them my primary wheel. The ride quality on 19s is much better also since I have 25 series tires on my 20" wheels in the back. You can really feel the difference.

 

I had the same thing. My 20" rims were getting hammered here in PA and while they were down (waiting on a lip to repair one) I found a set of 19" (in OK shape - I'll have to decide what to do with them later), with 305's on the rears and I noticed the same deal where the tire would bend inward from the rim. I have since replaced them with a set of 325/30's that look normal. The wheels are supposed to be stock GT3's but I have not verified that.

I have a 15mm spacer on the rear due to the offset (ET68) of the wheels to get them to a ET53 (close to stock ET51). I probably should have gone to the studded 17mm, but they look pretty good.

Ed