I'll add some fuel to this (especially since the email Gary mentions was from me). I believe Gary only added the 2" drop rear springs; I did those and the 1.5" drop fronts so of course I don't have the "reverse rake" that he's experiencing. I know there have been other discussions on the clanging/clanking/banging sound experienced with lowering springs and aftermarket exhausts. Some recommend trimming the bump stops, which I have not done, and others have used Gary's technique of adding some padding. I had the hanger just forward of the rear axle pulled up to alleviate contact between the exhaust and axle, and that took care of maybe 90% of the problem. PT-Tuning has admitted to me that they've encountered similar problems with their exhaust and lowering springs, which is why their springs only lower the rears 1.75".
Discussions with others, both on this forum and others as well as non PT owners who've made similar mods, have lead me to believe that the stock shocks/struts just aren't up to the task of damping properly when already stressed by drop springs. I've heard opinions that the stock spring/shock setup is already under-damped and over-rebounded and using lowering springs just compounds the problem. There doesn't seem to be any real difference whether you're talking GoldLines, Eibachs, BTG, etc when talking about this particular problem. There may well be differences between these brands as far as spring performance itself is concerned, but apparently they all negatively impact the stock shock/strut package.
So, do you go full coilovers for $1000 or more, plus the tweaking needed to fully realize their potential? Do you go Koni adjustables for upwards of $500, with similar tweaking needed? Or do you go, as some here have, just a nice set of Tokico gas charged shocks/struts for maybe $250 or so? I have just taken delivery of a set of Tokicos and will have them installed early next week. I'll let you know what my findings are once they're in. Hopefully they'll eliminate the last of my axle/exhaust bumping, and reduce the minor, though noticeable, chop to the ride under certain circumstances. Fingers crossed.
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