Dose lowering a car really help?

[kungpowchicken]

Will lowering a car 1 or 2 inches accually help the handeling of it if you were to keep everything the same, except what you would need to lower it. The wheels and tires would not be changed.

 

[The359]

Depends on how you adjust the shocks, since that's basically the only way to adjust it.

 

[///M-Spec]

Not necessarily. You may improve some aspects, but in more likelyhood, make some aspects much worse than stock. But it all depends on the exact car and the exact modifications. In theory a lower car has improved grip and response because the car's CG is closer to the ground. Stiffer springs also improve turn-in response and body control in transitional manuvers. Less suspension travel also means less variation in toe and camber through the suspension's performance range.

However, a cheap 'ghetto' drop job that simply involves cutting the springs to drop the car will hurt almost every aspect of handling while improving perhaps one or two aspects (if even that). You may hit the bump stops all the time. You may bottom out the car. You may rub your tires against the fender liner. You may drastically alter your suspension geometry and reduce grip or wear out your tires. You may compromise the shock absorber's ability to control body motions. etc etc.

You can always tell the guy with the cheap drop --when he hits a bump, his whole car wobbles back and forth like a POS. I laugh at these guys.

At the very least, a match set of springs and shocks for the proper application is the thing to do.


M

 

[Ev0]

Not necessarily. You may improve some aspects, but in more likelyhood, make some aspects much worse than stock. But it all depends on the exact car and the exact modifications. In theory a lower car has improved grip and response because the car's CG is closer to the ground. Stiffer springs also improve turn-in response and body control in transitional manuvers. Less suspension travel also means less variation in toe and camber through the suspension's performance range.

However, a cheap 'ghetto' drop job that simply involves cutting the springs to drop the car will hurt almost every aspect of handling while improving perhaps one or two aspects (if even that). You may hit the bump stops all the time. You may bottom out the car. You may rub your tires against the fender liner. You may drastically alter your suspension geometry and reduce grip or wear out your tires. You may compromise the shock absorber's ability to control body motions. etc etc.

You can always tell the guy with the cheap drop --when he hits a bump, his whole car wobbles back and forth like a POS. I laugh at these guys.

At the very least, a match set of springs and shocks for the proper application is the thing to do.


M

Well said. If you want to properly lower a car, many other things are required, much like any other single upgrade for a car.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Not necessarily. You may improve some aspects, but in more likelyhood, make some aspects much worse than stock. But it all depends on the exact car and the exact modifications. In theory a lower car has improved grip and response because the car's CG is closer to the ground. Stiffer springs also improve turn-in response and body control in transitional manuvers. Less suspension travel also means less variation in toe and camber through the suspension's performance range.

However, a cheap 'ghetto' drop job that simply involves cutting the springs to drop the car will hurt almost every aspect of handling while improving perhaps one or two aspects (if even that). You may hit the bump stops all the time. You may bottom out the car. You may rub your tires against the fender liner. You may drastically alter your suspension geometry and reduce grip or wear out your tires. You may compromise the shock absorber's ability to control body motions. etc etc.

You can always tell the guy with the cheap drop --when he hits a bump, his whole car wobbles back and forth like a POS. I laugh at these guys.

At the very least, a match set of springs and shocks for the proper application is the thing to do.


M

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

Well said also! It really reminds me of how I would see high schoolers cut the springs to make their civic lower and watch as they go over bumps and big cracks on the road. People would laugh when you would hear a loud "THUMP!" or hear that sound and see sparkles come from under the car upon impact!

 

[VIPFREAK]

You can always tell the guy with the cheap drop --when he hits a bump, his whole car wobbles back and forth like a POS. I laugh at these guys.

Not to mention makes me brace for a bump that never comes.

 

[Joey D]

I only have two words for you...AIR RIDE!!!!

And just remeber you can't ever be to low, if sparks don't fly you're riding to high.

 

[Victor Vance]

Well, it may sound dumb, but a great way to increase acceleration, lower your car's height an inch and improve ride quality is as easy as switching from 17"s to 15"s...

 

[Ottoman]

Well, it may sound dumb, but a great way to increase acceleration, lower your car's height an inch and improve ride quality is as easy as switching from 17"s to 15"s...

wouldn't help much if u got a Camaro or vette would it but if u gotta Honda sure it would make a diff...

I noticed a Dramatic increase in my Handling performance when i went from 15"s to 17"s... 17x7... 225R40's.... much less wheel spin and burnign and the stiffer sidewalls helped my cornering alot...


as for the question..


what car is it... and what are your intents of lowering the car?

looks? or performance?

a good suspension setup involves more then just springs and shocks...

I recommend u go with a Good Coil-over Setup Like the Tokico or Tein and some sway/anti-roll bars... and perhaps a nice bushing kit from energy suspension.. this will elimanate dreaded wheel hop too....

 

[kungpowchicken]

wouldn't help much if u got a Camaro or vette would it but if u gotta Honda sure it would make a diff...

I noticed a Dramatic increase in my Handling performance when i went from 15"s to 17"s... 17x7... 225R40's.... much less wheel spin and burnign and the stiffer sidewalls helped my cornering alot...


as for the question..


what car is it... and what are your intents of lowering the car?

looks? or performance?

a good suspension setup involves more then just springs and shocks...

I recommend u go with a Good Coil-over Setup Like the Tokico or Tein and some sway/anti-roll bars... and perhaps a nice bushing kit from energy suspension.. this will elimanate dreaded wheel hop too....

2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Coupe

 

[wellyrn]

Consider how much time and money go into engineering a new car. If you just drop the ride by 2 inches you are going to throw all that out the window.

 

[Ottoman]

Consider how much time and money go into engineering a new car. If you just drop the ride by 2 inches you are going to throw all that out the window.

it's not a ferrari man...

if there was no room for improvement.. then there would be no aftermarket products market... (i think that makes sense)

alot of engineering and design goes into those products as well.. (not the knock off cheap ass Ebay stuff, i mean the real stuff)

 

[///M-Spec]

2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Coupe

Talk to Goomba. He used to have a 2.5 RS and is quite knowledgeable about Subarus.

Don't forget that changing a suspension from stock is always a compromise. Before you do it, ask yourself: "self, what is wrong with the stock suspension? What do I hope to gain by changing anything and what am I going to be giving up besides time and money to do this?"

For what its worth, its been my experience that most drivers can't get 100% out of a bone stock suspension. Why people feel the need to mod the car to get "better handling" when they aren't good enough to drive the car fast STOCK, is quite beyond me.


M

 

[Dorifto]

It helps if you want to completly demolish your oilpan:

Yummy. Actually I do have a suspension system on my car that has lowered it and it has awesome handling.

 

[Dorifto]

^ My old oilpan by the way. Any guesses on the car?

 

[Bahbo]

Nissan 180sx?

 

[Goomba]

I haven't really heard anything about the 2.5RS suspension, I sold the car before I got to mod it too much. I would check out www.25rs.com, www.nasioc.com or www.clubWRX.net for more info from the suspension gurus there.

I can however tell you about the WRX's suspension and it may sway you one way or another. A lot of the guys who upgrade the springs will often get struts as well. Since the spring rates are higher than what the stock valves are used to, they wear out quicker. With a spring/strut assembly, your looking at about $1000 for parts only. Or, you can go for a coilover assembly which is a bit more expensive, but typically more adjustable. For parts check out www.gruppe-s.com, www.subarutuner.com, or find a used pair.

What else have you done to the car? If your still running on the stock Potenza RE-92s, get new tires first. I bought a set of Rotas and Falken Azenis and it was 100% totally worth it. It helps turn in quite a bit. Also, if you have the 2.5RS rim, your wheel is a half inch larger than the WRX's and you should be able to mount some 225/50/16s on them.

Grab a larger rear sway bar while your at it. If you just get tires and the rear sway bar your looking at about $650 and if you ask anyone at any Subaru website, they'll tell you the same.

 

[CodeRedR51]

What about lowering a 2000 Nissan Sentra? I just bought the car and it was already lowered with Eibach springs. The car also has a strut tower bar. (not sure on the brand)

 

[Goomba]

If the strut bar isn't one solid piece, its next to worthless.

 

[PSZeTa]

My brothers car is lowered..

It corners a lot better, and your cars gets damaged a lot quicker.

 

[CodeRedR51]

If the strut bar isn't one solid piece, its next to worthless.

It is one solid bar bolted to both strut towers. I can't seem to find the name of the manufacturer on it anywhere....