Lowering - Why??

[Gibbo]

I've seen this mentioned a few times now. Is this a general rule of thumb to ensure that the handling is optimised?

Its what the people who have told me who due suspension setups for a living, so I guess so.

Make sense, picture it in your head and how a suspension works, if your arms are pointing up, they have less travel range. It is why on very low race race they have custom suspension arms to allow the lower ride height whilst keep system optimal.

 

[Clarkey]

It's better yes, that's the centre point of the arc out the arms. Better for roll centre too.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Its what the people who have told me who due suspension setups for a living, so I guess so.

Make sense, picture it in your head and how a suspension works, if your arms are pointing up, they have less travel range. It is why on very low race race they have custom suspension arms to allow the lower ride height whilst keep system optimal.

Ditto on my Westfield - top and bottom arms parallel which equates to 165mm ground clearance at the front and 175mm at the rear.

Not a great pic but you get the idea.

 

[Guyver]

I dont see an issue with lowering a car providing its done correctly and with quality components.

Not that lowering it badly instantly means crap parts have been used. My MX5 as I bought it:



And as it sits now:



It's still lowered, but instead of it being set up to scrape off every bit of gravel you drive over its now set with the wishbones parallel to the ground and a proper alignment setup. The coilovers are the same - Bilstein B14s (which are excellent, great handling and just as impressive ride quality)

looks far better now, nice motor. my escort S2 RS turbo was way too low when i bought it. was on 60mm lowering springs. the tiers where in the arches with no one in it. i replaced them as soon as could with 30mm ones. looked much better and can be seen in the motors photo bit. lowering is ok as long the car suits the look and it is within reason.

 

[andythelandy]

Save from sounding like a pedantic bugger, I've seen a lot of talk of "Coilovers" as aftermarket suspension, where did this name come from??

All it means is coil over shock which every car with a Macpherson strut has had since Macpherson himself invented it! So virtually every car on the road has coilovers!

 

[Guyver]

most cars on the road yes, but not all. older cars wont. plus its a cool word to say lol makes them sound special, leave the kids alone

 

[rossk26]

I've only ever owned lowered cars, albeit they were both on Eibach springs, which only drop the height about 30mm.

Lowering looks nice when done properly. None of this cutting existing springs, or lowering so much the wheels are hidden in the arch.

I'll probably lower my next car too, I can't stand arch gaps!

 

[Dogbreath]

Save from sounding like a pedantic bugger, I've seen a lot of talk of "Coilovers" as aftermarket suspension, where did this name come from??

It comes from the days when dampers and springs were typically separate on double wishbone systems. "Coilover" shocks combined both functions to make a much more compact arrangement, typically used on lightweight cars designed for motorsport use.

You are correct that the term is now completely abused: a McPherson strut is a McPherson strut, no matter how much anodising or chrome is put on it, or how ridiculously stiff the springs are.

It's a bit like using the word "delete" to sound grown up and clever, instead of simply "removing" something.