Why Is It Dumb To Lower A Vehicle?

[DarkLordFreeman]

I am including a link to a video that I found searching Youtube.

My question is why is it dumb to lower a vehicle? The video is actually about why it is not a good idea to raise a vehicle. Because I could not find a comparable video about lowering a vehicle I decided to post this. The whole reason is it changes the drive train angles, or the geometry of the car. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAzl8k9S4k8

Is it basically the same idea for lowered cars, that it immediately changes the angle of the whole car, and therefore is not good for drive-ability/longevity?

[CHIF8008]

lol


ill wait

[kronus]

Car suspensions are designed to change camber, caster and toe during compression. The rate at which this happens is typically referred to as {camber, caster, toe} gain curves. The point of these changes is to keep maximum contact patch as the car leans.

It's not "dumb" to lower a vehicle if you're aware of this -- it just takes some extra care to bring the alignment measurements back into spec after doing it. Of course, it's possible to lower to the point of the curves no longer being correctable. This is common with e30 front suspension, after a point it actually starts to lose camber because of the strut design. Lowering a car properly typically also involves stiffening the springs and sway bars, which leads to less geometry change in corners, which makes dialing out bad geometry easier.

The rear of e30s needs to have adjusters welded in to fix bad geometry from lowering, if you want it to handle well.

[DarkLordFreeman]

So it is not gonna be dumb to raise a vehicle either.

[kronus]

I'm not sure what it means for something to be dumb. If you're aware that changing suspension geometry is a compromise, then you can either accept that or find a way to deal with it.

[Roysneon]

I'm at work and can't watch the video, but there are a bunch of reasons that you could argue that lower a car is a bad idea.

Lowering springs are stiffer and ride quality deteriorates.
If lowering springs are not stiffer they will bottom out your dampers.
Cheap lowering springs may be of poor quality
Increases bump steer.
Puts the car's vulnerable oily bits closer to the road
Stiffer springs transmit more shock from bumps/potholes into mounts and bushings
Changes swaybar endlink angle/effectiveness

That being said, if you don't cheap out incredibly and have half a brain you can lower most cars without any fanfare.

[DarkLordFreeman]

Okay. I mean, i really guess my curiosity comes from the reliability of something. This might be a simple question, but if properly done with care and planning, can you still rack up high miles with a lowered car. I am also one NOT to modify a vehicle.

[Roysneon]

I'm not sure what it means for something to be dumb. If you're aware that changing suspension geometry is a compromise, then you can either accept that or find a way to deal with it.

Basically.

Not to be an asshole, but most people who raise vehicles do it on trucks for the purpose off roading with little thought given to road handling. When done with only the thought of raising the truck in mind and other factors ignored driving those trucks on road/highways can get dicy.

[Poorboyz]

So it is not gonna be dumb to raise a vehicle either.

Crack is whack

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[JixE30]

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics, buy it.

Then go to the Roll Center section.

Better yet, google roll/instant centers and what it means for the handling of a car..

Then you will know why they don't lift road racing cars, besides the center of gravity.

Edit: For all you lazy ppl here's a good link explaining everything:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5197012-Let-s-talk-TT-suspension

[IronFreak]

I am including a link to a video that I found searching Youtube.

My question is why is it dumb to lower a vehicle? The video is actually about why it is not a good idea to raise a vehicle. Because I could not find a comparable video about lowering a vehicle I decided to post this. The whole reason is it changes the drive train angles, or the geometry of the car. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAzl8k9S4k8

Is it basically the same idea for lowered cars, that it immediately changes the angle of the whole car, and therefore is not good for drive-ability/longevity?

What is wrong with you?

[slammin.e28]

Why does everyone make such an uproar out of lowering/raising a vehicle?

[iansane]

That guy has Nic Cage hair.

[Vivek]

Okay. I mean, i really guess my curiosity comes from the reliability of something. This might be a simple question, but if properly done with care and planning, can you still rack up high miles with a lowered car. I am also one NOT to modify a vehicle.

Not sure if this is the right forum for you in that case. Lowering a car isn't gonna make it unreliable. In my opinion, unreliability is more related to engine modifications. The suspension is much more straightforward and I associate it with shitty handling if you do it badly and an uncomfortable ride, not being unreliable. Many aftermarket suspension components (poly bushings, mounts, etc) have longer lives than stock, and good dampers have lifetime warranties.

[lambo]

My car is borderline dumb...