Dropping a Car?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-13-2010, 08:33 PM
  #1  
Infiniti7
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Infiniti7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Dropping a Car?

Most people drop cars for looks more than anything correct? also i hear that it can help with handling as well. If you drop a car can you mess with the suspension and how the car is meant to drive? can it be bad for a car if u drop it?
Old 02-13-2010, 11:01 PM
  #2  
fillup
Registered Member
iTrader: (1)
 
fillup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 219
Received 35 Likes on 18 Posts
Some care more about one than the other. As for adversely affecting the performance of the car, if it's too low, then yeah, it will hurt more than help. What's too low is going to be your next question. Not sure if there is an actual answer for that.
Old 02-14-2010, 12:37 AM
  #3  
dkmura
Registered Member
 
dkmura's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 707
Received 82 Likes on 71 Posts
Lowering a car can have several negative byproducts, among them:

-loss of suspension travel
-altering the car's optimum camber
-changing the toe settings for either front or rear
-overload the shocks function and shorten their useful life
-wear out tires and bearings if not realigned properly

While lowering the car's center of gravity might help handling, the truth is that cutting springs, or using too stiff a spring, can make the car handle WORSE.
Old 02-14-2010, 01:28 AM
  #4  
G37Sam
Administrator
 
G37Sam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 12,184
Received 243 Likes on 193 Posts
Originally Posted by dkmura
Lowering a car can have several negative byproducts, among them:

-loss of suspension travel Depends on how low you go, many of the lowering kits for the G37 out there maintain a simiar driving feel though for the modest drops

-altering the car's optimum camber
-changing the toe settings for either front or rear
And that is why an alignment is done after the drop, bring all the those settings back to OEM spec

-overload the shocks function and shorten their useful life Again, with a modest 1" drop, it's nothing serious, once you go really low it is advisable to go for coilovers (aftermarket shocks)

-wear out tires and bearings if not realigned properly Again, an alignment should help

While lowering the car's center of gravity might help handling, the truth is that cutting springs, or using too stiff a spring, can make the car handle WORSE.
If you're ok with the headache generated from lowering a car go for it, IMHO, it is definitely worth it! I think the Gs look quite weird with the factory height.
Old 02-14-2010, 08:42 AM
  #5  
STOOF
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
STOOF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Staten Island, NY
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 4 Posts
+1 Samuel
Old 02-14-2010, 11:10 AM
  #6  
terrycs
Registered Member
iTrader: (37)
 
terrycs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,337
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
With one of the first V36 to be lowered, I can say there are no issues as long as you get the alignment back into factory spec (assuming a "reasonable" drop?). I'm still on my original factory shocks too.

In my opinion, you should also get front and rear camber kits if you do not want to deal with premature tire wear.

The only thing you obviously have to deal with is less ground clearance.
Old 02-14-2010, 09:09 PM
  #7  
Blackjack
Super Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
Blackjack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The ATL
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 6 Posts
Lowering a car is safe assuming you use quality parts and camber/toe is corrected with an alignment.
Old 02-19-2010, 08:15 PM
  #8  
HenryLee
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
HenryLee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yea your fine with a drop.
Old 02-19-2010, 09:58 PM
  #9  
Gazan37
Banned
 
Gazan37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: G-Dale, CA
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
All good answers. One thing no one mentioned is that if you go with springs you limit the life of your shocks due to reduced suspension travel. But overall I definately agree that it's worth it.

All the mentioned negatives can be corrected with the right equipment. (i.e. Camber/ good allignment)
Old 02-19-2010, 11:02 PM
  #10  
dkmura
Registered Member
 
dkmura's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 707
Received 82 Likes on 71 Posts
Originally Posted by Gazan37
All good answers. One thing no one mentioned is that if you go with springs you limit the life of your shocks due to reduced suspension travel. But overall I definately agree that it's worth it.

All the mentioned negatives can be corrected with the right equipment. (i.e. Camber/ good allignment)
Read post #3 once again. Reduced shock life was mentioned under my third bulletpoint. I agree that the negatives can be addressed, but the point of that post was to list the issues to be considered. Failing to do so could leave the handling worse than OEM specs. The OP seemed clueless about what it takes to properly lower a car, but it seems he's left the room.
Old 02-19-2010, 11:09 PM
  #11  
TomG37
Registered User
 
TomG37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Buy my KW coilovers, much better than springs!
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
GrayG37
Brakes & Suspension
19
02-10-2022 11:52 AM
WolfSongX
Car Care & Detailing
6
05-10-2017 07:26 PM
Sway_NV
Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
9
08-15-2015 09:36 PM
MeatySock
Brakes & Suspension
9
08-14-2015 08:25 AM
AroundTheG37
Private Classifieds
4
08-13-2015 09:58 PM



Quick Reply: Dropping a Car?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:32 AM.