Lowering the suspension of the car was a brilliant concept in the 1980s when the first wave of tuning swept the nation. It made the car appear more powerful.
Because lowering the bodywork is not as difficult as it may seem, even relatively unremarkable family cars, inexpensive coupés, and even buses and minivans can be transformed into sports cars.
Despite this, it was apparent even back then that lowering the car’s suspension would be a difficult and time-consuming process.
The use of do-it-yourself solutions is a recipe for catastrophe
Before anything else is obligatory to state that interfering with the suspension in any way is strictly prohibited.
Anyone who lowers their car’s ride height by shortening the chassis springs at home is breaching the law and endangering the safety of other drivers’ vehicles.
To get to the meat of the matter: When cars are treated this way, they frequently end up involved in collisions.
If the police can impound the vehicle quickly, everyone who uses the road, including yourself, will consider themselves fortunate.
Somewhat limited in its practical application
Even if one disregards the visual aspect as a potential advantage from a purely practical standpoint, the benefits of lowering the suspension are somewhat diminished. The lower ride height does not compensate for them.
There is no improvement in the car’s top speed nor any reduction in the fuel it uses.
Road holding can be improved with professional refurbishment using components that have been reviewed and authorized. This is because the point at which the vehicle’s center of gravity is located on the track is lower.
When taking sharp turns, the car will no longer sway as much as it did before. The dynamics receive a marginal boost due to the suspension being lowered.
Nevertheless, there are additional factors that must be considered as well, such as:
– Tires
– Rims
– Brakes
– Recontouring kits for the human body
Therefore, reducing the body’s height is only one component of a more significant idea that needs to be conceived, organized, and planned from the beginning.
On the other hand, if you make the incorrect choice, you will end up with a solution that is merely adequate but will never genuinely correspond to the rest of the dimensions.
Do not disregard the potential drawbacks
Before venturing forth on the exciting journey of body tuning, it should be abundantly clear that this will involve making modifications to the framework of the vehicle.
The price that must be paid to lower the suspension is not exactly an inexpensive one:
Getting into the car is a more unpleasant experience than usual.
– Suspension worsens
– Panoramic vision decreases
– There is less clearance above the ground
– Repair costs go up
Not everyone likes having to move their hips and twist their spine to get into a lowered automobile, but for certain people, it’s ideal.
However, depending on the vehicle, reaching the maximum lowering position can make getting in and out a rather unpleasant experience.
Once inside the vehicle, the uncomfortable conditions continue: While you are driving, you will be able to feel every maintenance hole cover, pothole, and pebble that you encounter on the road.
Because of this, it is frequently impossible to avoid experiencing back pain while driving for extended periods in vehicles with lowered suspension.
Those who drive so low to the ground typically see nothing more than the side sheet metal of the vehicles parked next to them. Good visibility is a different matter.
When you drive a lowered car in the city, you need to be just as cautious as when you drive it on country roads, where you can go much faster.
In addition to this, every undulation in the ground is audible in addition to being felt by the rider. The exhaust system and the oil pan frequently encounter obstacles when a car is lowered.
There is also the possibility that splitting occurs intermittently in the trimmed telescopic struts, which the accompanying loud noise can identify.
All of this is not exactly what you would call beneficial for the service life of the parts. Unfortunately, it is normal to sustain many kinds of damage while operating a vehicle with lowered suspension, including cracked oil pans, damaged shock absorber cups, and shredded end mufflers.
Achieving success through the application of knowledge
It is only when the suspension tuning is performed by someone who lacks the necessary ability that it can go wrong.
As a result, the bare minimum that ought to be done to effectuate this modification is: is to allow oneself to be comprehensively advised by those who work in the specialized trade.
The knowledgeable staff members can provide the prospective tuner with the precise set of telescopic struts, tires, and rims for the vehicle in question.
It is in your best interest to pay attention to their guidance because, if you do not, you will either waste money without achieving the result you want, or you may even find yourself in possession of a vehicle that does not have a valid road permit.
It is highly recommended to have a good tuning plan that considers all the appropriate measures.
Methods to reduce the amount of bodywork required
There are three different approaches to reducing the height of a vehicle’s bodywork:
- Reduce the length of the suspension
- Install a chassis designed for sport
- Give the vehicle an adjustable chassis with electrical control.
Shortened springs that are quick and affordable
Changing to springs with a shorter length is the most cost-effective way to lower the chassis of a car. They do not violate any laws and are not difficult to put in place.
It is even possible to mount the sport suspension in the vehicle in the garage of one’s home, provided that the appropriate tools are available there.
Precaution: Serious or fatal injuries may arise from accidental spring breakage brought on by inappropriate tool use.
When a chassis spring that has been improperly tensioned breaks, it can cause significant amounts of force to be released.
Because of this, you should always use a spring tensioner that was professionally made!
It is always necessary to disassemble the shock absorber to replace standard springs with a shorter version. Every time, this is the circumstance.
When something like this happens, you should always check out the component. It is strongly advised that replacement shock absorber cups be installed at the same time as the product is being assembled.
When the body is lowered, these components will experience increased wear. After this tuning measure, the service life of new shock absorber shocks is significantly improved from what it was before.
When a wheel is replaced, it is necessary to realign it as soon as possible after the replacement. This can only be accomplished in a garage-style workshop outfitted with the tools needed.
In most cases, a set of springs that can lower the suspension can be purchased for approximately 300$.
Positive outcomes are achieved by utilizing the total offering
Those willing to put more money into their vehicle should wear a sports chassis. These components include a shock absorber as well as a telescopic strut.
The shock absorber cups and other necessary add-on parts are typically included in kits.
The assembly of a standard shock absorber is roughly comparable to that of a sport suspension in terms of difficulty level.
The same principle applies in this situation: always work with professional tools, and after you’re done, don’t forget to align the wheels.
On the other hand, you should never be without sufficient technical knowledge to work on the chassis. This tuning measure has a lot of room for error, even though it may seem straightforward.
Anyone who doesn’t yet have the necessary skills and knowledge is strongly advised to have their sports chassis assembled by a qualified workshop.
The luxurious variant with the adaptive chassis.
The most sporty driving experience is available thanks to the adaptable chassis, which also maximizes driver comfort.
The use of electronically controlled shock absorbers makes this accomplishment doable.
Magnets and a sensor control unit recalculate and alter the damping issues every millisecond.
The best part is that adaptive chassis are frequently pre-loaded with a unique application.
Therefore, the driver can select the level of firmness that the damping system of his vehicle will have.
Retrofitting adaptive chassis, however, often costs more than $3,000 in most situations.
There is not much that can be accomplished in this location. A specialized workshop is typically responsible for assembling, programming, and tuning an adaptive chassis.
This is a result of the system’s complexity.
In conclusion, using common sense will yield the best possible result
Lowering the suspension of a vehicle is already established as an essential component of the tuning scene.
Since the 1980s, a great deal of change has occurred, and as a result, even low-cost solutions can now offer exciting results.
These days, a lowered vehicle does not necessarily have to be a stiff vehicle that can hardly be driven.
Nevertheless, lowering the bodywork is just one component of a larger, more comprehensive plan that should be incorporated right from the beginning.
After carefully weighing the costs against the potential benefits, placing an order for body lowering is possible.
But if you give it the right paint job and the right combination of tires, rims, suspension lowering kit, and body kit, it will still command attention today.
