effect on handling from lowering.

1. Bladen Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2008 Surrey Posts: 148 2002 Citreon Saxo desire 1.1

   #1 30th October 2008, 13:04

   hi guys, probably a really nooby question thats been asked over and over again for ages but, what effect will slamming have on the handling at say 40mm?
   
   also, can anyone estimate the cost of the whole thing? probably gonna use cheap and cheerful spax springs.
2. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

   #2 30th October 2008, 13:09

   lowering the car brings the centre of gravity lower down
   
   it also will stiffen the ride up (most kits are stiffer than origonal equipment) and on the back the pull on the torsion bars also stiffens the ride up
   aswell as aftermarket dampers being stronger and controlling the ride better (on the stiffer springs)
3. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

   #3 30th October 2008, 13:13

   Its quite a convoluted process trying to determine how the handling will change when you lower the car but the key facts are:
   
   lowers CoG
   alters static suspension geometry inc camber
   affects roll characteristics
   alters understeer/oversteer tendency of the vehicle (typically more towards understeer when lowering a paxo)
   
   In terms of cost, depends on the mechanic you choose to do the work for you, whether you opt for just springs or replacement springs and dampers (recommended), the quality of the replacement suspension components etc etc
   
   In a nutshell, the car will roll less, giving more positive feel to the car, it'll understeer more (maybe noticable may not be), depending on whether you replace the dampers on not the ride will change substantially (firmer, but on standard dampers expect the ride to feel a bit 'crashy' over rough roads). Spax are progressive wound springs if I'm not mistaken and as a result are pretty shoddy if you're looking for handling improvements... the intention of spax is good (maintain some level of comfort to the ride in every day driving then firm up as you roll into corners...) however it causes the CoG to lift through a corner increasing the understeering tendencies further still.
   
   I'm off out to get a life now...
   
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4. Toad Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can

   #4 30th October 2008, 15:21

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Alex-VTS lowering the car brings the centre of gravity lower down it also will stiffen the ride up (most kits are stiffer than origonal equipment) and on the back the pull on the torsion bars also stiffens the ride up aswell as aftermarket dampers being stronger and controlling the ride better (on the stiffer springs)

   From my own experience, lowering the rear actually softens the rear as opposed to stiffening it up. IMO, this is due to the altered angle that the trailing arm sits at with the lowered ride height. It will take a lot of writing to explain this theory, so I won't go into it now / yet
5. Aron Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Feb 2007 Nuneaton Posts: 3554 EP3 Civic

   #5 30th October 2008, 15:25

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Alex-VTS lowering the car brings the centre of gravity lower down it also will stiffen the ride up (most kits are stiffer than origonal equipment) and on the back the pull on the torsion bars also stiffens the ride up aswell as aftermarket dampers being stronger and controlling the ride better (on the stiffer springs)

   the pull on the torsion bars?
   
   as toad said lowering the back will usualy make it feel softer if anything