Lowered too much - side effects

kerley · Post by **kerley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:20 pm

Hi, I have just changed the shocks and springs to bring the car down 60mm. The front looks very low, can't even get a finger between tyre and arch.

When driving the car it makes noises that almost sound as though the wheels are loose! I have checked the wheels and all bolts on the suspension and they are all fine.

What would be a possible cause for the sound, anyone have any ideas?

kerley · Post by **kerley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:38 pm

Think I have found what it is. The anti roll bar is now resting against part of the car. So every time I go over a bump the car raises and lowers so the bar knocks the car.

Does this sound dangerous or is the worse case the underside of the car developing a bit of a dent?

Might raise it back to 40 I think....

RR Livi · Post by **RR Livi** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:51 pm

i have mine lowered 60 all round i have no problems

i did have the problem with rubbing until i got my arches rolled now everything is alright.

henry01 · Post by **henry01** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:38 pm

what size wheels do you have?? i have 15's and i find mine only rubs when going round corners to fast, or down very bumpy roads, but thats the bottom of my car rubbing not the tires.

kerley · Post by **kerley** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:09 am

I'm only using 14s. It is the nti roll bar that is pressed against the bottom of the car and then moving away from car and hitting back into it that is the problem, not the wheels.

Maybe the anti roll bars are positioned differently on different models? Mine is a 1.6 auto hich I guess many people don't choose to modify so it may be a problem specific to that?

mysteryboy · Post by **mysteryboy** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:38 am

If you're on 14"s and cant get your finger in the arch, then it's lowered more than -60mm.

R1CH · Post by **R1CH** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:05 pm

/\ very true. Either that or he has monster profile on his tyres.

1stcarsapolo · Post by **1stcarsapolo** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:47 pm

not liking the sound of this.... I have my polo on 8" wide wheels lowered 40mm and I was gonna go 60mm with shocks and springs soon. Dunno if i will upon hearing this....

Anybody any idea would I be scrubbing or bottoming out on 14 x 8 borbet design t's on 195/40r14. There 25 offset front and 20 offset rear.... want to put either shocks and springs on or coilovers. Any advice? how low can one go without any rubbin or bottoming out?! Are coilovers really harsh compared to springs and shocks?! Need comfort roads are terrible around my house....

1stcarsapolo · Post by **1stcarsapolo** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:49 pm

s**t sorry there 195/45/14

kerley · Post by **kerley** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:25 pm

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking it looked a lot lower than 60. I am running 185/55/14 tyres so they are the right size. Serves me right for buying a cheap kit (Â£170 for shocks/springs) from an eBay advertiser I suppose!

I already have some 40mm springs that were on it before, and are back on now and have some Spax uprated dampers on order which will probably be better anyway due to increased quality.

Good side effect is that I can now change both of the front springs/shocks in less tha an hour...

polo boi · Post by **polo boi** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:01 pm

mine is lowered 60 all round an no problems but mind u im on 13''rims.