Lowering questions?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743
From: DFW
Lowering questions?
I have a few questions on lowering, I know a few guys around here who have done it and love it, but I was wondering what the repercussions of lowering are. Before the lower I'm going to get saleen suspension and a roush body setup. I was wondering if "scraping" is common on lowered cars. I live in the absolutely flat, clean paved roads of north texas, so I can't imagine something much more dangerous than a big speed bump or a curb.
Thank you,
Silas
Thank you,
Silas
6th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,005
From: Canton, Georgia
as I've said before, I'm all for lowering our cars....it was the first thing that I did on both my 05 GT and 08 GT500. IMO, the cars not only look better lowered but respond better too.....you just have to pay more attention to your surroundings
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,454
From: Northern VA
I had similar concerns so I just lowered the rear with roush springs to level the car out and get rid of the huge gap in the rear. Made a huge difference to the overall look of the car and I didn't need to change anything else.
5th Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,536
From: New Jersey
you dont have to, but it is recommended. also it is recommended that you reset the pinion angle with an adjustable control arm/arms.
5th Gear Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,388
From: Central Texas
Scraping could be an issue if you're already a little low. My Roush front end is a little low, but not too low to scrape. And no scraping underneath.
You'd likely need to adjust camber up front, too, with either camber bolts or adjsutable strut mounts. To recenter the axel, an adjustable panhard bar is usually used.
Handling is much better with it lowered and with appropriate shocks, IMO.
You'd likely need to adjust camber up front, too, with either camber bolts or adjsutable strut mounts. To recenter the axel, an adjustable panhard bar is usually used.
Handling is much better with it lowered and with appropriate shocks, IMO.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,211
From: Hawaii
stuff I personally experienced on my 1.5" lowered 2003 Mustang GT
bad:
I will never lower a car again. The hassle just wasn't worth the problems it caused IMO.
bad:
scraping. really bad about it. barely had 5" of clearance before the exhaust or cats were scraping. no matter how much I tucked them to the body.
bump steer. thing had a mind of it's own. constant battle to keep wheels straight on a bumpy road.
camber/castor. the shorter springs/strut made my tires tilt in. caused funny wear. Had to install a Camber/Castor kit to correct
suspension travel. lot less. one some inclined driveways, it wasn't unusual to have a tire off the ground
speedbumps. suck. I hate them with a passion. Had to do the damn 1 tire at a time tilted approach.
flat tires. only a special low-profile floor jack worked. the OEM jack and several others I tried were just too tall to fit under the sub-frame. luckily I never had a flat tire...would have had to call a tow truck
good:bump steer. thing had a mind of it's own. constant battle to keep wheels straight on a bumpy road.
camber/castor. the shorter springs/strut made my tires tilt in. caused funny wear. Had to install a Camber/Castor kit to correct
suspension travel. lot less. one some inclined driveways, it wasn't unusual to have a tire off the ground
speedbumps. suck. I hate them with a passion. Had to do the damn 1 tire at a time tilted approach.
flat tires. only a special low-profile floor jack worked. the OEM jack and several others I tried were just too tall to fit under the sub-frame. luckily I never had a flat tire...would have had to call a tow truck
looks awesome.
very very improved handling. tires became my limiting factor in corners. car would corner like a little ricer hatchback.
very very improved handling. tires became my limiting factor in corners. car would corner like a little ricer hatchback.
I will never lower a car again. The hassle just wasn't worth the problems it caused IMO.
instead, I'll get better struts/shocks and sway bars.
and some good tires.
not as good as a good lowered suspension, but I'm willing to compromise.
and some good tires.
not as good as a good lowered suspension, but I'm willing to compromise.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 219
From: NJ
a lowered 03 stang and a lowered s197 are two different cars. the suspension on the s197 is a much greater improvement then the new edge stangs in oem form. the vehicle height and suspension travel differ as well. 05 to 09 stang also use a larger tire and wheel combo which come into play too. even the wheel offest differ! to another point the fender wells are huge on the s197, and although they may exist...i havent seen a new edge lowered on 20's nor 22's for that matter.
stuff I personally experienced on my 1.5" lowered 2003 Mustang GT
bad:
I will never lower a car again. The hassle just wasn't worth the problems it caused IMO.
bad:
scraping. really bad about it. barely had 5" of clearance before the exhaust or cats were scraping. no matter how much I tucked them to the body.
bump steer. thing had a mind of it's own. constant battle to keep wheels straight on a bumpy road.
camber/castor. the shorter springs/strut made my tires tilt in. caused funny wear. Had to install a Camber/Castor kit to correct
suspension travel. lot less. one some inclined driveways, it wasn't unusual to have a tire off the ground
speedbumps. suck. I hate them with a passion. Had to do the damn 1 tire at a time tilted approach.
flat tires. only a special low-profile floor jack worked. the OEM jack and several others I tried were just too tall to fit under the sub-frame. luckily I never had a flat tire...would have had to call a tow truck
good:bump steer. thing had a mind of it's own. constant battle to keep wheels straight on a bumpy road.
camber/castor. the shorter springs/strut made my tires tilt in. caused funny wear. Had to install a Camber/Castor kit to correct
suspension travel. lot less. one some inclined driveways, it wasn't unusual to have a tire off the ground
speedbumps. suck. I hate them with a passion. Had to do the damn 1 tire at a time tilted approach.
flat tires. only a special low-profile floor jack worked. the OEM jack and several others I tried were just too tall to fit under the sub-frame. luckily I never had a flat tire...would have had to call a tow truck
looks awesome.
very very improved handling. tires became my limiting factor in corners. car would corner like a little ricer hatchback.
very very improved handling. tires became my limiting factor in corners. car would corner like a little ricer hatchback.
I will never lower a car again. The hassle just wasn't worth the problems it caused IMO.
instead, I'll get better struts/shocks and sway bars.
and some good tires.
not as good as a good lowered suspension, but I'm willing to compromise.
and some good tires.
not as good as a good lowered suspension, but I'm willing to compromise.