How Low would You Go?

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Cus
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How Low would You Go?

Postby Cus » Sat Aug 08, 2015 9:04 am

I've created a "Low Scale". Yes, my photoshop skills are second-to-most.

Here's the scale, top to bottom:
1: Not Low. Stocks Springs. Allows you to run over small animals without damaging bodywork.

2: A Bit Low, coilovers on the maximum height, good for driving on normal roads probably not really 'Low', some critters are dangerous to your body work.

3: Low, you can still drive on the street, but it's an obstacle course. most critters are a danger to your car's appearance.

4: Yo-momma's-so-fat Low. You might get stuck on twigs, you definitely will get stuck on your driveway, speed humps, gutters, sharp crests, dirt and long grass. You will become good at "drift stitching"

5: Internet Low. This is how Low the internet says you need to be. You remove the springs completely, and weld the suspension in place with the car resting on the ground. Shave excess material from the bottom of the car to make it lower.

Image


So! How low (or not) are you?

Is this as low (or not) as you want the car to be? Why? (Looks, Handling, 4WDing, etc)

____

Being my idea, I'll go first;
I'm #1, I want to be #2.
I actually like being able to drive down dirt tracks, so I'm not even sure I want to go down to #2, the main appeal is increased spring rates for the crappier roads. If I planned on never driving on a dirt road again, I'd go for a #3 on looks.

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby Roadrunner » Sat Aug 08, 2015 9:28 am

Somewhere between 2 and 3
I live in the Hunter Valley so our mine truck filled, pot hole riddled, compressions and crowned rises in the road surface to make your whole body clench restrict ride height to sensible levels.
Any lower and your Not going to have a good time.
Keep it legal height (100mm) and adjust up from there depending on local road conditions
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby rascal » Sat Aug 08, 2015 9:29 am

#4 and #5 are just stupid and belong on clubroadster.

#3 would be ok if on smooth roads/racetrack otherwise #2 is the go.
Fwiw my track only car would be #2.5

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby Cus » Sat Aug 08, 2015 10:05 am

rascal wrote:#4 and #5 are just stupid and belong on clubroadster.

#4 is what I've guessed was "bump stops"

#5 is because as Hunter S Thompson said: "The tendency is to push it as far as you can".

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby Vat » Sat Aug 08, 2015 11:21 am

Gone from about -2 to about 2.5 to 3 with the Teins. Haven't had a chance to fiddle with height yet.
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby NitroDann » Sat Aug 08, 2015 11:36 am

In my experience everyone is around 3
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby smy0003 » Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:01 pm

#2, maybe a hair lower, used to be #3 but I got sick of crawling over speed bumps and the whinging that ensued from the passenger seat.
Great idea for a scale though, I think all 5's need a bit of lowering, the rally spec factory wheel gap is enormous.

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby speed » Sun Aug 09, 2015 12:49 am

I'm currently at #1. Will be going to #2. Would like #2.5 for looks but not for driving.
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby hks_kansei » Sun Aug 09, 2015 1:19 am

Mine is 115mm to the pinchwelds.

driving wise, fine mostly. Hits a few speedbumps, but that's just sh*t design since they're not supposed to be taller than 100mm anyway (legal height)


Visually I'd love to go another 10mm lower, but not sure I'd be bothered with the driving aspect.
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby The American » Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:24 am

3 at the front and 2 at the rear.

I'm on Tein super streets which seem to have fairly soft spring rates, and I was finding the bump stops hard in corners and bumps with the rear at 3.

I'd be higher if I could get the camber adjustment: I would love some V8 Roadster suspension arms!

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby Magpie » Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:22 am

100mm at the pinch welds at 32 psi, drivers weight and 50% fuel.

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby Trackphotos » Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:37 am

I guess 2.5ish? Just barely over legal height, any lower would be a pain and not worth the hassle. Nothing to gain by going lower anyway.
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby beavis » Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:17 pm

2 for a track car.
3 for a street car.
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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby datfreak » Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:08 pm

mine is still at 1 (4wd).

I was thinking of getting coilovers (yellowspeed or alike) to firm the suspension up and lower it to 2-3.

If I go with standard type shocks (kyb or tokico etc) is there any premade non-coilover springs that give a 2 or 3 ride height? King spring lows for example?

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Re: How Low would You Go?

Postby rascal » Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:58 pm

datfreak wrote:If I go with standard type shocks (kyb or tokico etc) is there any premade non-coilover springs that give a 2 or 3 ride height? King spring lows for example?

You can get Kings to make a custom set of whatever spring rate and height you want.
(last time I got kings to do this for me, prob about 7 years ago now, it was the same price as their off the shelf springs)


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