- 09/24/2014
- 1 Min Read
- By: Chris Stovall
The Little Details You May Overlook When Lowering a Car
In the world of car customization and performance enhancements, the most common modification is lowering the ride height. I personally have owned several lowered cars, and I love the way they look, handle, and respond on the road. But there are many things to consider before lowering your car, as it is an involved process.
First, be knowledgeable. I'm not saying to become an expert on spring rates, dampening, understeer, etc, I'm saying that you should be aware of everything involved - know what you're getting into. Do you know how many oilpans I've seen damaged on a lowered car by a speed bump? It's one thing to get a more aggressive stance, but when utility is lost, I object. If it's a track car or show car, go crazy, but for a daily driver, a 2" drop is more often than not too much.
Bushings fail before shocks
Yes, you can get a $350 set of coilovers. Yes, it will feel better (at least in the extreme short-term) than your current setup. That doesn't mean it will feel as good and last as long as a name brand cup kit, or even a shock upgrade with no lowering springs. Shocks are the main suspension component I see get replaced unnecessarily . Yes they fail, but usually rubber bushings fail first, and are much cheaper and usually easier to replace. Remember - not all shocks are designed to rebound when pushed down!
Secondly, don't half-ass it. If you're talking about suspension overhaul, don't just do shocks and springs. If you're just talking about lowering, replace the shocks with the springs, or you will blow them out faster than you can say hella flush. Replace the mounts for sure, and look over everything to see if the ball joints and bushings are not worn too severely. If you're going to do it yourself, it takes just as much time to install quality parts as it does garbage, and you will thank yourself every time you go for a drive.
When changing the ride height, preload on bushings needs to be changed also. Bushings that are along a vertical axis of motion should always be torqued under load, usually at the vehicle's ride height, so when lowering, remember to retorque everything. Failure to do so will cause premature wear on the bushings.
Lastly, get a professional alignment. This is one of the few repairs that cannot be done at home with acceptable results. When changing the ride height - and in some cases even just the shocks - the camber will change, along with toe, causing uneven tire wear and potentially a pulling to one side. Make sure to get a good four wheel alignment if your car has adjustable rear suspension, and pay attention to the final alignment report - everything should be as close to symmetrical as possible for optimum handling and minimal tire wear.
Full Disclosure
I like lowered cars. I like them a lot. But nothing bothers me more than seeing a good car cheapened by knock-off coilovers or no-name lowering springs with original shocks. Every time I have had a lowered car, it has been by my own doing, with quality parts, alignments performed regularly, and was part of a larger suspension overhaul. Your suspension is crucial to the feel of your car, and if you install cheap parts, your car will feel cheap.
Shop Volkswagen Suspension at FCP Euro
About the Author: Chris Stovall
Chris is a journeyman mechanic from Berkeley, California, specializing in late model Volkswagens and Audis. A glutton for punishment, his spare time is spent rebuilding every component of his '83 Rabbit GTI.
