The Great Ride Height Debate of 2012
06-13-2012, 04:57 PM
#41
The Third Ball
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Do research...I know my car does not take kindly to spacers...and can be dangerous.
If you plan on tracking your car....look into it before doing anything.
If you plan on tracking your car....look into it before doing anything.
06-13-2012, 05:12 PM
#42
Moderator
On the flip-side, it's my understanding that the M3 GTR cars actually run spacers on their hubs...they can be safe for the track, if done right.
06-13-2012, 05:13 PM
#43
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06-13-2012, 06:01 PM
#44
Suzuka Master
IMO there is a lot more to lowering a car to make it faster than just dropping in coilovers putting it to the lowest setting so you get the lowest center of gravity.
Thing is when you drop it that low, the geometry of the car changes, affecting handling and like everything too much is a bad thing. That said the race cars you see that are "slammed" were desinged that way from the get go, they didnt just put in coilovers (i'm betting)
I remember reading a good article about this and it said that for how low you wanna go, you wanna achieve a center of gravity as close to your roll center as possible.
Slamming your car changes the angle of things like control arms and such which can be bad.
I'll look for that article again, hopefully i can find it.
edit: found the thread i made a while back that has the link to it, but its not opening for me...
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/suspension-geometry-773716/
Thing is when you drop it that low, the geometry of the car changes, affecting handling and like everything too much is a bad thing. That said the race cars you see that are "slammed" were desinged that way from the get go, they didnt just put in coilovers (i'm betting)
I remember reading a good article about this and it said that for how low you wanna go, you wanna achieve a center of gravity as close to your roll center as possible.
Slamming your car changes the angle of things like control arms and such which can be bad.
I'll look for that article again, hopefully i can find it.
edit: found the thread i made a while back that has the link to it, but its not opening for me...
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/suspension-geometry-773716/
Last edited by speedemon90; 06-13-2012 at 06:11 PM.
06-13-2012, 06:31 PM
#45
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Just a matter of what you want to do with your car. I'm sure "slammed" car owners don't care about track-readiness. It's a sacrifice they make for the look, the same way most performance car owners make some comfort sacrifices for more performance. 
Different strokes.
I think slammed cars are great for somebody else.
Different strokes.I think slammed cars are great for somebody else.
06-13-2012, 07:03 PM
#46
My car is considered lowered in my opinion. 1 to 1.5 finger gap.
Slammed to me is having a ground clearance of only a few inches, tires tucking inside the fender, and other insane things people do.
I just think it is not practical to have a slammed car where you have to worry about going up drive ways, speed bumps or just general cruising.
But then again... I may just be getting old.
Slammed to me is having a ground clearance of only a few inches, tires tucking inside the fender, and other insane things people do.
I just think it is not practical to have a slammed car where you have to worry about going up drive ways, speed bumps or just general cruising.
But then again... I may just be getting old.
06-13-2012, 07:34 PM
#47
'08 MX5 GT 6spd.
I consider myself to be low...but I've seen lower. Between the parking lot bumps, freeway bumps, minor driveway inclines and stiffness...any lower would be counter-productive. Lowering anymore would cause me to blast through tires, have negative effects on handling and look not so good.
06-14-2012, 09:23 AM
#48
Whats up with RDX owners?
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^ Nice pic! Did you use a glow stick for light painting?
06-14-2012, 09:28 AM
#49
His girlfriend hated driving in it.
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06-14-2012, 10:18 AM
#51
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Mad static bro.
06-14-2012, 10:26 AM
#52
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Stock vs Me. 2 finger gap in the front, 1 in the rear.
06-14-2012, 10:32 AM
#53
Whats up with RDX owners?
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06-14-2012, 10:41 AM
#54
In the Mid-South meow
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1-2 finger gap is perfect IMO. I miss the drop I had in my Accord. 
06-14-2012, 10:43 AM
#55
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06-14-2012, 10:43 AM
#56
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shocker FTMFW !!!
06-14-2012, 10:51 AM
#57
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2 in the pink, 1 in the stink.
06-14-2012, 10:52 AM
#58
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06-14-2012, 10:59 AM
#59
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What's it called if you have 1 finger gap in the front and 2 in the rear?
06-14-2012, 11:00 AM
#60
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06-14-2012, 11:08 AM
#61
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One of the kids (early 20's) that lived in my neighborhood about four years ago had a slammed BMW, mid 90's 3 series. He had it so effing low. Then one day I looked inside, he had no backseat. I asked him why, because his drop, couldn't take the weight. So this was to make sure that no one would ever sit back there.
His girlfriend hated driving in it.
His girlfriend hated driving in it.
06-14-2012, 11:11 AM
#62
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2 in the cooter, 1 in the pooter 
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06-14-2012, 11:13 AM
#63
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06-14-2012, 01:13 PM
#65
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06-14-2012, 03:11 PM
#67
Whats up with RDX owners?
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06-14-2012, 07:22 PM
#68
In the Mid-South meow
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Here's the offical drop guide:
06-15-2012, 12:22 AM
#69
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Flush isn't actually flush 
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06-15-2012, 04:52 AM
#70
Senior Moderator
I'll take stock to go! My son dropped his old 05 Altima and was then forced to dart around pretty much every road imperfection he came across. :damn;
With the stock ride height on my 12 Accord, I'm pretty much able to nail all but the highest speed bumps at normal speeds.
With the stock ride height on my 12 Accord, I'm pretty much able to nail all but the highest speed bumps at normal speeds.
06-15-2012, 09:45 AM
#71
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as i said, drop it for DD and raise her back half way to stock height for track !!!
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06-15-2012, 04:11 PM
#73
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Tucking tire all around with wheel edge flush with the fender edge on the TSX.
The IS-F I have 1 finger gap in the front and half a finger gap in the rear and still daily it. I haven't scraped the kit at all yet and constantly am rubbing in the rear but haven't damaged anything. Obviously if I wanted to track the F I would probably raise it up 1.5in before heading to the track.
As far as low goes the IS-F is kit low but have never scraped the frame or anything. The TSX on the other hand is body low as the kit is only about .5in lower than the subframe and I have scrapped the subframe of the TSX a good bit.
The IS-F I have 1 finger gap in the front and half a finger gap in the rear and still daily it. I haven't scraped the kit at all yet and constantly am rubbing in the rear but haven't damaged anything. Obviously if I wanted to track the F I would probably raise it up 1.5in before heading to the track.
As far as low goes the IS-F is kit low but have never scraped the frame or anything. The TSX on the other hand is body low as the kit is only about .5in lower than the subframe and I have scrapped the subframe of the TSX a good bit.
06-15-2012, 08:52 PM
#74
Senior Moderator
...with nary a second thought.
Then again, I've been slowly falling out of the auto enthusiast thing for past few years, particularly as I'm starting to view my 12 Accord and 09 MDX as appliances needed for a regrettable suburban life.
Then again, I've been slowly falling out of the auto enthusiast thing for past few years, particularly as I'm starting to view my 12 Accord and 09 MDX as appliances needed for a regrettable suburban life.
Last edited by F23A4; 06-15-2012 at 08:55 PM.
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06-16-2012, 11:14 PM
#76
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You Never Go Full Retard
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06-16-2012, 11:16 PM
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06-29-2012, 11:00 AM
#80
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sweet bump