Can A Car Ever Be TOO Low?

[ianglanister]

Well yesterday i lowered the rear of the Cav, only did the rear due to time and light going very quickly ha ha. Anyway doing the front today along with some other jobs. It looks very low around 80mm i would guess possibly more(opinions please) I am thinking about the euro look but after dropping im stuck never done a euro car before. any help appreciated.

So do you think this is too low? I havent had a lowered car for a while now so it may look very low to me for that reason....
Thanks


STANDARD PICTURES-
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/demondriver12345/SAM_1010.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/demondriver12345/SAM_1011.jpg


AND NOW THE LOWERED-

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/demondriver12345/SAM_1175.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/demondriver12345/SAM_1176.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/demondriver12345/SAM_1174.jpg

[burgo]

no such thing as to low. imo thats not low enough

[paul james]

Personally I don't like the look of cars that are really low, they always just look broken to me. That doesn't look overly low though, you can still see the whole wheel out of the arch.

Anyway its how it drives thats the real important thing, if every time you go over a small bump in the road you lose brain cells and the car veers off course, then you know you have gone too far.

[ianglanister]

Ye thats true. it wont be getting used for a few weeks atleast yet. but there is no chance of rubbing on the back just have to see what the front ends up like. will be updating my project thread once the fronts been done and will update this aswel.
Thanks for replies

[SR-Rally]

When it starts scraping, it's to low :thumb:

[db_1.2]

When it starts scraping, it's to low :thumb:

Naaaa!

I got stranded on speedbump once in a 73 beetle i had that was really hardslammed, thats the only time ive had to make a car higher, but was on adjustable beams anyway

[Jack]

Personally I don't like the look of cars that are really low, they always just look broken to me. That doesn't look overly low though, you can still see the whole wheel out of the arch.

Anyway its how it drives thats the real important thing, if every time you go over a small bump in the road you lose brain cells and the car veers off course, then you know you have gone too far.
What he said lol

I really don't see the point of making cars look stupidly low. Usually makes them handle worse, loses all comfort, and are rubbish to steer. Sure, lower a car to make the wheels fill the arches but when they're half hidden under the arch (or the wheel is tiny) and the sills are ploughing the tarmac that just looks stupid.

[sr jack]

"if it aint rubbing it aint dubbing" classic frase!

[L14MNP]

"if it aint rubbing it aint dubbing" classic frase! Rubbing is for losers.

Mines getting where I want it.
http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac157/itsallac0nspiracy/P11/SP_A0734-1.jpg?t=1264765104
That's on 225/40/18's also.

A standard P11 is about 7.5" sill lip - ground (on 14" wheels). Mine's about 4" now. It doesn't come without problems though. Strut towers need to be raised now, rear beam needs modding excessively/binning, arches have to be tubbed. Worth it though IMO.

I'm not a fan of the outer arch sitting over the tyre/wheel either. If I wanted that I would buy a Citroen BX. lol

I plan to cut the outer quarter higher to expose more wheel/tyre but then you have the problem that if the car is raised you have an arch gap whilst having your sills on the deck - usually the other way around. lol

A happy medium needs to be struck.

As for your Cav, keep going down. You've a fair way to go yet before it's 'broken' low. lol

[Jack]

Limp in "wheels on car" shocker!

[L14MNP]

lol It may see all four on the ground again shortly....

It aint rubbin' though so by definition I cannot be dubbin' and here's me wanting to be a cool scene kid. :(

[Jack]

http://www.80srockphotos.com/fcWebApp/product_images/Beastie-Boys-150azu.jpg

[L14MNP]

http://www.bradleygoughdiamonds.com/pictures/diamond.jpg
FTW

[vaughanmc]

Does look too low for they wee tiny alloys but once you get a set of 16's or something maybe bigger on it, it'll look about right

[AlexW]

Airbags.

Low looks **** on the road bouncing around. Sat still looks the balls.

I want to make the front of my nova higher so it dont lose the exhaust again when i go over a tiny speedbump :wtf:

[L14MNP]

Slamming on bags will still need arch surgery in most cases. Plus it will handle like crap.

[AlexW]

Just dont drive it low :p

[L14MNP]

That won't get it sitting on it's sills though lol. Raised or not, air/juice handles like sh!t in comparison to shock and spring setups. lol

[L33 LEG]

Cars look so much nicer when slammed imo. with my cars they have always gone through the test. as my drive meets the road it has a very small dip, if the bumper/splitter does not catch it slightly then its not low enough lol the coupe and nova touch it just fine but the other bm doesnt, thats why in the next few months the front end is going to go another 30mm or so lower.

[napalm_27]

my cavy was lower then that on 60mm gmax shocks and springs :thumb: looked and handle the tits

[L14MNP]

gmax


looked and handle the tits

Impossible. lol

[napalm_27]

Impossible. lol

it may have been the tyres i was running on it that made it handle well lol :thumb:

[brainsnova]

the limit on a saxo is when you go that low you loose the power steering fluid lol and theres no limits on any decent car.

[mayhem]

that's not too low, it's just decent lowerd.

i love picwhoring the lowness of my old XE nova lol

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/warm026.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/warm019.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/warm032.jpg

and before you all think it's gay because it's on grass... 3.5 centimeters between the tarmac and the anti roll bar.
never mind the camber, that was just kidding around.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/geflitst.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/SP_A0751.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/Afbeelding041.jpg


i did kill it though...

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/mayhem22/Foto158.jpg

[just vaux trev]

ive just hacked my arches/rear quarter off to get as low as pos on the wheels i want,never too low

[MK999]

You must have had a pretty skinny exhaust to scrape the floorpan lol Mine used to scrape the collector on the manifold and the flexi I had under the car between manifold/system. (It's a magnex to ashley join I had to get made up to use my 4-2-1 manifold.)

[stevie-p]

bahhh ill show you low in a week or so

[mayhem]

e16se (gte) exhaust.

with a 60-60 drop my mk2 scraped the cat on certain speedbumps, so scraping the exhaust is easy ;)

[L14MNP]

Mayhems is properly low. When the CHASSIS is on the deck then you're doing it right. None of this superficial bumper/skirt scraping carry on IMO.

[draper]

can never be to low imo


limp, any more pics of your mates project ?

[MK999]

e16se (gte) exhaust.

with a 60-60 drop my mk2 scraped the cat on certain speedbumps, so scraping the exhaust is easy ;)

Ashley system, no cat, skinny silencers, theres a chamfer worn on the sump plug too lol Never managed to scrape the chassis though. Best scrape for me was on the way back from uni where a certain dip in the road would make the car bottom out and scrape above 55 lol

[General Lee]

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll232/nathnova/92_cleland_Knockhill_w.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll232/nathnova/cleleand_vauxhallcavalier_peterstil.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll232/nathnova/ph-vauxhall-cavalier-cleland-thruxt.jpg

No.

[Plug]

to low and the ride is awefull i should know lol. Selling up the 100mm springs in favor of coilovers. :)

[just vaux trev]

/\ lol just bought some

[burgo]

my estate in its former saloon self was running really rather low

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v311/187/11/739671468/n739671468_1728228_8345.jpg

[t45_ste]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd315/ste_ed/6-1.jpg


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd315/ste_ed/22122009101.jpg


Too low???????


Never!

[Bubba]

you cold get another inch or so in ther!! the golf i drove chewed cats eyes...that was nice n low

[Lee]

In answer to teh original question. If the sump is on the floor and the tyres are off the ground, it is too low :)

[MK999]

In answer to teh original question. If the sump is on the floor and the tyres are off the ground, it is too low :)

You mean your sumps too big? lol

[L14MNP]

limp, any more pics of your mates project ?
The car I posted?

[Derick-Sport]

my cavvy was 60mil all round looked rather sweet not too low and was comfy

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/kendal-dean/Image017.jpg

[Mike]

I once saw a pic from some VDub site where a chaps Caddy van was that low, he had a couple of coke cans & general road debris wedged up in his ARB/Drop links lol so in answer to the title, ill say yes.

[ianglanister]

deano123- really like that Cav any more pictures?

[L14MNP]

I've searched for more pics Damper but my 'mate' hasn't sent me the pics/it's in the body shop/getting a V6 installed for all you haters etc. lol

[Fester]

You can't beat THE SLAM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/SJJura/My%20Cars/VW%20Golf%20GTI%201997%208v/May%2005/DSCF0630.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/SJJura/My%20Cars/VW%20Golf%20GTI%201997%208v/May%2005/DSCF0629.jpg


Pretty poor form having to plan your journey to avoid bumps though :tard:

[mayhem]

i never planned my route.

[Fester]

Come and drive round my neck of the woods :tard: or anywhere in the UK!

[General Baxter]

i fail at lowering, i just parked in a ditch for the lowered affect lol

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/spudly01/National%20day/P5160893.jpg

[mayhem]

lol i've heard of UK road conditions... not that great.

maybe i'm in the UK this summer with my mk1 astra.. that would be fun...
big chance the'll pull me over thinking i'm drunk, while i'm actually avoiding potholes lol

@baxter: i did that once... only thing is that it rained that night... 4th gear in rev limiter just to get out of the ditch lol

[mowgli]

mayhem, you would love Atherstone, home of baxter.. there is a roman road thru the town, it is dead straight and wide, and the council put speed humps in on each side of the road, and the locals simply drive down the middle between them at any speed they like....

[draper]

I've searched for more pics Damper but my 'mate' hasn't sent me the pics/it's in the body shop/getting a V6 installed for all you haters etc. lol

:(

[MK999]

You can't beat THE SLAM
Pretty poor form having to plan your journey to avoid bumps though :tard:

Actually theres one local to me running lower than that on D90's lol about an inch clearance on the front bumper :d

[Benn]

lol i'm a member on club broke status... It rocks.. But i want mine to be level all round.. So need to pull my front arches.

[Count Vaux Alot]

This is my saloon at its lowest just before they refused to MOT it for being 'too low' lol

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/My%20car%20profile/DSC00118.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/My%20car%20profile/DSC00120.jpg

[draper]

that doesnt look all that low tho count

[Count Vaux Alot]

that doesnt look all that low tho count

Thats my point it wasn't, i drove it everywere like that no scrapes even on speed bumps, the only other time apart from the MOT i had to raise it was for the photo shoot to get it in their studio lol

I argued with the MOT tester but he said they couldn't get their jack under it so wouldn't test it...tossers.

[MK999]

I argued with the MOT tester but he said they couldn't get their jack under it so wouldn't test it...tossers.

Should have gone back with 2 bits of 2x4 lol

[Benn]

I did have that, but he drove it on to the rubber mount things they put on the jack, raised it up.. Then he jacked it up and both springs fell out.. haha

[Bubba]

the answer is no. there is no such thing as too low...end of

[/thread]

[Tommy_nova]

No you can never go to low...

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/Tommy_Nova/lowrider.jpg

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/Tommy_Nova/howlowcanyougo.jpg

[just vaux trev]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee77/justvauxtrev/DSC00730.jpg (http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee77/justvauxtrev/DSC00730.jpg)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee77/justvauxtrev/DSC00919-1.jpg (http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee77/justvauxtrev/DSC00919-1.jpg)
no engine and choped rear to go as low as pos

[L14MNP]

Can I play again? I has m0ar low now :)
http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac157/itsallac0nspiracy/P11/SP_A0802-1.jpg?t=1264962236

[draper]

^^ i does like

[dontliftdrift]

if it dont scruff on the rough it aint low enough lol

[sulphur]

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr3/rainingsulphur/CIMG0167.jpg

My old one...not low enough. :( Splitter was only held on by screw on the corners, middles were ripped out trying to use a multi-storey car park. lol

Answer to the question, no. :)

[burgo]

^^^^ thats only the bumper that is low and not the actual car

[sulphur]

Was 80 drop on front, and 100 on rear. :)

Wasn't low enough though. :(

[L14MNP]

Maybe, but your sills are miles off the deck.

People need to pull their bumpers and other superficial panels off and then post 'low' cars. Some of those BTCC Cavs weren't even running that low - including skirts. lol

[burgo]

exactly. the front panel on that one above i level with the lowest line on the bumper. tis a poor effort im afraid

[sulphur]

Wasn't an effort at being the lowest, was only posting something lower than a 60mm drop on a cav. Jebus boys.. :roll:

[mayhem]

lol

sulphur, it's nicely low, but not slammed as hell :)

[mowgli]

now, this is low......
http://designercars.net/biler/Citroen-XM-0.jpg

but to answer the original question, it is possible to lower a car too much... just look at a chavs rover metro

[burgo]

lmfao citroens cheat though mowgli

[mowgli]

luke, have you ever been in one at speed??? there are switches that can be played with........ from luxobarge to gokart in 2 seconds........ which is about as long as you can drive one before it breaks down

[burgo]

my family have always loved citroens so yes i have. we've had about 5 cx estates an xm a few bx's. my dads 16v bx gti was awesom

[burgo]

not ours but what i mean. our white one was dubbed "the ghost buster car"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4044115366_a96c6f4e6b.jpg

[mowgli]

my mate actually bought his from an independant xm specialist from near kettering..... under its 3 month warranty, it had a new engine & a full suspension rebuild, and it only cost 2 grand. he traded it in after a year for a mondeo, it didn't run for more than a week without breaking down.. he loved driving it, but it drove him potty

[burgo]

they can be temperamental fookers but that seems to be the appeal of them :s

[Johnny A]

Ride height for my loon:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/DSC00422.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/DSC00447.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/DSC00493.jpg
The sill is 3.78 inches from the floor if that helps, but I don't know what its relative drop is from a standard nova.

My combo workhorse:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/DSC00383-1.jpg

[burgo]

you got the right idea johnny. i would say thats around -120 on front and -140 on rea

[Johnny A]

as long as I am into the 3-figure lowering numbers I am happy!!

[burgo]

deffinetly are. for a rough idea of how low you are. imagine drawing a line from the top of the bumper bumper across the arch, thats where the hatch arch would be

[Johnny A]

This is the front lowered more:
http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/?action=view&current=DSC00385.jpghttp://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/DSC00385.jpg

You can still get the wheels on lock without rubbing, but there is a fair enough of camber too, the ledas allow for loads of camber without the tyre rubbing on the spring!

[MK999]

Interesting take on the top mount adjustability solution... they're um, not staying like that right? lol

[Jack]

I think this thread has proven time and time again that yes, a car can indeed quite often be too low lol

Tempted to try and jack mine up a little higher on the back tbh

[Johnny A]

Interesting take on the top mount adjustability solution... they're um, not staying like that right? lol
yes and no, they are staying on top... but with much support and bracing which I have yet to do

[Plug]

I think this thread has proven time and time again that yes, a car can indeed quite often be too low lol

Tempted to try and jack mine up a little higher on the back tbh

what with a huge diff sat there and a v8 under the bonnet

[MK999]

yes and no, they are staying on top... but with much support and bracing which I have yet to do

Aha, fair enough then, just checking lol

[MK999]

Tempted to try and jack mine up a little higher on the back tbh

There's a couple of pics from combe where you can't see my car behind yours :wtf:

[TIDGE]

johnny yours sitts very nice, how big are those wheels?

[The Simps]

This is an ace thread! Be rude not to add a few pics of how I'm building mine. Chassis is set 4" from the ground. Completely redesigned suspension so it actually all works. Running 17x7.5s.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/TheSimps/Nova/Nova%20Coupe%20Project/06-11-096.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/TheSimps/Nova/Nova%20Coupe%20Project/06-11-09.jpg

[Bubba]

Ride height for my loon:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/Johnnyaspec/DSC00422.jpg


i cannot find fault with that engine rotation...:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[burgo]

so have all you kiddies learnt now???

saloons FTW!!!

[Count Vaux Alot]

well said burgo lol

[ianglanister]

This is an ace thread! Be rude not to add a few pics of how I'm building mine. Chassis is set 4" from the ground. Completely redesigned suspension so it actually all works. Running 17x7.5s.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/TheSimps/Nova/Nova%20Coupe%20Project/06-11-096.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/TheSimps/Nova/Nova%20Coupe%20Project/06-11-09.jpg



That Is Cool!!!

[Count Vaux Alot]

I'm building mine

Are you actually building yet or still dismantling? Is there enough of it left to still call it a nova? lol

[Bubba]

so have all you kiddies learnt now???

saloons FTW!!!

i already know loons are the future! :roll: :roll:

[The Simps]

Are you actually building yet or still dismantling? Is there enough of it left to still call it a nova? lol

Now now! Put your handbag bag on your shoulder :p

[The Simps]

Do you think a 8x16 et35 wheel would fit in loon arches on 195/45 stretched rubber?

[burgo]

yes i recon so

[blue_peg_16v]

i recon so mate if you end up getting rid of the ones in the pic pm me

[The Simps]

i recon so mate if you end up getting rid of the ones in the pic pm me

I certainly won't be getting rid of those! This would be for something else.

[blue_peg_16v]

dam lol

[Jack]

I reckon et36 would poke out too much on an 8" rim.

[Mike]

I reckon et36 would poke out too much on an 8" rim.

I had ET38 on 7 inch rims an it was er, very illegal to say the least. Handles amazing tho.

[blue_peg_16v]

do the arches like austins if they stick out to far

[burgo]

I had ET38 on 7 inch rims an it was er, very illegal to say the least. Handles amazing tho.that wasn't on a saloon im guessing though

[mayhem]

Do you think a 8x16 et35 wheel would fit in loon arches on 195/45 stretched rubber?

i've had 9x16 et 38 on the front of a 3door HB.
:d

[Mike]

that wasn't on a saloon im guessing though

Ah no, my bad :(

[Johnny A]

johnny yours sitts very nice, how big are those wheels?

They are 6x15's I think off the Astra-H's with 195/45/15 rubber. Love um

[Johnny A]

i cannot find fault with that engine rotation...:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Cheers chap, that pic was taken about 3 months ago now. The engine is sitting much better now (basically so the bonnet would shut!!).

[Zeus]

My old Polo, coilovers wound 3 threads remaining 7x14 rfx's & 195 45s tucked:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GroupB/Polo%20pics/DSCF0220.jpg

Running higher on the standard 15s:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GroupB/Polo%20pics/DSCF0385.jpg

[ianglanister]

nice polo that