How low is too low?

Focused · Sep 12, 2004

After 3 years, I'm still really loving the way the Focus drives.

I'm wondering now though...how low is too low? With my spax coilovers, the ride height at it's heighest height setting is already very low IN THE REAR. And at this setting, suspension travel is almost an oxymoron in the REAR. With the rear shock completely uncompressed and at it's heighest, there's only about 5 inches of suspension travel available, and with the bumpstop there, there's only 3 or so. The ride isn't very good.

But I'm more concerned about how shock travel, especially in the rear, and range of spring travel will affect rear suspension geometry and, ultimately, maximum turn-in performance.

jinstall · Sep 12, 2004

I am too low with H&R coilovers. 4" in the front and 3" in the rear road trips are hard on the back.

dinoadventures · Sep 12, 2004

I am too low with H&R coilovers. 4" in the front and 3" in the rear road trips are hard on the back.

yes, that is indeed too low.

too low is when scraping on things isnt just an occasional thing, it's a regular part of your everyday ride, where you are constantly scraping on things.

if your wheels rub, that's a problem too.

OrangeSVT03 · Sep 12, 2004

When you start scraping the painted lines off the road, or plowing ants. Anything higher than that......... just looks good

MichaelXi · Sep 12, 2004

Actually, when you're about an inch and a half below stock, you're as low as you can go and not encounter geometry issues related to camber changes through the steering arc and other problems related to the car's "roll center" being too low.
There's one way to fix the problem, and one way to "Control" the problem.
To truly FIX the problems of riding lower than 1.5" stock, you'd need to relocate some suspension mounting points.
To at least Control the problems requires a much stiffer spring rate than stock.
This is because a car that doesn't "roll" (lean) doesn't exhibit roll-center problems so much.
Yes, a lower car requires stiffer springs due to rubbing issues, but that's only the obvious half of the situation.

Focused · Sep 12, 2004

Thanks for chiming in Michael! Yea I'm more or less concerned with ride height in reference to maximum performance and use of suspension. Over the time of ownership of my car, I've been shying away more and more from the bling of a low ride height to a more purposeful ride height, even if it means doing away with the cool look.

Jinstall, with the H&R's, what is the heighest setting you can set them to, both front and rear? I'm most interested in the rears because most coilover sets, well at least with the spax and GAZ sets, the rear sits VERY low compared to stock, maybe about 1.5 - 2 inches lower than stock. And that is at it's heighest setting.

BTW, Michaelxi, you have a PM.

jinstall · Sep 13, 2004

I have no idea the car has never really been raised except to fit the Carcept kit. I have to raise the car Next Monday to turn it in to the shippers so I can take before and after photos for you. James

1mortoy · Sep 13, 2004

My car is as low as it will go with out scraping on a hard corner. If I get more than 2 people in my ride I have to watch where I go and How I drive. But I love the look and feel and I keep on rolln' like I am!

Welding Rod · Sep 13, 2004

If you have to slow down due to bumps or dips in the road, it is too low.

After running both SVT springs and then a Cup Kit on my ZX3, I am now back at OEM height. To be concise, I don't plan to lower a car again. For my driving style and habits, it just doesn't make sense to give away perfectly good wheel travel and ground clearance. Having to slow for bumps, dips, etc. drove me nuts.

After going back up I really enjoy driving the car again.

DisrupTer911 · Sep 13, 2004

My H&R Race springs @ 2" seems to me, to be the perfect loweing height.

The cup kit, is by far way too low for any road by me with it being 2.5-2.75" all the way around. Crazy.

The Pro kit is a good choice for a lower ride and improved handling. One of the better suspension setups avaliable as a full package.

MichaelXi · Sep 13, 2004

I'll ditto that on the H&R Race Springs.
Too firm for some folks, but at that drop and stiffness, with the Koni Yellows, I don't have to slow down for anything except things like abrupt curbing drop-off type stuff, and that's just a courtesy to my other suspension components.
For someone like Welding Rod, with his wants/needs, I wonder if anyone makes an OEM height/diameter spring that has higher spring rates?
Sway bars can do alot to help motion control, but Only in a Left/Right fashion, and at the cost of suspension independence.

DisrupTer911 · Sep 14, 2004

I'll ditto that on the H&R Race Springs.
Too firm for some folks, but at that drop and stiffness, with the Koni Yellows, I don't have to slow down for anything except things like abrupt curbing drop-off type stuff, and that's just a courtesy to my other suspension components.
For someone like Welding Rod, with his wants/needs, I wonder if anyone makes an OEM height/diameter spring that has higher spring rates?
Sway bars can do alot to help motion control, but Only in a Left/Right fashion, and at the cost of suspension independence.

The only company I know of that will do custom springs is Ground Control and Leda.

Both will make springs to your specs. both in length and stiffness.

ACtually, Gaz might do it too since you can order springs for the coilovers from 250-500#s in 8 or 9" length. so they might, have to call them to find that out.

UltegraSTI · Sep 14, 2004

when the gas tank erupts.

and when u go over speed bumps, if u have 2 think bout hurtin ur control arms, its time.

-Ult

Focused · Sep 15, 2004

Guys, as I stated in my original post, I'm not asking about ride height in terms of practicality.

I'm looking for a technical response of ride height in reference to performance and suspension geometry.

Thanks for the all replies though.

DisrupTer911 · Sep 15, 2004

In reading MichaelXi's posts about suspension geometry.

it seems that as long as the spring has a high spring rate to accomdate a more then 1.5" drop, then the suspension geometry is saved.

Springs like teh sportlines that go 2.2" and are really soft, start to mess with design features.

Stiff springs like H&R race springs require adj. dampers to control them.

Stock zx3 and SVT can't handle them.

putting any lowering spring w/ a different spring rate will kill stock dampers b/c they just arn't designed for the load of constant compression.

Matched sets of dampers and springs are generally a good idea if all you want is for the looks and moderate performance gains.

kits like teh H&R cup kit are mainly for the looks as a 2.5-2.75" drop isn't really practical for the track.

The Pro Kit Plus w/ the springs, dampers and sways is really the only kit that contains everything.

The sportlines are a spring for the looks.

H&R race springs w/ adj dampers are true performance setups. Anything better would have to be a coilover setup.

Apex makes 2 nice kits, a 1.6 and 2" kit w/ matched dampers and springs.

Depends on what you want to do w/ the car, you have many choices.

but if your just looking to drop the car 2" then H&R race springs arn't for you.

i'd go w/ the Apex 2.0 kit.

If ya want the best performance H&R coilovers are tried and true track testes setups that work and work well.

MichaelXi · Sep 17, 2004

You've been reading ALOT, eh?

DisrupTer911 · Sep 17, 2004

lol, Michael. I try my damndest.

I just hate reading bad information then giving it out so I'm trying to be as thorough as possible so ppl don't buy the wrong setup.

racerx · Sep 17, 2004

If ya want the best performance H&R coilovers are tried and true track testes setups that work and work well.

Well damn...I knew my car had balls...

And regarding the H&R coilovers, it's too low when you bring it off the jacks and you can't turn your wheels.

Took me a while to raise the front to anywhere near functional.

jinstall · Sep 18, 2004

THIS IS TOO LOW. Yes I drive this every day like this.

How low is too low?

Focused

jinstall

dinoadventures

OrangeSVT03

MichaelXi

Focused

jinstall

1mortoy

Welding Rod

DisrupTer911

MichaelXi

DisrupTer911

UltegraSTI

Focused

DisrupTer911

MichaelXi

DisrupTer911

racerx

jinstall

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