How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling?
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From: PDXRegion, OR
How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling?
I am still deciding whats the best for my $$$....
I can either
A) Get a full camber kit, for the lowering springs that are on my car
Or,
B) Just get stock height springs made with very very stiff spring rates, raises the center of gravity but stiffens up the ride better than lowering springs....
Now I know center of gravity is important for those quick sharp turns... But wouldnt you want more travel taking long turns at high speeds with smaller rims... I run 14's with these really tall toyo tires on them.
I can either
A) Get a full camber kit, for the lowering springs that are on my car
Or,
B) Just get stock height springs made with very very stiff spring rates, raises the center of gravity but stiffens up the ride better than lowering springs....
Now I know center of gravity is important for those quick sharp turns... But wouldnt you want more travel taking long turns at high speeds with smaller rims... I run 14's with these really tall toyo tires on them.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14,842
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whole9 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am still deciding whats the best for my $$$....
I can either
A) Get a full camber kit, for the lowering springs that are on my car
Or,
B) Just get stock height springs made with very very stiff spring rates, raises the center of gravity but stiffens up the ride better than lowering springs....
Now I know center of gravity is important for those quick sharp turns... But wouldnt you want more travel taking long turns at high speeds with smaller rims... I run 14's with these really tall toyo tires on them. </TD></TR></TABLE>
How about C), None of the above.
Forget the camber kit, forget lame "lowering springs," and forget stock ride height.
GC coilovers with custom spring rates, set them where you want them. Koni Sport dampers to control the springs. Enough said.
Wheel size and cornering speed have little to do with suspension travel. You ideally want the car as low as possible with as much available shock/wheel travel as you can get, which is sort of an oxymoron since the lower you go, the less available travel there is - which is why we use stiffer springs, so the suspension can't travel as far. Shorter damper bodies and extended upper shock mounts are very helpful.
I can either
A) Get a full camber kit, for the lowering springs that are on my car
Or,
B) Just get stock height springs made with very very stiff spring rates, raises the center of gravity but stiffens up the ride better than lowering springs....
Now I know center of gravity is important for those quick sharp turns... But wouldnt you want more travel taking long turns at high speeds with smaller rims... I run 14's with these really tall toyo tires on them. </TD></TR></TABLE>
How about C), None of the above.
Forget the camber kit, forget lame "lowering springs," and forget stock ride height.
GC coilovers with custom spring rates, set them where you want them. Koni Sport dampers to control the springs. Enough said.
Wheel size and cornering speed have little to do with suspension travel. You ideally want the car as low as possible with as much available shock/wheel travel as you can get, which is sort of an oxymoron since the lower you go, the less available travel there is - which is why we use stiffer springs, so the suspension can't travel as far. Shorter damper bodies and extended upper shock mounts are very helpful.
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From: Near Charlotte
Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
How about C), None of the above.
Forget the camber kit, forget lame "lowering springs," and forget stock ride height.
GC coilovers with custom spring rates, set them where you want them. Koni Sport dampers to control the springs. Enough said.
Wheel size and cornering speed have little to do with suspension travel. You ideally want the car as low as possible with as much available shock/wheel travel as you can get, which is sort of an oxymoron since the lower you go, the less available travel there is - which is why we use stiffer springs, so the suspension can't travel as far. Shorter damper bodies and extended upper shock mounts are very helpful.</TD></TR></TABLE>
How about C), None of the above.
Forget the camber kit, forget lame "lowering springs," and forget stock ride height.
GC coilovers with custom spring rates, set them where you want them. Koni Sport dampers to control the springs. Enough said.
Wheel size and cornering speed have little to do with suspension travel. You ideally want the car as low as possible with as much available shock/wheel travel as you can get, which is sort of an oxymoron since the lower you go, the less available travel there is - which is why we use stiffer springs, so the suspension can't travel as far. Shorter damper bodies and extended upper shock mounts are very helpful.</TD></TR></TABLE>
be professional
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14,842
Likes: 13
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowpokesi »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you would still possibly need an alignment to have the toe set properly with your suggestion depending on his tire wear.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I fixed it.
I fixed it.
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Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
yes an alignement would be good, are you susgesting that the gc coilovers wont be low enough to effect his camber?
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14,842
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowpokesi »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes an alignement would be good, are you susgesting that the gc coilovers wont be low enough to effect his camber?</TD></TR></TABLE>
No, I'm suggesting that camber doesn't wear tires unevenly as much as toe does.
No, I'm suggesting that camber doesn't wear tires unevenly as much as toe does.
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Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
I agree, but that doesnt change the fact that if he lowers his car, the camber will change.
I would suggest keeping the camber kit.
100 camber kit vs. the cost of tires.
I would suggest keeping the camber kit.
100 camber kit vs. the cost of tires.
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Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
I agree, but that doesnt change the fact that if he lowers his car, the camber will change.
I would suggest keeping the camber kit.
100 camber kit vs. the cost of tires.
I would suggest keeping the camber kit.
100 camber kit vs. the cost of tires.
be professional
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14,842
Likes: 13
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowpokesi »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I agree, but that doesnt change the fact that if he lowers his car, the camber will change.
I would suggest keeping the camber kit.
100 camber kit vs. the cost of tires.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The camber doesn't matter. More negative camber is ideal for handling to begin with. Camber does not cause significant tire wear - toe does. It's the toe that needs corrected - whenever camber changes, toe does also. Plenty of cars are running 2 to 3 degrees of negative camber with straight toe and having no uneven tire wear problems.
That $100 you're wasting on a camber kit can be better spent elsewhere (like GC upper mounts), unless you intend to use it to dial in more negative camber.
I would suggest keeping the camber kit.
100 camber kit vs. the cost of tires.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The camber doesn't matter. More negative camber is ideal for handling to begin with. Camber does not cause significant tire wear - toe does. It's the toe that needs corrected - whenever camber changes, toe does also. Plenty of cars are running 2 to 3 degrees of negative camber with straight toe and having no uneven tire wear problems.
That $100 you're wasting on a camber kit can be better spent elsewhere (like GC upper mounts), unless you intend to use it to dial in more negative camber.
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From: Birmingham, AL, USA
Re: How much does just lowering the center of gravity improve actual real road condition handling? (
The only thing I'd change is to drop the Koni's and go with some digressive rate Bilsteens. Well, on second thought you might be better off with Koni's unless you know someone that knows bilsteen well enough to get you the right rate digressive bilsteen's. (sorry lee)
The only thing I'd worry about with going low is too much camber in the rear.
The only thing I'd worry about with going low is too much camber in the rear.
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