How much does the ride height actually affect performance? I'm trying to decide whether the performance gains (if any) from lowering outweigh the scraping and ride quality loss.

I have the option of adjusting the height of stiffer than stock springs anywhere from about stock height to 1.5" (about .5" increments) lowered. The struts/shocks are not rebound adjustable, so no tuning there.

How much performance difference would I notice from stock height w/ the shock/spring combo than when it is lowered 1.5"??? Assume that the alignment/camber/toe is corrected for each situation to keep variables the same.

Naturally aftermarket springs are stiffer and lower a car, so the average person would assume that lowering does increase performance... but I'm a bit skeptical at the actual gains lowering the height will yield, and am hoping you guys have more insight on this.

 

http://www.se-r.net/about/200sx/scc/june97/june.html
Skip to the suspension paragraphs, if you don't mind reading. It's really good info if you ask me.

Lowering can improve handling dynamics, by lowering the point of where the car rolls, that way the leverage of the weight in leaning doesn't act from a higher point, exaggerating the side load on the tire, making it break loose earlier than it would if lower, if I am making sense... Grip is ultimately determined by the tires though.

 

nice link, thou a lot of it is general info that can be found elsewhere. I havent seen any articles discuss how the adjustment of ride height in honda/acuras affects performance directly. The comparisons I see are between springs w/ diff rates, or coilovers w/ rebound adjustment to compensate for ride height changes, which are never a direct comparison of ride height changes.