Lowering my subframe by 5mm....Can anyone tell me if I will cause any problems?

[Paddy_g46]

Basically I want to lower my Mk1 subframe by 5mm all around, or even just at the rear if possible. Can anyone tell me if this is not advisable and give reason as to why not?

Thanks

 

[mat-nos]

not a problem but the spacers you use would have to be mm perfect or you car wont track staright, i would get some longer bolts too....
why would you want to anyway, mad engine conversion planned????

 

[Bluebeard]

Why are you doing this pat??

 

[Paddy_g46]

not a problem but the spacers you use would have to be mm perfect or you car wont track staright, i would get some longer bolts too....
why would you want to anyway, mad engine conversion planned????

Why are you doing this pat??

The guys over on c16v have juts pointed on that my steering column wont line up and therefore this idea has been shot out of the water!

The reason i wanted to do it is because manifold-cat join which is near enough impossible to adjust/move is barely touching the subframe and causes an annoying vibration at certain revs and when flooring it! I have already raised the engine mounts 5mm and I dont think I can raise them anymore because of the bonnet!

Nightmare!

 

[Paddy_g46]

I am now thinking about perhaps dropping the subframe and cutting it very slightly where it si rubbing. I cant see why this wouldnt be ok, I dont think it will weaken it to a point where it will be dangerous etc.

 

[Bluebeard]

Where is it rubbing? I've got a good 10-12mm clearance between the 172 mani and the subframe. :S

Surely they're the same?

 

[Laine_16v]

ive got about 2mm of clearance on mine :/

 

[Andyrg@ ClioTurbo]

i have dropped mine by 6mm, i had four spacers made and drilled, i used longer bolts, no issues with tracking,camber, caster etc. handles ok too

 

[Andyrg@ ClioTurbo]

i had no issues with the downpipe when we ran the f4r mind but i had a hight quality exhaust made, the reason i lowered with with the 225 engine is that i didnt wan to chop and change the miltek decat pipe and the exhaust rattled off the arb

 

[Paddy_g46]

i have dropped mine by 6mm, i had four spacers made and drilled, i used longer bolts, no issues with tracking,camber, caster etc. handles ok too

sounds promising! What about the column?

 

[Paddy_g46]

Where is it rubbing? I've got a good 10-12mm clearance between the 172 mani and the subframe. :S

Surely they're the same?

ive got about 2mm of clearance on mine :/

It seems everyone's is different for some weird reason! Also maybe because my downpipe from a pug 406

 

[daddycool]

I have already raised the engine mounts 5mm and I dont think I can raise them anymore because of the bonnet!

Nightmare!

hi mate, how did you do this, just a shim under the engine mount? did you do anything with the gearbox mounts? I only have about 2mm clearance. strangely the knocking only started when i went from a normal dogbone to a powerflex one, though i guess it makes sense- the engine now pivots on the dogbone mount and the manifold/cat join hits the subframe in 1st, 2nd and 3rd if i'm spirited...

 

[robbieraver]

it will cause bump steer.

any amount you will lower the sub frame will affect the steering and its relation to the hubs.

you have moved the steering rack down and now the amount the rack ends have to travel is different(shorter) when the suspesnsion goes thru it travel your wheels will toe in and toe out even more than it already does.