Lowering

[scala]

I've been pondering lowering my car for some time now and have finally decided not to on the following grounds:

I live in London where the road surface resembles a Baghdad high street after a B52 carpet bombing orgy. Also, the drop in ride height would mean having to let passengers out of the car before parking against a curbed pavement (my car is always parked on the street outside my house).

So not only would the car ride like a bag of shite on the appalling road surfaces round my way, but it would also be a huge inconvenience when it comes to parking.

She holds the road well already, but I am curious to see just how improved the handling would be.

Any advice?

 

[domjolly]

erm where abouts in london do you live ......why not drop it down with just 15mm front and 20mm rear lowering springs not sure how notciable it is.... although you could always get coilovers that way on normal week to week driving you can have it normal but with better steering capabilities and when you going for a rinse around lower the car on its arse....Best of both worlds

 

[pinky]

iv got 40mm on mine and the roads round here are the same!
since iv had mine lowered it takes the bumps a bit like your on a bouncy castle, and is great fun! no probs with it being full of passengers either.

 

[tidyclio]

Lowered cars are great on a dry day on a nice enjoyable b road blast but i'd say if I was living in a city like London i'd rather keep it a good all round set up.

 

[edde]

I think stcok setups very good and for your self I'd keep stock no question.

 

[scala]

erm where abouts in london do you live ......why not drop it down with just 15mm front and 20mm rear lowering springs not sure how notciable it is.... although you could always get coilovers that way on normal week to week driving you can have it normal but with better steering capabilities and when you going for a rinse around lower the car on its arse....Best of both worlds

Shouldn't the ride height be consistant all round or can you reduce the front and rear by different heights?

 

[scala]

What the difference between springs and coilovers? Are coilovers fully adjustable or something?

 

[edde]

erm where abouts in london do you live ......why not drop it down with just 15mm front and 20mm rear lowering springs not sure how notciable it is.... although you could always get coilovers that way on normal week to week driving you can have it normal but with better steering capabilities and when you going for a rinse around lower the car on its arse....Best of both worlds

Shouldn't the ride height be consistant all round or can you reduce the front and rear by different heights?

Yep rear should always be higher to help turn in.

Forget the idea of adjusting coilover height all the time it takes so long it just isn't done. Plus you need to get the camber etc reajusted to make it work.

What the difference between springs and coilovers? Are coilovers fully adjustable or something?

This picture explains
http://www.elantraxd.com/DIY/coilovers4.jpg The one on the left is a coilovera s you cna see the height the springs sits on the damper canbe adjusted the one on the left is a normal springs and damper by just changing the springs you'd keeping the stock damper which isn't ideal since dampers are desinged to work with a set springs.

 

[domjolly]

but aint the clios rear higer standard anyways so if yo lower it slightly more than the front it levels it up

 

[edde]

but aint the clios rear higer standard anyways so if yo lower it slightly more than the front it levels it up

Yep but the Clio should always be lower at the front. How it looks has nothing to do with the setup a lower back might make it look more balanced it doens't for the supension setup though.

 

[Gaz_]

Had a re-adjust of mine today..... i noticed sice we lowered it on the H&R's last week its settled pretty level. I've tweeked up the rear o ooo er!), so it rakes down to the front. It helps turn in/balance of the car aparentley (sp)

 

[scala]

Thanks for the info. Think I need one of those 'Pimp My Ride' style remote controlled ride-height gadgets. Should solve all my problems.