Lowering your car or truck so it’s closer to the ground is a popular way to customize your ride. Done right, it’s a great look that also boosts handling performance. Done wrong, it could compromise handling, drivability and traction, reduce tire tread life and even damage parts.
With that in mind, it’s in everyone’s best interests to step back for a minute to assess the potential risks and rewards when considering lowering a car’s suspension. So, let’s get to it!
Lowering Suspension: What to Expect
The Pros
1. Better Road Feel
Wider tires and lowered cars both increase the amount of tire surface in contact with the road, which means it can give you more feel of the road.
2. Stiffer Ride
A suspension is where the road and your car meet. If a vehicle is lowered, the suspension is closer to the road. This can provide more feedback, and therefore, the driver has to correct the vehicle’s position more often. This can provide a stiffer ride on bumpy or uneven roads.
3. Less Lean in Corners
Lowering a car can reduce the amount of body lean in a corner because the car will sit lower to the ground, and therefore, its center of gravity is lower. Lowering the car also shortens the wheelbase, making the car more responsive, and allowing it to keep steady as you go through sharp corners.
4. Better Handling
Lowering the car reduces the distance between the center of gravity and the contact patch. As a result, the car’s handling ability and response to steering are improved.
5. Improved Traction and Less Air Drag
With the car sitting lower to the ground, there will be less air drag because of the car, meaning more performance and better gas mileage. With the increased contact patch, the tire will grasp the road better, meaning increased traction. In a drag race, your car will go in a straight line faster.
The Cons
1. Lower Ride Comfort
When your car is lowered, the height of the center of gravity is lowered. This is good for handling because it raises the center of gravity closer to the tire’s contact patch. However, a lowered vehicle will ride rougher on uneven roads because the suspension is closer to the ground, so you’ll feel every bump ahead.
2. Uneven Tire Wear
A car that is lowered will inevitably wear wheels and tires out faster. This occurs because the tire is in constant contact with the road, which means a portion of the tire is always touching the ground.
With time and use, the edge of the tire that contacts the ground will wear down until the tire is completely flat, causing your vehicle to have a tire imbalance.
3. High Costs and Warranty Issues
Lowering a car can be quite expensive. In some cases, it can require an entirely new suspension. This is because lowering kits need to be custom-made for each car. If a lowering kit is put on a car in the wrong way, it can cause extensive damage to the car.
The Bottom Line: Weighing Your Options Before Lowering Your Car’s Suspension
Lowering your car can be an exciting way to make your car stand out. However, there are a lot of factors to consider before deciding to install a lowering kit.
There are many styling and performance benefits to lowering a car. But, we’ve outlined the risks and rewards for you, so you can decide for yourself. Remember, with most things in life, it’s all about balance!
Are You Looking for Auto Repair Services?
If you’re looking for auto repair services in Calgary, give us a call today! We have been proudly serving our local community for decades and have plenty of experience handling the repair of shocks and struts.
With the knowledge and experience of our team, we can get the job done while keeping your car safe and comfortable. We also provide free estimates and advice on what products will work best for your car. Get in touch with us today!