Quote:
Originally Posted by serialk11r
Hey LSx, I'm curious about this and I seem to have a little trouble finding info on this...could you explain a bit more how to lower a car while preserving suspension geometry characteristics? From what I know it seems like most people either cut their springs (this messes up too many things to make me comfortable) or get coilovers that preserve the travel, but coilovers don't change the geometry.
I suppose suspensions have some flexibility to accomodate, for example, heavier loads, but the suspension can never behave as it was intended to if lowered like this.
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The geometry has a bit to do with roll-centers. The assorted points and pivots in the suspension form a variety of intersections/centers that affect how the forces play on the car. And since the suspension moves, the centers move too. The engineers jobs seem to be minimizing how much they squirm around as the suspension cycles through its designed travel. Then there is also how the camber changes as it moves.
Umm, kind of realizing that I'm out of my league explaining this...
Any of the more knowledgeable suspension guys want to expand on Roll Centers and Camber Gain/Loss?