Is there anything else besides camber that we need to worry about after lowering?

LiquidZ · 06-03-2009, 11:29 PM

I come from the Mustang world where lowering the car caused a lot of the suspension geometry to be out of whack. Various part manufacturers sold various links, arms, ball joints, etc. to get the car's suspension geometry back in line to further optimize handling. This included roll centers, and other terms I'm not so familiar with.

I have never owned a Z before, so I am a little too unfamiliar with how the suspension geometry changes after lowering. Obviously, the camber changes, and camber arms (or other adjustable arms) are a quick, easy, and effective fix. However, what about the rest of the car? Is there anything else out there that we need to be worried about besides just camber when lowering the car? If there is, do we know of any aftermarket components that can fix them?

travisjb · 06-04-2009, 01:34 AM

SPC makes adjustable rear links and adjustable front upper control arms... if you're going with coilovers, that's all you need to dial in height/caster/camber/toe front and back

ChrisSlicks · 06-04-2009, 10:56 AM

Because it is a double arm design (almost double wishbone) the geometry doesn't get as jacked up as it would with a McPherson style. The SPC parts Travis mentions include camber and caster adjustment for the front (toe adjustment with the stock tie rods is fine), and camber and toe adjustment for the rear. I'll be getting these when I order coilovers.

rreign · 06-04-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Because it is a double arm design (almost double wishbone) the geometry doesn't get as jacked up as it would with a McPherson style. The SPC parts Travis mentions include camber and caster adjustment for the front (toe adjustment with the stock tie rods is fine), and camber and toe adjustment for the rear. I'll be getting these when I order coilovers.

+1 yeah, what he said

LiquidZ · 06-05-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Because it is a double arm design (almost double wishbone) the geometry doesn't get as jacked up as it would with a McPherson style. The SPC parts Travis mentions include camber and caster adjustment for the front (toe adjustment with the stock tie rods is fine), and camber and toe adjustment for the rear. I'll be getting these when I order coilovers.

Does this mean we will not have to worry about bump steer, roll centers, and whatever else that seems to be impacted by lowering?

RCZ · 06-05-2009, 12:41 PM

Guys, the toe is the biggest thing you have to worry about when you lower our cars. You can live with -3 deg camber, but if the toe is far off you will kill the tires in 2 weeks.

I just had an alignment done after lowering my car, guy told me i would've destroyed the tires if I hadn't gotten the alignment.

So yes, the toe is actually the bigger thing you have to worry about.

37Z · 06-23-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

Guys, the toe is the biggest thing you have to worry about when you lower our cars. You can live with -3 deg camber, but if the toe is far off you will kill the tires in 2 weeks.

I just had an alignment done after lowering my car, guy told me i would've destroyed the tires if I hadn't gotten the alignment.

So yes, the toe is actually the bigger thing you have to worry about.

+1!

Modshack · 07-05-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

So yes, the toe is actually the bigger thing you have to worry about.

And the thing that requires no additional parts to adjust!....

06-03-2009, 11:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 705	Is there anything else besides camber that we need to worry about after lowering? I come from the Mustang world where lowering the car caused a lot of the suspension geometry to be out of whack. Various part manufacturers sold various links, arms, ball joints, etc. to get the car's suspension geometry back in line to further optimize handling. This included roll centers, and other terms I'm not so familiar with. I have never owned a Z before, so I am a little too unfamiliar with how the suspension geometry changes after lowering. Obviously, the camber changes, and camber arms (or other adjustable arms) are a quick, easy, and effective fix. However, what about the rest of the car? Is there anything else out there that we need to be worried about besides just camber when lowering the car? If there is, do we know of any aftermarket components that can fix them? __________________

06-04-2009, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	SPC makes adjustable rear links and adjustable front upper control arms... if you're going with coilovers, that's all you need to dial in height/caster/camber/toe front and back __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

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06-04-2009, 10:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Because it is a double arm design (almost double wishbone) the geometry doesn't get as jacked up as it would with a McPherson style. The SPC parts Travis mentions include camber and caster adjustment for the front (toe adjustment with the stock tie rods is fine), and camber and toe adjustment for the rear. I'll be getting these when I order coilovers.

06-05-2009, 12:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	Guys, the toe is the biggest thing you have to worry about when you lower our cars. You can live with -3 deg camber, but if the toe is far off you will kill the tires in 2 weeks. I just had an alignment done after lowering my car, guy told me i would've destroyed the tires if I hadn't gotten the alignment. So yes, the toe is actually the bigger thing you have to worry about.