damages from bottoming out for being too low

cossie1600 · 03-12-2014, 03:38 AM

My car is only lowered half an inch, but the tire I am using is extremely small (25"). Therefore I bottom out easily. The cat seems to be taking the worst blow of all. Has anyone actually damage their car mechanically from bottomg out due to being too low or scraping? I just want to see if i can keep driving like this. There are only so many bumps I can avoid

BGTV8 · 03-12-2014, 03:56 AM

I bent the ali plate under the engine and also the fabricated assembly under the gearbox by taking the car over the ripple strip at Winton Raceway - had to replace both following a visit to the wreckers !!

Taught me to drive better !!

I use 649mm tall tyres on the road and 635 on the track "just" to give a bit more clearance on the road, but I do have the luxury of track-day rims.

Road tyres are 245/40R18 and 275/35R18 a\nd track-tyres are 265/35R18 all round.

I have also had to repair the exhaust system from excursions over the ripple strips and am now on my second lip.

That said, my damage has not been what I would call "structural" because none of the actual chassis has taken a hit - all been sacrificial bits and at the end of the day - down to driver-error (or excessive enthusiasm and/or lack of mechanical sympathy).

Grindkiezer · 03-12-2014, 06:11 AM

I rip my O2 sensors out every month or so. The way my test pipe bungs are aligned they seem to hand just low enough to come in contact with the ground. At least they're cheap to replace...

synolimit · 03-12-2014, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grindkiezer

I rip my O2 sensors out every month or so. The way my test pipe bungs are aligned they seem to hand just low enough to come in contact with the ground. At least they're cheap to replace...

Make a patch, weld that hole, install the bung in a different place!

Grindkiezer · 03-12-2014, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synolimit

Make a patch, weld that hole, install the bung in a different place!

I have my sensors disabled with UpRev, but if one is missing (ripped out) thats when I get a CEL. But this is something I may do

kenchan · 03-12-2014, 04:52 PM

thought you lowered guys thought lowering your car was cool for the sparks.

onzedge · 03-12-2014, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

thought you lowered guys thought lowering your car was cool for the sparks.

OMGWTFBBQ · 03-12-2014, 04:59 PM

I ripped a hole in one of my catalytic converters once...

onzedge · 03-12-2014, 05:03 PM

I lowered mine not for the "being" low part, but for the improved handling characteristics the Swift Spec-R springs supply. Being 1" lower is a side-effect, not the objective.

By the way, I never scrape anything other than the chin spoiler and then it's very rare. Why? I know how to drive.

Mr&Mrs · 03-12-2014, 05:07 PM

When I got ran off the road the grass in the median nearly ripped off my entire Zele front bumper, destroyed the CF lip, and ripped off the plastic under shroud. Exhaust has flex pipes so even though I scrape at times I'm not worried about structural damage nor has any been done yet.

And yes ken the sparks are hella cool!

kenchan · 03-12-2014, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr&Mrs

When I got ran off the road the grass in the median nearly ripped off my entire Zele front bumper, destroyed the CF lip, and ripped off the plastic under shroud. Exhaust has flex pipes so even though I scrape at times I'm not worried about structural damage nor has any been done yet.

And yes ken the sparks are hella cool!

i knew it!

kenchan · 03-12-2014, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMGWTFBBQ

I ripped a hole in one of my pants once...

tmi

kenchan · 03-12-2014, 06:34 PM

on my lowered G i smashed the lower engine cover or shroud as you guys call it running over a hubcap which i thought i could clear...

otherwise im pretty careful with parking lot entrance ramps/curbs and stuff and dont scrape. slowing down and approaching on an angle.

but i do survey roads in my dd before taking my G and Z anywhere. my dd's lowered on swifts. no scrapeage

i think mr.onzedge has a point about driver skill.

but then i did damage my G's lower shroud.

it's all fixed now.

kenchan · 03-12-2014, 06:36 PM

too bad i dont have any picts to show you guys. lol

Grindkiezer · 03-12-2014, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

thought you lowered guys thought lowering your car was cool for the sparks.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=629431853777713

03-12-2014, 03:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	damages from bottoming out for being too low My car is only lowered half an inch, but the tire I am using is extremely small (25"). Therefore I bottom out easily. The cat seems to be taking the worst blow of all. Has anyone actually damage their car mechanically from bottomg out due to being too low or scraping? I just want to see if i can keep driving like this. There are only so many bumps I can avoid

03-12-2014, 06:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Grindkiezer Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 824 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 14	I rip my O2 sensors out every month or so. The way my test pipe bungs are aligned they seem to hand just low enough to come in contact with the ground. At least they're cheap to replace... __________________ Z

03-12-2014, 04:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	thought you lowered guys thought lowering your car was cool for the sparks. TerribleONE, onzedge, O&G and 3 others like this.

03-12-2014, 04:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
OMGWTFBBQ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: the OC Posts: 1,886 Drives: 08 SGM IS350 Rep Power: 4549	I ripped a hole in one of my catalytic converters once... kenchan likes this. __________________ Zele Performance \| Varis \| Powerhouse Amuse \| Craftsquare \| Tommy Kaira \| Top Secret \| HKS \| Defi \| Volk Racing \| Cusco \| SPL \| Never ending build thread.. PM me if you have rare JDM parts for sale!

03-12-2014, 05:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
onzedge A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Battle Lake MN Age: 64 Posts: 183,964 Drives: 370Z 240Z Rep Power: 2684736	I lowered mine not for the "being" low part, but for the improved handling characteristics the Swift Spec-R springs supply. Being 1" lower is a side-effect, not the objective. By the way, I never scrape anything other than the chin spoiler and then it's very rare. Why? I know how to drive. kenchan, Nismo89, Hotrodz and 1 others like this. __________________ Koni\|Swift\|Michelin\|Motordyne\|Berk\|RJM Performance\|Gates\|SPL\|Motul\|Technafit\|Ate Super Blue\|Hawk Tommy Kaira\|Momo\|Optima\|Hella\|Hotchkis\|Red Line\|ZSpeed\|Stillen\|B&M\|H&R

03-12-2014, 03:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
BGTV8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 03350 Australia Posts: 1,514 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 39973	I bent the ali plate under the engine and also the fabricated assembly under the gearbox by taking the car over the ripple strip at Winton Raceway - had to replace both following a visit to the wreckers !! Taught me to drive better !! I use 649mm tall tyres on the road and 635 on the track "just" to give a bit more clearance on the road, but I do have the luxury of track-day rims. Road tyres are 245/40R18 and 275/35R18 a\nd track-tyres are 265/35R18 all round. I have also had to repair the exhaust system from excursions over the ripple strips and am now on my second lip. That said, my damage has not been what I would call "structural" because none of the actual chassis has taken a hit - all been sacrificial bits and at the end of the day - down to driver-error (or excessive enthusiasm and/or lack of mechanical sympathy).

03-12-2014, 05:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mr&Mrs A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,207 Drives: RZ34 Rep Power: 31940	When I got ran off the road the grass in the median nearly ripped off my entire Zele front bumper, destroyed the CF lip, and ripped off the plastic under shroud. Exhaust has flex pipes so even though I scrape at times I'm not worried about structural damage nor has any been done yet. And yes ken the sparks are hella cool! TerribleONE, OMGWTFBBQ, kenchan and 2 others like this. __________________ Project Z <--Click - Check out the link too many mods to list!

03-12-2014, 06:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	on my lowered G i smashed the lower engine cover or shroud as you guys call it running over a hubcap which i thought i could clear... otherwise im pretty careful with parking lot entrance ramps/curbs and stuff and dont scrape. slowing down and approaching on an angle. but i do survey roads in my dd before taking my G and Z anywhere. my dd's lowered on swifts. no scrapeage i think mr.onzedge has a point about driver skill. but then i did damage my G's lower shroud. it's all fixed now.

03-12-2014, 06:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	too bad i dont have any picts to show you guys. lol onzedge likes this.

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