Lower rear

Jollyjoiner

Jollyjoiner

Senior member
 Chesterfield
I've been wondering if anyone else has done this.

Lowering only the rear end of a roadster ?

With the offset of the fronts I think they don't look too bad, and if they was much lower then they would rub just a little bit too much on the inner wing cover.

The cars do seem to look like they rear is higher when you look at the sills and thought has anyone just put lowering springs on the rear and took it down say 15 or 20 mm ? and if so have they got any pictures ?

Cheera JJ
 
Lowering the ride height one end only at the rear will increase the front end steering castor angle and adversly affect turn-in, and the oversteer/understeer balance, but possibly improve straight line stability. Unfortunately the front castor is not adjustable so cannot be compensated for. It could feel quite different, in a good way or not depending how you like your drive :)

https://www.quora.com/How-caster-angle-affects-to-the-vehicle-dynamics
 
Ewazix said:
Lowering the ride height one end only at the rear will increase the front end steering castor angle and adversly affect turn-in, and the oversteer/understeer balance, but possibly improve straight line stability. Unfortunately the front castor is not adjustable so cannot be compensated for. It could feel quite different, in a good way or not depending how you like your drive :)

https://www.quora.com/How-caster-angle-affects-to-the-vehicle-dynamics
Click to expand...

Yes this was one of my thoughts also so was wondering if anyone else had done it.

As for my driving then I would say spirited with the odd track day :driving:
 
Had the rear lowered on my Z4 when I first got it, only because I was waiting for someone to change the springs on the front. Didn't seem to notice any difference driving it on the roads. It just looked like I had a fat person in the boot.

Doesn't actually look that bad in this photo. Rear lowered on fk springs, front on sport springs.

DSC_1927.jpg
 
ben g said:
Had the rear lowered on my Z4 when I first got it, only because I was waiting for someone to change the springs on the front. Didn't seem to notice any difference driving it on the roads. It just looked like I had a fat person in the boot.

Doesn't actually look that bad in this photo. Rear lowered on fk springs, front on sport springs.

DSC_1927.jpg
Click to expand...

From that angle it doesn't look too bad.
Might have to experiment with a few bags of sand :wink:
 
Would be interested in the results if you do it as thinking of doing the same with mine
 
rossonr said:
Would be interested in the results if you do it as thinking of doing the same with mine
Click to expand...

Yeah like I say the fronts not too bad it's just the rear which looks a little high.
Will have to start and look for just some rear springs, let me know if manage to locate any if do start looking for some :thumbsup:
 
Odd only doing rears?
Mine sits and did sit front end high
Even lowered and arbs it's still higher at front
Not sure on non Ms but I don't thing I'd like the look nor the rear being stiffer than the front as would play with turn in and where rear goes in a sharp bend
 
Not a good idea. If anything it's better aerodynamically to have the front slightly lower than the rear. This way round could create more lift at speed. Loads of people have done both ends and have no problems.
 
Steve84N said:
Not a good idea. If anything it's better aerodynamically to have the front slightly lower than the rear. This way round could create more lift at speed. Loads of people have done both ends and have no problems.
Click to expand...

I guess it's a matter of priorities, a LOT of so-called performance mods actually make no difference or are actually counter-productive for road use, but are aesthetically pleasing. Lowering the rear only can improve some driving characteristics which might be desirable on certain tracks, but will make it less assured in a lot of road circumstances. Choice of wheel size, lowering, other suspension mods, camber, castor toe etc is such a crucial area I'd honestly suggest reading some proper technical sources to fully understand the effects of a mod' before doing anything.

........ personally I wouldn't lower one end only but if you simply like the look just crack on, it's only a quick job to swap rear springs and certainly isn't going to throw you off the road unless you are looning with the nanny button off :thumbsup:
 
D4dawg said:
Odd only doing rears?
Mine sits and did sit front end high
Even lowered and arbs it's still higher at front
Not sure on non Ms but I don't thing I'd like the look nor the rear being stiffer than the front as would play with turn in and where rear goes in a sharp bend
Click to expand...

Mine is on M sport springs and when sat on level ground the rear is higher than the fronts.
as I have offset of et35 front and rear with 8.5 fronts and 9.5 rears then lowering the front will allow the tyres to rub the inner wheel arches.

Just had a thought though, might be better if I keep the fuel tank full instead of under half full or empty, that should lower the rear a little :D
 
You could always lower the rear but use thicker spring pads to reduce the drop to an additional 10-15mm? Eibach lowers about 25 on the rear I think? A thicker 15mm pad (a part they sold for rougher terrain in the USA I believe?!) would then reduce the drop.

Factory spring pads are 5mm but you can get 10 & 15mm ones. I went 15.

Part number 33531094754 - 15 mm ones made for E46s
 
Darkangelv2 said:
You could always lower the rear but use thicker spring pads to reduce the drop to an additional 10-15mm? Eibach lowers about 25 on the rear I think? A thicker 15mm pad (a part they sold for rougher terrain in the USA I believe?!) would then reduce the drop.

Factory spring pads are 5mm but you can get 10 & 15mm ones. I went 15.

Part number 33531094754 - 15 mm ones made for E46s
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info, I'll look into it
 
Jollyjoiner said:
D4dawg said:
Odd only doing rears?
Mine sits and did sit front end high
Even lowered and arbs it's still higher at front
Not sure on non Ms but I don't thing I'd like the look nor the rear being stiffer than the front as would play with turn in and where rear goes in a sharp bend
Click to expand...

Mine is on M sport springs and when sat on level ground the rear is higher than the fronts.
as I have offset of et35 front and rear with 8.5 fronts and 9.5 rears then lowering the front will allow the tyres to rub the inner wheel arches.

Just had a thought though, might be better if I keep the fuel tank full instead of under half full or empty, that should lower the rear a little :D
Click to expand...

35 is out a bit
27 I think mine are on Oem CSLs with no issue buddy
But I'm. Guessing though have springs the suspension on mine is off csl so maybe different
Exs 2.5i sat lower before I dropped mine
 
D4dawg said:
Jollyjoiner said:
D4dawg said:
Odd only doing rears?
Mine sits and did sit front end high
Even lowered and arbs it's still higher at front
Not sure on non Ms but I don't thing I'd like the look nor the rear being stiffer than the front as would play with turn in and where rear goes in a sharp bend
Click to expand...

Mine is on M sport springs and when sat on level ground the rear is higher than the fronts.
as I have offset of et35 front and rear with 8.5 fronts and 9.5 rears then lowering the front will allow the tyres to rub the inner wheel arches.

Just had a thought though, might be better if I keep the fuel tank full instead of under half full or empty, that should lower the rear a little :D
Click to expand...

35 is out a bit
27 I think mine are on Oem CSLs with no issue buddy
But I'm. Guessing though have springs the suspension on mine is off csl so maybe different
Exs 2.5i sat lower before I dropped mine
Click to expand...

Yeah mine do sit quite level with the wheel arches thus not really allowing me to drop the fronts much.
Like I said earlier I might better off filling the fuel tank and then see how it sits lol
 
Hahaha thats like mine then lol

I'll be butting a splash and dash in mine tomorrow ready for a little outing on boxing day
 
D4dawg said:
Guessing though have springs the suspension on mine is off csl so maybe different
Click to expand...
If you've managed to put csl suspension on your car that's some feat of engineering there! Totally different front struts. Not sure why you'd want to do it either :cry:
Of course I may have not interrupted what your saying correctly, it's fairly tricky sometimes.
 
TomK said:
D4dawg said:
Guessing though have springs the suspension on mine is off csl so maybe different
Click to expand...
If you've managed to put csl suspension on your car that's some feat of engineering there! Totally different front struts. Not sure why you'd want to do it either :cry:
Of course I may have not interrupted what your saying correctly, it's fairly tricky sometimes.
Click to expand...
Not at all buddy
Know brakes off csl I thought suspension was also in Ms
 
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