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Does a lower ride have to mean more uncomfortable?

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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 11:54 AM
  #1  
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Default Does a lower ride have to mean more uncomfortable?

HI all,

One of the things I love most about my Z is it's combination of comfort and performance.

Like many people here I would like to tune up my performance and the looks of the car but I don't want to turn my daily driver into a bone-shaking rattle box.

I'd like to fill out my arches and maybe lose 3/4"-1" in ride height to add to the asthetic of my ride while hopefully gaining a little extra grip without affecting the smooth ride and balance of the car. I'm currently on the stock 17's and Potenzas on my touring.

My goals in order of importance are...

1- Reasonably comfortable ride for daily driver
2- Road noise
3- Aesthetics
4- Improved Handling
5- Unsprung weight

Am I being reasonable or am I looking for qualities that are mutually exclusive?

Notion
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 11:55 AM
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technical it does... but doesnt have to be a substantial difference... i would suggest hotchkis springs or eibach sportlines.
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 12:19 PM
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In theory, lowering the car lowers the center of gravity. The car should handle better.

But theory does not always apply the real world. Check the autocross forum. Lowering the car is not a popular mod. Lowering the car would present other problems such as clearing suspension components and fenders while racing.
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 05:01 PM
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u willl be alright....get some eibach springs etc....stock springs to me was kind of harsh
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 05:14 PM
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Yep it's nice to know I can get some 'low' from some reasonably priced springs without shaking out my fillings.

I think I'll wait to rims rubber and springs all at once hoping I can get away with some nice fat lipped 19's without adding pounds or busting the bank.

Notion
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 07:12 PM
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^^ that wont happen, fat lipped 19" = $$$
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 09:10 PM
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My Z actually road better with Eibach springs than it did with the stockers.

Our Z's are already low to begin with so lowering an inch or two won't drastically change your ride. Unless you decide to go with stiff and linear race springs/ coilovers theres not much that will jar you more than it already does now.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 06:32 AM
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One must calculate the natural frequency* of the suspension to derive the harshness then select under, critical, or over damped to fine tune..........obviously this depends on tire compound temperature [stiffness] and will change as the tires change.

Body Acceleration vs settling time is the usual criteria if cost is not a factor
http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Aero...sp_optimiz.pdf

* the ratio of unmounted spring length to the compressed length with body on springs [as mounted].

http://www.smithees-racetech.com.au/...cefactors.html
http://phors.locost7.info/phors14.htm
http://phors.locost7.info/contents.htm

Last edited by Q45tech; Nov 10, 2006 at 12:57 PM.
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