Random Lowering Idea of the day

[SHO_POWER]

How bad is it to take (1/4 - 1/2") off of the bottom of the strut tab on the fronts ? Just to have the front sit parallel with the rear.

Will this have any effect on the car (handling and tire wear) ? If a proper alignment is done afterwards

Greg
91 SHO +

 

[Mike Kopstain]

I don't think so.

The only thing shaving the subframe will do is improve negative camber and halfshaft joint angle by raising the LCA mounts and the whole engine/transmission assembly. The strut towers are not related in any way to the subframe, and they are what truly determines ride height. All you will be doing by shaving SFBs is raising the effective Center of Gravity in the front end of the car.

This does work... I did it for a local guy when he wanted the front end of his car to sit even lower (couldn't clear driveways as it was).

You can go too low for proper handling and tire wear. That "bagged" red SLO in the picture above is suffering from the inability of the strut suspension design to compensate for the geometry of the lowered ride height. That looks like a good -3.0+ degrees of camber on the radiacally lowered front end. That will sacrifice tire life, handling and seriously reduce the contact patch for maximum braking. In other words, all show, no go (or stop).

While I agree with the "all show; no go" premise, most don't actually drive their cars in the above state. It's easy to raise the car up and get at least some semblence of driveability back. I still don't think it's a look I would go for however.