A side effect from have a car lowered?

[Genie47]

Some people in another forum have been debating about this. I wonder if there is any merit in the argument.

 

Now with stock suspension, the driveshafts are pitched and this robs the car of torque and horsepower. Now if you lower the car, the driveshafts straighten out therefore allowing more efficient transfer of torque and horsepower to the wheels.

 

Discuss, please.

[BMW320i]

err I can't really comment anything on the hp or torque but from what I heard about lowering with regards to springs especially cheapo ones, they lower the car so much so the absorbers recieves stress due to the compression rates and causing pre mature wear and tear.

 

These sorta springs are mainly for asthetic purposes and are the quickest way to kill the abosrbers. No improvement in handling. Its wiser to go with reputable springs of coz but the best would be to go for coilovers which can be quite a turn off to some people because your looking at about $2k++ but theres no doubt about the improvement in handling.

 

Am pretty keen in finding out how the suspension affects the hp and torque though.

[Genie47]

What you said is pretty known but the hp and torque thing seems quite plausible. The driveshafts spinnng in a pitch will incur losses in hp and tq. So....if by lowering, you straighten them up in line with the wheels, you get a more direct transfer of power from the engine to the wheels thereby putting the horsies to work instead being killed off. It might get back to the status quo if you lower too much and get the driveshafts back into a pitch.

[BMW320i]

hmm ... thats something I haven't heard of. Haven't exactly heard of a driver reporting any power gains via lowering and if so, we'll need a dyno chart to confirm any gains.

 

I think the power increment is only by a small margin ?

[Genie47]

Not power gains but rather freed power from losses by pitched driveshafts.

 

I think very small but there are some who swear they can feel it.

[BMW320i]

hmm ... when I lower mind I'll let you know. But mine's springs only. Dyno here is about $140 per hr.

[Imuya]

$140/hr!?!?

 

are there dynos in NTU or NUS engineering faculty that can open to public/students to use?

sure make money...

[Hang_kilat]

uhh, sorry off topic, but genie, thats a great picture of aayla secura. sucks the way she died though...

 

cheers~!

[Sky8807]

Some people in another forum have been debating about this. I wonder if there is any merit in the argument.

 

Now with stock suspension, the driveshafts are pitched and this robs the car of torque and horsepower. Now if you lower the car, the driveshafts straighten out therefore allowing more efficient transfer of torque and horsepower to the wheels.

 

Discuss, please.

With the wheel and absorber always changing its position while driving, don't think lowering had any real benefit except improved cornering ability and looks.

 

Unless we drive in a straight road w/o bump and weight cal correctly with 1 driver to exactly match the straight line of the drive shaft. Don't think it is possible and practical for passenger car, but F1 and race machine maybe, every ounce of hp increase is important becos the opponent are all maximising the engine power.

 

IMO no different as far as torque and hp is concerned. Whether straight line power transmission or not, there are still friction losses and when lowering may cause other area to work harder and with the same engine additional work required to compensate the extra stress that we create to other department.

 

My view

[Elfenstar]

$140!!! Bloody hell (mate ) Perth is a rip off. Dyno's in Melb range from $60 to $90 depending on where.

[Elfenstar]

What you said is pretty known but the hp and torque thing seems quite plausible. The driveshafts spinnng in a pitch will incur losses in hp and tq. So....if by lowering, you straighten them up in line with the wheels, you get a more direct transfer of power from the engine to the wheels thereby putting the horsies to work instead being killed off. It might get back to the status quo if you lower too much and get the driveshafts back into a pitch.

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head!!! Its basically getting the power to the ground/wheels and the position that maximises it. I seriously doubt you'll be able to feel much of a difference though unless the setup was really bad in the first case.

[Soya]

2 side effects are: i) cannot park head in and ii) hv to avoid bugis junction.

[Seaweed]

Well I suppose if you are really able to keep it straighten...In theory it will definitely lost less power....but the question is it's never possible to keep it 100% of the time straight like what bros here have mention the road is never flat...and the suspension have to do it's work buy moving to asborb the shock...if not what are suspension for ???

[Yeobh]

For rear drive vehicle, the designers will always try to minimise the propeller shaft titling angle. The universal joint at both end of the propeller shaft take away some hp ( and also creat phasing vibrations) if they are not properly phase and in good working conditions.

The whole idea of lowering the vehicle body is to lower the centre of gravity of the whole vehicle to increase stabilty. A good example of very low centre of gravity vehicle is the double decker buses, which can negotiate curve narrow roads without much difficulties.