RE: TOY: Lowering was:RE: Bit Quiet in Here...

["Payne, Mike K." <MPayne1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you Thom... that was an excellent explanation... although it further
proves the uselessness of a lowered vehicle.



 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Thom Singer [mailto:ntsqd@yahoo.com] 
Sent:	Thursday, March 01, 2001 9:46 PM
To:	toyota@4x4wire.com
Subject:	Re: TOY: Lowering was:RE: Bit Quiet in Here...

Done right, lowering a car or truck will improve the
suspension geometry in addition to lowering the CG.
Most people go too far for looks and end up with a
vehicle that handles and rides equal to or worse than
when they started.
Proper lowering includes analyzing where the instant
center is and can be moved to. Placed properly the
instant center will negate the need for still springs
and stiff sway bars. It's all a question of how much
analysis and fabrication you want to do.
Most lowering jobs consist of cutting the coils and
either removing leaves from (common), or de-arching
the leaf springs (uncommon). Great, let's see the
front coils have been cut, that makes them shorter in
length increasing their spring rate. And the common
tactic for the rear decreases the spring rate. So a
vehicle that stock had a semi decent front to rear
spring rate balance is now totally out of whack. All
for the sakes of looks. I guess that's also why 4"
heels exist, but hey I'm not complaining about those.......

=====
TS
Ventura, CA
 Remember amateurs built the ark
 - Professionals built the Titanic.

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