thinking about LOWERING my car... should I?

[mareakin]

In a previous thread (long ago) I asked forum members if there might be ways I can improve the handling of my car and a few people suggested lowering the center of gravity. I am seriously considering that.

I have a 2007 Corolla CE.

I'm considering doing one of the following:

1. Lower the car by .5 inch by using the OEM stock stiffer springs from the 2006 Corolla XRS car (this is the "sports" trim of the same car.) This spring will indeed fit my car. The spring rate for this vehicle is approximately 200lb./in. (versus--130 lb./in. for my stock Corolla)

2. Lower the car by 1.1 inches with an Eibach Pro-Kit (progressive spring, not sure what the spring rate is.)
----------------------------------------

I hope to improve the handling and roadholding of my Corolla. Nicer looks are a plus, but secondary.

Do you think I should do it?

What are some pitfalls that I am overlooking?

Do you think my handling will indeed improve? What about roadholding?

Do you think there will be alignment issues?

Please chime in.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SLCraig]

Why not?
I've had a few lowered cars, the ride is always worse, but sometimes not by much.
Looks are always better, and handling is always better.

You may have alignment issues only when you re-install it all, depending on how your struts are setup, etc. Otherwise you'd just need an alignment after you install it all (if struts are adjustable for camber etc)

Go for it.

 

[QuOk]

Considering you live in NYC i would get aftermarket front and rear sway bars and leave it the stock height.

Better tires also.

 

[mareakin]

How much lower did you go?

 

[Johnny248]

If you want to improve the handling of you Corolla, buy a different car lol. In all honesty, I don't think you are ever going to have "race car like" handling, but I can tell you that I've had good and bad results with Eibach springs in the past. Some cars they work fine with OEM struts, others the strut does not have enough rebound to keep the lowered springs under control. How many miles are on the car? It may be a affordable upgrade to go with the ProKit, along with some Kyb GR2- or Excel struts also. They are inexpensive and are about 20% firmer or more rebound that oe struts. Kyb does this to compensate for other worn suspension parts, but the added rebound helps out with lowering springs also.

 

[eljefino]

You could get smaller diameter tires and lose half an inch that way, and also accellerate faster. A performance alignment, with lots of negative camber, will have it handle better, wear tires faster, but keep your ride height. Look into various auto-cross classes for what's allowed at what levels.

I agree on the sway bar idea, and maybe a strut tower brace.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Johnny248
If you want to improve the handling of you Corolla, buy a different car lol.


I agree as someone who owns one a Corolla.

They are for one reason, to get you from point A-B with less cost than most other vehicles with better than average reliability.

It handles just fine for a econo-car. Its NOT a Corvette and nothing will ever get it to half of one.

I'd sell it and get something else. The car is close enough to the ground as it is.

Bill

 

[aquariuscsm]

Yeah,imo,no car looks good lowered. Leave it as is.

 

[semaj281]

First off, anything less than a 2" drop would be a waste of time and money on a Corolla IMO. Because my friend's 06 was lowered 2" with the Megan Racing springs and there was still a good amount of fenderwell gap left. And he was using stock diameter tires.

And I agree with the others about getting a different car if you want better handling. My friend with that Corolla had trouble keeping up with my Mustang in the twisties. And my car has nothing but lowering springs.

 

[Patman]

I've lowered a lot of the cars I've owned in the past, some of them by simply cutting the stock springs (which really is NOT the right way to do it!!) and others by getting Eibach springs.
In all cases I found the car looked so much better, and the handling definitely improved. In some cases I got an alignment, in others I didn't bother. It didn't seem to matter either way, my tire wear was never out of the ordinary, they always wore out evenly for me. I would lower the Corvette (since you can do it by one inch for free just by adjusting some bolts on the suspension) but it already is too low underneath in the wintertime here.

Here is a list of what I had lowered:

87 Mustang GT #1: approximately a 3" drop, by cutting stock springs

87 Mustang GT #2: again, about a 3" drop by cutting stock springs, but eventually put in Ford Motorsport springs which resulted in the car coming up 2" from that point (for a 1 inch drop compared to stock)

94 Grand Am GT: 1.5" drop with Eibach springs

95 Trans Am: 1.5" drop with Eibach springs

98 Firebird Formula: 1.5" drop with Eibach springs


I loved the Eibach springs as you can tell!

Here are the pics of those cars:

 

[JustinH]

Cutting the springs changes the spring rate quite a bit. I bet your ride was plenty bouncy.

Heating the springs is even worse than cutting them..

I would stick to buying a good name brand of lowering springs, they make them for every car I have owned.

 

[Thomas34]

lower away! just dont cut the springs!

 

[Mr Nice]

Just buy springs & new shocks + an alignment for your Corolla.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: mareakin
In a previous thread (long ago) I asked forum members if there might be ways I can improve the handling of my car and a few people suggested lowering the center of gravity. I am seriously considering that.

That would be nice. The problem is, you usually end up lowering the roll center more than the center of gravity, so you'll actually get MORE body roll for a given amount of lateral load. That's one reason why lowering springs are stiffer than stock (i.e. to compensate for that effect).

Stiffer springs, in turn, reduce compliance (of course). So, it'll feel nice on smooth roads, but be more likely to skitter sideways over mid-corner bumps.


Originally Posted By: mareakin
1. Lower the car by .5 inch by using the OEM stock stiffer springs from the 2006 Corolla XRS car (this is the "sports" trim of the same car.) This spring will indeed fit my car. The spring rate for this vehicle is approximately 200lb./in. (versus--130 lb./in. for my stock Corolla)

2. Lower the car by 1.1 inches with an Eibach Pro-Kit (progressive spring, not sure what the spring rate is.)

If you have to pick one of these options, I'd pick the first. Another problem with aftermarket springs is that they aren't always optimized to prevent odd effects like see-sawing (where the car kind of bucks back and forth over some bumps). OEM springs usually are.

Also, definitely consider getting better dampers. They are absolutely essential to proper handling. Stiffer springs with stock dampers can make the car bouncy.


Originally Posted By: mareakin
I hope to improve the handling and roadholding of my Corolla. Nicer looks are a plus, but secondary.

Do you think I should do it?

Oddly enough, I'd say looks are the only real reason to lower your car. Lowering may or may not make your car handle better (although the lack of body roll certainly feels nice).


Originally Posted By: mareakin
What are some pitfalls that I am overlooking?

All of the above, plus possible alignment issues -- not just in the static measurements but in the way your wheels turn as you steer or camber in and out over bumps. There might also be more torque steer and bump steer, and your CV joints might wear out sooner.

And then, of course, you probably will lose more in terms of ride quality than you will gain in handling. Not a problem if ride quality doesn't mean anything to you, but I suspect you would prefer a smooth ride, all else equal. Correct me if I'm wrong.


All in all, I would say to consider springs as a tweak, and plan on a few sacrifices. The only benefit you can count on is a reduction in body roll; handling and roadholding may or may not improve.

If you really want a better handling car, I strongly agree with the idea to get another car. There are other options that are still very economic to run.

 

[mechtech2]

Lots of good points to consider above.

Is it worth it for this car? Just for street driving? I dunno..
If you are going to drop it, drop it. Go for the 1 inch drop, not the insignificant 1/2 inch.
Getting in and out are tougher, and snow clearance is less - same for curbs, small potholes, and speed strips. But handling will certainly be better, to the limits of the tires and struts. [These are your limits already!]

An alignment is a good idea. A little more camber than stock is good, but the toe must be checked and adjusted.

 

[CourierDriver]

to each his own i guess.

 

[scurvy]

I'm gonna be the stick in the mud here and say not to lower it. Ride quality goes to doody and the extra beating is often much harsher on CV joints, suspension bushings, oil pans, etc...

When I refreshed the front strut mounts in my Golf I put in OEM 10mm spacers for MORE ground clearance. Much less dings in my metal skidplate now, and with the VW A4 platform, raising the roll center improves handling.

 

[ET16]

Resale might be another thing to consider. Would such a car be easier or harder to sell afterward?

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: ET16
Resale might be another thing to consider. Would such a car be easier or harder to sell afterward?


Harder. Any mod would make it worst unless the person buying really had to have the mod.

 

[sciphi]

Get the OEM lowering springs, and better tires. Or better yet, get +1 or +2 wheels and high-performance all-seasons. I wouldn't recommend anything thinner than a 45 series sidewall for ride comfort, and even that's pushing it a lot. NYC streets are worse than Buffalo's!