WINTER & Suspension

[PHATMartz]

Hey everyone, I need your advice about the winter and dropping my suspension. I just bought some Tein S springs, that lowered -1.8" rear and -1.4" front, and I was wondering if it could affect my driving during winter.

HELP ME OUT!

I wish to install them soon, although I'll wait for next summer.

Cheers!(drinks)

 

[Micah]

I'm just going to take a guess and say that if you are driving in the winter, you really shouldn't be pushing your cars suspension too much anyway. On the one hand, a slight body roll can act as a warning to an alert driver. On the other hand, a tighter suspension should hold the road better. I do remember this about my camaro. ( 84 z-28 / 3.73 rear / edelbrock performance intake / holley 650 dbl pumper / b&m shift kit / th350 trans / hooker headers / dual flowmaster exhaust - god I need to buy/build another one ) The car handled amazing, corners at 50mph all the time. But the bad part of that was that it inspired a false confidence, driving that car in the rain and snow was always a bit scary.

Just use your head, and when you can't - use the emergency brake.

 

[alexlitov]

IF you have too much snow in your area, you will be a snow pillar with a low car...

 

[BlueMP5Dave]

To much snow to low of a car you will have problems with you CV boots also. You will make your car a snow plow

 

[ounkny]

I have a similar question. Right now I am at stock ride height for a 2000 ES sedan. Now I understand that the MSP is somewhere around a 0.75 inch drop from the regular sedan's height.

I am about to have my JIC coilovers installed, and I am thinking of a drop of about 1.0" front and back, with the idea that I won't have any more clearance problems than an MSP (since the MSP also has the stock body kit that makes it even lower).

Any advice on whether this will be okay? I live in Chicago and I think we'll have a bit of snow this winter. Thanks in advance.

 

[flat_black]

For snow driving, you generally want a longer suspension throw (Further strut/spring travel). Stiffness is still good, as it keeps the tires in contact with the ground easier. Adjustable suspensions would be best, and if you can, raise your car a tiny bit. Half an inch to an inch or so higher than stock. But that's just my suggestion. =)

 

[ounkny]

flat_black, I like your suggestions. With the adjustable ride height coilovers, there's no reason to make the car lower than it needs to be in the winter. So I would like to set it right the first time and then maybe adjust it in the spring if I want to lower it for better handling.

What suggestion would you have for someone like PHATMartz, who is planning on going with fixed-height lowering springs?

 

[flat_black]

If you have fixed height coilovers, you'll most likely need to just put on your old springs, or simply deal with having the car lower, and possible handling issues in the snow due to the shorter springs mixed with the uneven ground. Such are the joys of winter in a sporty car. =)