[goddardzilla]

By how much have you guys/gals lowered your cars? What were the trade-offs? Do you want to ditch your lowered springs? Overall are you satisfied/dissatisfied?


My opinion (reading it is optional):

Yeah I like a bit of lowering

Though after a certain point lowering the car, without substantial attention to the other suspension components, negates benefits and just becomes a fashion statement for show cars - look at my car it's lowered - it looks cool - it must be fast.

The spring companies are making money off many customers without providing a wide area of improvement. Often they get the rates wrong and have to "adjust" them after they've sold hundreds of spring sets - which turn up in the buy and sell area of forums and on Ebay. Many suffer in blind acceptance - these must be good - I paid good money for them! If those same springs were a factory option, the volume of the complaints would be heard at the North Pole (still there is it? - not melted away yet?).

Does the 300c need stiffer lower springs? In my opinion...... and remember this only my opinion ..... yes, but not much stiffer because I don't want to trade off too much ride quality for improved cornering power. I believe I would examine stiffer sway bars first, but they do nothing cosmetic to the car .... all steak no sizzle!

I like the Lotus (car) philosophy "spring softly and damp well"
.... why am I tempted to add "Grashopper" to that statement?
The damping applies to the control the shock absorber exerts over the suspension movement.

Roads are rarely as smooth as glass - at least where I live. The ride become too stiff and without compliance. Comfort become chiropractic territory. Bumpstops are not springs.

On show cars luvverly luvverly.......... road cars not........ or I'll rephrase that "not too much" without re-engineering most things in the suspension department.

Just my opinion --- want to hear yours

Zilla

 

[5point7]

Zilla,
I've lowered my stang by 1.5" - on these roads, it has become an issue to drive it, as I will bottom out VERY easily on speed bumps, dips in the road, any driveway with an angle...etc. I have to pay close attention to where I'm going and turning at all times to make sure the 2k exhaust system stays safe (when it bottoms out, it's usually a cross brace that is ok if it gets hammered, but the exhaust drags on angled driveways. It's my garage queen, not my driver so I deal with it.

On my C, I would only consider a .5 to .75 drop MAX - any more and bottoming out is an issue. And all of the suspension angles start getting messed up and you need to start replacing other parts to make sure it handles properly. I'm waiting to see how the Mopar springs are set up, and if they are the same as on the SRT, I'll consider those as a little bit lower and a little bit stiffer would be ok. Otherwise...no springs for me - I want to drive and not worry about it, and I already bottom out on some of the driveways around here as it is....

 

[Northern Rider]

When I was in my teens I just had to lower my rides for appearance. Just had to look cool.

I soon discovered that lowering for appearance had unexpected consequences, such as tearing off suspension parts, rear ends, mufflers, a cracked transmission case and a hole through the oil pan. I just couldn't afford to keep looking cool.

Since then, I have modified the height of several cars for performance reasons. Some rally cars were actually raised to create more ground clearance for rough roads. We designed and engineered spacers that we could remove to compete on tarmac.

Race cars are lowered to get the center of gravity as low as possible, thus resisting roll and wheel lift. Increasingly, lowering is important to create ground effects - downforce created by airflow over body panels to keep the wheels planted at all times.

Stiffening suspension and lowering are two different things and can be exclusive of each other. Unfortunately, many of the lowering kits simply involve shorter and often stiffer springs. they are not engineered in most cases for performance improvement. they degrade ride and alter the harmonic integration engineered into the factory settings.

The 300C is an amazing design of tires, wheels, suspension, brakes, steering, transmission, engine and complex computer modules working together to create a good handling, very fast, smooth, quiet car that compares to other cars costing much, much more.

This didn't occur by accident, but rather by design. Mercedes build some of the best cars on the planet. Chrysler have a state-of-the-art computer design, engineering and and testing facility. The 300C is truly greater than the sum of the parts. Owners who attempt major alterations of key components to the running gear are unlikely to improve signifcantly on this wonderfully integrated package.

The risk of degrading the car's good features are, on the other hand, too great for this author to want to experiment on his daily driver, by lowering this long 120" wheelbase sedan.

the answer to performance gains is spelled SRT-8.

 

[415_300C]

NR- any word on SRT springs? or the Mopar's lowering spring for the C?

 

["C"for me]

Oh Northern Rider - how many times have I wanted to say that. Don't want to give a bashing impression so I let it lie .... to each his/her own. But the facts are as you state them. Everything was engineered toward the end product. Even 20 or 22" wheels/tire combos will throw things askew. Maybe that is why there are quite a few sets for sale? My $.02 worth.

Besides, I am old and I do like a smooth ride without the Continental floaty ride.

 

[Northern Rider]

[QUOTE="C"for me]Oh Northern Rider - how many times have I wanted to say that. Don't want to give a bashing impression so I let it lie .... to each his/her own. But the facts are as you state them. Everything was engineered toward the end product. Even 20 or 22" wheels/tire combos will throw things askew. Maybe that is why there are quite a few sets for sale? My $.02 worth.

Besides, I am old and I do like a smooth ride without the Continental floaty ride. [/QUOTE]

A smooth ride without the float! Add in quietness, precise handling, good brakes and wicked acceleration.

I wonder how many young folks realize just how hard it is to achieve that in any car at any price?

Until you've lived with a few "so-called" luxury cars, foreign and domestic, can you really fully appreciate the wonderful balance that is the 300C?

Oh, and did I mention interior space, drop dead styling and the low price?

Caddy, Lincoln, Jag, Lexus, Infinity ... and everything else over $36K - Eat Your Heart Out.

 

[goddardzilla]

More please

Great set of opinions guys -

More opinions from those that have fitted springs please -- good or bad

I'm only looking for opinions -- not to give anyone a hard time

Personal opinions are never wrong until you change them, and even then they weren't wrong at the time

Gotta go "Top gear's" just started

 

[Northern Rider]

NR- any word on SRT springs? or the Mopar's lowering spring for the C?

Sorry, can't give an opinion as I have no direct experience with either.

 

[Angi300C]

Zilla, I haven't lower mine but I get alot of inquiries from folks around town, because they think I did or assume I have bigger tires than my 20's that's on her. I like mods build character but I prefer simple mods (ie adding mudflaps ) just my .02. Sorry I couldn't help!

 

[goddardzilla]

Go faster Mudflaps?

Zilla,
I like mods build character but I prefer simple mods (ie adding mudflaps ) just my .02. Sorry I couldn't help!

Verbal restraints on!

Oh you just a temptin' me aren't ya? Mudflaps?

Something about what happens if you stick your neck out -- see line one - you owe me one now

Zilla

PS. gotta love that midnight blue - make a very nice patrol car