Hey all,

About to install all my suspension stuff and not sure how LOW I want to sit. I have to drive over 3 or 4 speed bumps every day and I don't want to scrape anything if I can avoid it. Can anyone tell me what a "safe" drop is? 1"? 1.5"?

2006 R50, sunroof, 16x7 wheels, 205/50/16 tires, ST coilovers.

 

Depends on the speed bumps...You can check out my car when you pickup the parts. I'm lowered about 2.5" on smaller tires. I'd say I can get over 80% of speed bumps no problem. You learn very quickly which ones to avoid.

 

That would be great! What size wheels are you running?

 

If no under-side bracing ( M7-USS or TSW-X Brace ) the first thing to hit will be the little air-diverter just under the front bumper. If that is all that hits you can go at a slight angle to help with that. Not quite as low on each side as in the middle area.
I trimmed some of mine off before it eventually trimmed it's self off at some point..
Just got to always be aware of the angle your pulling in and out of places...

 

Winters now, 175/65/15 I think that's stock tire size. I run 205/40/17 in the summer though. The lip under the bumper scraped on everything so I dremeled it off.

 

This.

I had the HR Springs which gave me about an 1.5 drop. There are just some places you are just going to hear that thing scrape. It's going to make you and everyone in hear shot go . Just trim some off.

 

Thanks everyone.. maybe I'll just go all the way down... the ST's have a low point of 2.2" dropped. I have no qualms about shaving off the plastic chin if that's going to be the only real issue. I suppose if it gives me trouble I can always adjust it back up.

 

Why not measure the height of the speed bumps, measure the current clearance on your suspension, subtract and you will know exactly how much you can lower the car without having to guess?

 

Checked your gallery out. Love that car set up. Trim stripes, color, the whole thing. Very nice.

 

I intend on getting these very soon from Way

 

That's just crazy enough to work!

 

Im not on bags but when I was putting the Cooper in storage I was backing it into the space and I litterally was hitting the 1.5" lip of the storage unit entry with my front subframe. I had to turn the car around at go at an extreme angle to get it in there. Also, It has been my DD the way it sits currently since like 2005? So my answer to your question is...however low you can go without ripping stuff off your car...lol. No one can answer this question but YOU. My BMW cant really even go over speed bumps without me hearing a loud "thud" from the cross-member hitting the bump. Its all how slow you want to go my friend.....

 

We want pics!

 

I'm still waiting on the spacers! I will post pics as soon as I get everything installed though, provided the car is washed

It's getting tough driving around on the snow/ice tires when it's sunny and warm out now, can't wait.

 

Thank you!!

 

im one of the lowest people on this forum and I will tell you that speedbumps are a challenge at my height. Sure I scrape a little, hit my jack points, occassionally lay some frame.. but I wouldnt have it any other way..

On H&R springs I could get over most things without issue and that was a 1.5" drop.

Now I sit about .7" from the ground on my front bumper and 2.8" on my side skirts.

 

With any springs you will be fine.

Coilovers are where you'll have issues, if you choose to lower them past 3" or so.

I lowered my car another 2" almost this past weekend, and I am lowered a little over 5" from my stock height now. I'm about 2.3" side skirt to ground, and I can't fit the detachable circular part of my key fob under my front bumper, so yes, speed bumps are definitely an issue, as well as dips in the road, etc.

What I have done is put 3 layers of duct tape on anything that I think is sensitive to scrapping- my exhaust, and anywhere under the bottom of the car that is lower than the rest. Seems to dampen the noise some and it protects metal from getting scratched up.

Good luck! All worth it in the end.

 

^challenge accepted.

That is once my car is back. Ive snapped 3 axles, damaged 1 oil pan, 1 cat back, 4 v-bands, 1 wheel bearing, 1 hub, two side skirts.

All have been damaged and are being replaced from being too low.

total cost: $5900

but im still not going to raise it.

 

Damn, man. You need to be more careful! That's horrible. Only damage I've done is to my fender's inner liner... and my tires, of course. :P

 

Heavy rain and blind corner on a mountain road that led into a rock slide around the corner :( tried to miss most of them, but still hit some, enough to do some damage.

The axles, well you will start going through them too dont worry

 

That sucks, I didn't know about that. Any damage to the body?

As far as the axles...... we'll see about that. :P

 

Just damage to my skirts. Get the car back wednesday.

As for the axles, did you notch your frame? how are you getting around the axles hitting? I know mine hit super low, ive seen the groves in my axles.. and when you get in a bad dip or something and turn hard.. it tends to kill them or pop them.

Over extension is the problem i was seeing.

 

I haven't done any heavy driving since I installed the RS's. Kind of taking it easy until I get the proper lugs in. They are not as deep in as I'd like them to be, because the stock lugs are too fat so they hit the wheel before going all the way in. I still got them torqued down to spec, but still. The skinnier lugs get here in 2 days, so I'll feel better then.

I did go to the dragon's tale this past weekend when I was picking up my new wheels, and I was about an inch higher than I am right now. (before I lowered it another inch, which is where I am now). The car didn't have any issues besides severe rubbing on the back right tire, but that's because I had 3 of my buddies in the car which added a ton of weight.