How low is too low??

**usualsuspektt** · 10-22-2010 09:38 AM

I got a set of H&R coilovers and was going to install them next week but have been doing some reading on here and found that a set of control arms helps give added adjustment for the alignment. My question is how low can you go before you start chewing up tread on stock control arms? I live in the north-east and the car is my daily so maybe I'll wait until spring to put the suspension on along with control arms.

**mbgt72** · 10-22-2010 09:45 AM

it's really an issue of your fenders first. Your alignment is going to only help so much, any if you get down to 25"g-f you'll see about a -2 camber. Past 25-25.25" is about as low as you can go on stock control arms before the fender starts chewing the tires. (some have gotten by with lower, and tire choice plays a HUGE part of this as I am referencing 235s since most people are running them on the S4). And also you will need to remove the fender lining screw at the 12 o'clock position. This is a very very common first fix when rubbing is an issue and the fender lining will still be perfectly fine so don't worry about any negative effects from removing this one screw.

**LJH** · 10-22-2010 11:54 AM

Also keep in mind that the lower you go the less suspension travel you have. Now if you are always driving on glass smooth roads this is not much of an issue as you are not using all the suspension travel but on roads that have dips where the suspension is "working" travel is your friend. When I had my B5 S4 I originally set my C/O's at roughly 25.25" G-F and it was terrible when I was out for a spirited drive on back roads. I then adjusted them to 25.5+" and the difference was night and day....so many times better. Just look at the ride height of a tarmac rally car, these cars run on real roads and they are not that low.

Cheers,
Jim

**koolade9** · 10-22-2010 12:20 PM

if you don't gotta worry about speed bumps...f*ck it...dump it! Some A4 guys rock 24" fender to ground.

**drew** · 10-22-2010 01:05 PM

i'd say 24.75 is about the limit with 19s and 235s to still maintaing good handling and looks...

this is 24.75 front and back

**A4 KiDD 810** · 10-22-2010 01:29 PM

Drew your car looks great! I want those wheels so bad !

**staticuxo** · 10-22-2010 01:40 PM

was is in the 23" GTF range.. it got a little nuts, so i'm around 24" GTF now with 19x9 et29:

**howsyouraspen** · 10-22-2010 05:33 PM

Oh man. That's perfect right there static ^

**NYC_Legacy** · 10-22-2010 05:35 PM

Love it static so much...just around 23GTF on pulled rears have more room but not enough coil...rears are maxed

Funny thing is when I went this low my handling got better went from planted to on rails. You learn to be low so dont be afraid OP

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

**Quattro05** · 10-22-2010 06:53 PM

Whoa!! LM's on Silver look sick on this pic!

**RAudi Driver** · 10-22-2010 09:27 PM

All those cars look sick. Koolade is right, drop that sucker!

**usualsuspektt** · 10-23-2010 04:58 AM

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm not new to a low daily so I'm not worried about that, I just don't want to chew up tires if I don't have to. I'm still undecided on the waiting till spring to install the coilovers with control arms, I'll keep you posted.

**TahoeS4** · 10-23-2010 08:46 PM

Drop that thing!!!!

**green a6** · 10-23-2010 09:09 PM

24.75 is a nice height depend on driving conditions if you want to drop lower/do it

**cam** · 10-23-2010 09:20 PM

23.75 gtf with 235/35/19's, and i live in nyc :)

**Mr. Corey** · 10-24-2010 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by staticuxo

was is in the 23" GTF range.. it got a little nuts, so i'm around 24" GTF now with 19x9 et29:

Would look better with some GTC's on their hahaha

**staticuxo** · 10-24-2010 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Corey

Would look better with some GTC's on their hahaha

next spring photoshoot

**whartung** · 10-24-2010 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by cam

23.75 gtf with 235/35/19's, and i live in nyc :)

pics or it didnt happen...

**BUD-S4** · 10-24-2010 02:06 PM

This thread has too many sexy cars in it. I can't handle it. ha ha

**S4Berry** · 10-24-2010 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by NYC_Legacy

Love it static so much...just around 23GTF on pulled rears have more room but not enough coil...rears are maxed

Funny thing is when I went this low my handling got better went from planted to on rails. You learn to be low so dont be afraid OP

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Are you running a 225/35/19 on a 19x9 rim? If so was pulling the rear fenders necessary for this combo to fit?

I'm currently running a 215/35/19 with a 10mm spacer at 23 GTF. Just trying to figure out if its a matter of going with a smaller spacer or pulling the fenders.

**staticuxo** · 10-24-2010 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by S4Berry

Are you running a 225/35/19 on a 19x9 rim? If so was pulling the rear fenders necessary for this combo to fit?

I'm currently running a 215/35/19 with a 10mm spacer at 23 GTF. Just trying to figure out if its a matter of going with a smaller spacer or pulling the fenders.

no, those are 225/35 on a 8.5" wide wheel et35.. mine are a 225/35 on a 9" wide wheel et 29 with no fender work... he didn't need to pull the fenders, but he's running a 20 mm spacer in the rear.

**S4Berry** · 10-24-2010 07:16 PM

Right on! Have any side shots of your car?

**NYC_Legacy** · 10-24-2010 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by S4Berry

Right on! Have any side shots of your car?

To Legit to Raise

**S4Berry** · 10-25-2010 07:57 PM

I know what you mean. Here's mine on the alignment rack when I was stanced just under 23" FTG in the front.

**keresks7** · 11-03-2010 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by cam

23.75 gtf with 235/35/19's, and i live in nyc :)

tough in NYC dude, I was considering and never dropped it because of the wholes and bumps in the city... awful !

**keresks7** · 11-03-2010 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by S4Berry

I know what you mean. Here's mine on the alignment rack when I was stanced just under 23" FTG in the front.

are these the big 'B' rims?

**blkonblkS4** · 11-03-2010 02:09 PM

Yep^

**RiCHV382** · 11-03-2010 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by cam

23.75 gtf with 235/35/19's, and i live in nyc :)

Cam what coil overs are you running that allows 23"s The front isn't usually the issue but in the rears? I guess is the the same question for static too since I know your on KW V3s. I'm on V2s with the rears spun all the way down sitting around 24" all around. I want to go lower at this point but I'm not sure about removing the perches in the rear. OP If you really like the low (24.5" and under IMO) look and want to be that low just get the stern or 034 ACAs from the start so tire wear isn't an issue.

picture whore I am

**Mr. Corey** · 11-03-2010 08:55 PM

I'm digging all the Bentley Wheels in this thread!!!!!!!!!! I'm at 24.75''GTF

[IMG]

[/IMG]

[IMG]

[/IMG]

**Beelzeebub** · 11-03-2010 09:07 PM

Well, its obvious what cars don't run on snow covered roads in this thread. :) OP, unless you are willing to risk your car being transformed into a snow plough or have something else to use when the weather turns nasty and roads aren't cleared, I'd leave it at stock height.

**drew** · 11-03-2010 09:11 PM

what do those bentley wheels weigh? they look massive

**Mr. Corey** · 11-03-2010 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Beelzeebub

Well, its obvious what cars don't run on snow covered roads in this thread. :) OP, unless you are willing to risk your car being transformed into a snow plough or have something else to use when the weather turns nasty and roads aren't cleared, I'd leave it at stock height.

You guessed it right for me. I parked her today until April sux!!!!!! OP I'd suggest waiting till spring to lower it if you have to deal with snow.

**Mr. Corey** · 11-03-2010 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by drew

what do those bentley wheels weigh? they look massive

Not as bad as you'd think, their about same or a pound more/less than the stock

**staticuxo** · 11-04-2010 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by Beelzeebub

Well, its obvious what cars don't run on snow covered roads in this thread. :) OP, unless you are willing to risk your car being transformed into a snow plough or have something else to use when the weather turns nasty and roads aren't cleared, I'd leave it at stock height.

lol i didn't raise mine last year.. daily driver.

**S4fever** · 11-04-2010 10:05 AM

how do you get around in NY then?? you have some balls my friend^^^^

**staticuxo** · 11-04-2010 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by S4fever

how do you get around in NY then?? you have some balls my friend^^^^

wasn't too fun last year.. in the snow you just hear scraping the whole time while moving.. lol. all the plastic underbody was basically being dragged lol

this year, i WILL be raising it.. (i have to a bit in order to fit my 235/35's on my 19x9 et29)

**S4fever** · 11-05-2010 08:16 AM

Lastyear in the snow i ripped off my whole entire belly pan and that was on stock suspension. Now im running on H&Rs and im kinda worried

**BUD-S4** · 11-05-2010 08:39 AM

I love seasons, but I'm glad I live in a place that has the best one all year long. My car is going to sit at a solid 24"s all winter... with summer tires on it.

**cam** · 11-08-2010 08:41 PM

eh, driving a lowered car in the city isnt too bad. there really arent alot of places to open it up so its easy to dodge the shit in the road. and im on an older set of what was sold to me as stasis street sports. i have about another inch of thread in the rears and atleaset 2.5in in the front. I hit the upper control arms on the body lol. Im gonna raise it an inch over the weekend. i took my works of and have a set of 18x8 rpf1's on for the winter, and im actually probablly closer to 23 gtf as we speak

Thread: How low is too low??

Thread Tools

Display

How low is too low??

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions