Lowering Spindles
07-29-2004, 04:17 PM
#5
The purported advantage of lowering the car using lowering spindles as opposed to lowering springs is that it does not change the suspension geometry. When you use lowering springs, the static height of the entire suspension is lower. This changes things like static camber, caster, toe, and can affect bump steer.
On an F-body (at least 4th gens, not sure about all the earlier generations), there really is no advantage for a couple reasons...
1. from a performance standpoint, you get better alignment settings with the suspension lower. At stock ride height, you will max out camber adjustments well before -1 degree. With it lowered 1", you can usually get -1 or slightly more, and that offers better cornering grip. Same with caster. Toe is never really a problem, and that can be readjusted with lowering springs relatively easy.
2. Unless you go with some sort of adjustable coil-over spring setup, you're going to be stuck with your stock springs with lowering spindles, as ALL the stiffer aftermarket springs lower the car at least an inch themselves (only alternative would be 1LE springs, which are only about 20% stiffer than stock), and combining that with the drop from lowering spindles will likely be way too much. And if you did go to an adjustable coil-over spring setup, the spindles are pretty much a waste as you can get whatever ride height you want with whatever springs you're using, and still take advantage of the better alignment options from the lowered suspension.
3. If this is not intended as a performance oriented mod, then just get lowering springs. More readily available, probably cheaper, probably easier to install, and they all provide known results. There's just no point in getting lowering spindles for our cars. No real advantage from either a performance or a style point of view.
On an F-body (at least 4th gens, not sure about all the earlier generations), there really is no advantage for a couple reasons...
1. from a performance standpoint, you get better alignment settings with the suspension lower. At stock ride height, you will max out camber adjustments well before -1 degree. With it lowered 1", you can usually get -1 or slightly more, and that offers better cornering grip. Same with caster. Toe is never really a problem, and that can be readjusted with lowering springs relatively easy.
2. Unless you go with some sort of adjustable coil-over spring setup, you're going to be stuck with your stock springs with lowering spindles, as ALL the stiffer aftermarket springs lower the car at least an inch themselves (only alternative would be 1LE springs, which are only about 20% stiffer than stock), and combining that with the drop from lowering spindles will likely be way too much. And if you did go to an adjustable coil-over spring setup, the spindles are pretty much a waste as you can get whatever ride height you want with whatever springs you're using, and still take advantage of the better alignment options from the lowered suspension.
3. If this is not intended as a performance oriented mod, then just get lowering springs. More readily available, probably cheaper, probably easier to install, and they all provide known results. There's just no point in getting lowering spindles for our cars. No real advantage from either a performance or a style point of view.
07-29-2004, 10:19 PM
#7
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thanks guys since the post Ive looked into coil overs and I think Im just going to get a set because I want to be able to adjust the height