Mike,
I want to lower my ’54 Ford but still keep it riding good, can this be done?
-Jerry
Jerry,
Whenever a vehicle is lowered, there is a reduction in the amount of suspension travel. Because of this, the spring rate (how much weight it takes to deflect a spring one inch) is increased.
Suspension travel and steering geometry are the main things to be concerned about when lowering any vehicle. If we go too low, things under the car can start hitting each other. And if we go too low in the front, we can create steering problems.
Our rules are go no lower than 2 inches with coil springs and 3 inches with leaf springs and the above problems can be avoided.
Even with the maximum amount of lowering, the increase in spring rate can be held to 15% or less. In reality this is not enough to effect the ride.
So go low, my son.
– Mike
