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Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 11:22 am
by Johnny-p
Having just seen pics of a very nice lowered X in the states it got the little grey cells wondering.....

Now bearing in mind I tow a caravan so will want to keep the rear air suspension to keep things level..

Is there a way of lowering mine?.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question I'm just curious as one of my only dislikes of the X is the big gap between wheel/arches.. I'm never gonna use it off-road anyway...


John..

Re: Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 11:43 am
by shadrack
front springs, and either lowering links or re coding for the rear

Re: Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:51 pm
by Johnny-p
Hmmm  8)

I take it the recoding brings the rear down to make it level with the front??

Are there any problems in doing this,is it something my Indy would frown upon doing?

Is there a limit to how far you can bring it down?

Also would the geometry need re doing?.

John

Re: Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:50 pm
by B5tew

Re: Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 4:15 pm
by Raj
Only issue lowering too much is the very increased negative camber on both rear and front. You won't be able to dial it out back into spec either unless you start using specific camber bush kits and camber plates. All of which are not cheap tbh.

To lower a car with just rear air, you'll need the front springs and lowering links (or springs) depending upon which route you plan to take.

Re: Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:14 pm
by shadrack
I self lowered mine on inpa for the rear

Re: Lowering

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 9:27 pm
by macca
yep i can confirm that you need to do camber bushes in the rear if you dont want to chew out the inner edges of your rear tyres,

i also would be concerned with rear air suspension as lowering the rear requires lowering the pressure in the air bag, doing this will soften the rear suspension and decrease its load carring capabilities, especially important if towing a caravan

if you really want to do this i think you would be better off considering removing the air bags and adding lowered springs to the rear

just my thoughts

Re: Lowering

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:36 pm
by shadrack
[quote="macca"]
yep i can confirm that you need to do camber bushes in the rear if you dont want to chew out the inner edges of your rear tyres,

i also would be concerned with rear air suspension as lowering the rear requires lowering the pressure in the air bag, doing this will soften the rear suspension and decrease its load carring capabilities, especially important if towing a caravan

if you really want to do this i think you would be better off considering removing the air bags and adding lowered springs to the rear

just my thoughts
[/quote]

i doesnt change anything, i re calibrates the top point, and keeps everything the same, hitch up a 16ft trailer and put a tractor on it and it still self levels perfect, no difference in ride quality or anything

Re: Lowering

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:02 pm
by Johnny-p
Nice one Shad!

How low have you gone on yours?
My caravan is only 1400kg max fully laden so no real biggie..
The more I look at these stateside low riders the more I need to do it 8)
The X is in for a 5 day detailing this week and Im missing the old girl already :-[
I think on my Xmas list will be a set of 20" rims /arch extensions/front springs!!!
And all without the missus finding out O:-)

Re: Lowering

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:51 pm
by shadrack
[quote="Johnny-p"]
Nice one Shad!

How low have you gone on yours?
My caravan is only 1400kg max fully laden so no real biggie..
The more I look at these stateside low riders the more I need to do it 8)
The X is in for a 5 day detailing this week and Im missing the old girl already :-[
I think on my Xmas list will be a set of 20" rims /arch extensions/front springs!!!
And all without the missus finding out O:-)
[/quote]

i dont have mine now i just lerk but it was -40mm i think theres some picture of it on here somewhere, but yeh rear sus fully functions as it should when towing

Re: Lowering

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:09 am
by shadrack
-40mm on 22s
Image

Re: Lowering

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:35 pm
by Johnny-p
Looks sweet fella 8)

Looking at your running boards/arches /bumpers have you had them sprayed? They look nice n shiny in the pic...

Re: Lowering

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:52 pm
by shadrack
[quote="Johnny-p"]
Looks sweet fella 8)

Looking at your running boards/arches /bumpers have you had them sprayed? They look nice n shiny in the pic...
[/quote]

they were all sprayed in bmw gloss black as i despised using back to black products so did that instead to have them look black all the time, have done this to my transit as well

Re: Lowering

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:03 pm
by Johnny-p
sorry for all the questions but were they sprayed in situ or taken off??

Gonna be trawling the breakers for some flares arches and I reckon i may go your route with bumpers aswell,after all it's sapphire black bodywork already..

What was the cost??

What make of lowered springs did you use as most I've seen have been -30/35mm..

Cheers..

Re: Lowering

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:08 pm
by shadrack
no they were all taken off, not a hard job but you will need new arch rivets as they are not re use-able, pointless asking me what i paid for paint as no where on earth will probly match what i had done for what i paid (mates rates)

cant remember the make of the springs got hem off ebay