I'm wondering what kind of experience people have had with lowering a car in the summer time and raising in the winter does this present any unforeseen issues? I would like to have my car as a daily driver driven year round. With tough winters having a lowered car is not an option. Tracking may also take place a few times a year. Would coilovers be overkill? Any better options in anyone's opinion?

How many people run something like this now and is it a pain? Does alignment become an issue? I would assume its pretty straight forward.

Ive always had a "summer car" permanently lowered, and drove a beater but that won't be the case in a few months.

Thanks in advance.

 

Every time you change the cars height you will need an alignment if you want pristine handling characteristics.

 

Truth. But, you can always do your own alignments like I do

 

Why not just stay stock? You're going to have to get it properly corner balanced and aligned every time you adjust the ride height which will be costly.

 

Yeah, that's why I wanted to see if people have been doing it and see if its worth it or not.

Does corner balancing have to be done at a specialty alignment place or can be done at most places that do alignments?

I have time to decide anyway but I think it looks too good lowered with some nice rims not to do it, not to mention that's what I'm in to.

Is there anyone else that drives the car all year round in an area with bad winters (that hasn't left the car stock height-wise?)

 

You could do what I did with my VIII. Buy a life time alignment and just go there a couple times per year to do the alignment. I bought from firestone and they told me to bring it back in if ever my alignment was off or if I wanted it checked. I think I paid $120 at the time. I did like six alignments during my ownership.

 

you have a awd drive car why would lowering it be an issue for winter? Either way if the snow fall is heavy enough lowered or not you'll still be driving through snow. I'd only be concerned with changing out tires for the seasons change

 

A 40mm+ drop can make a big difference between clearing the snow or plowing the snow. Even here in Calgary it's not that often that the main roads get a big enough build-up of snow to worry a standard height car too much......lowered cars can be a different story.

For the sake of a couple of hours and minimal outlay each year, I'd personally rather have the extra clearance during the winter.

 

Where do you live?

Here in chicago... when it snows more then 3" I'm the snow plow for cars that follow. hehehehe... This past winter...this happened more then 10 times..
Love my Bilzzaks.

If you live in Calgary...I would say it's definitely worth raising it.

Most alignment shops will have packages that includes unlimited alignments for 1 year / 3 year / 5 year / lifetime.

It pays for itself if you go more then 3 times a year.

 

i guess if 60 bucks 2 times a year is spendy

 

You couldn't find someone who can do a proper corner balance and alignment for $60. Hell, if you can get someone to do it for less than $400, that's a deal.

 

Perfect idea, I was thinking the same thing. Tire places will offer a lifetime alignment plan for maybe 40 bucks more thinking they're making money off the consumer, and usually they are cause I bet most people who buy it don't come back for a second alignment.

But just keep going back twice a year to the same shop and get it done again for free each time. Will save you a ton of money.

 

But remember that places like firestone will just do a toe and go. Make sure they do full sweeps after camber caster and toe.

 

That's a great idea I didn't even know places offered lifetime alignments or even yearly for that matter. Would that be as sufficient as getting the "corner balancing" that MrBonus is talking about? I would assume so.

I have had alignments done at a local Goodyear that does awesome alignments on previous cars that were lowered that did do camber caster toe everything. That would be fine right? Or is corner balancing something else? I know I've read about Robi doing alignments but im assuming that's prepping for race use and is a lot more than a daily driver would need correct?

Oh and yes here in Buffalo NY its not uncommon for more than a foot or two of snow on numerous occasions throughout the winter. (gotta love lake effect)