There are car models that do not fit into the realities of the Russian roads at all. These are many representatives of the class of sedans and hatchbacks with a fairly low ground clearance. The problems of these cars are due to the fact that during the trip, the transport is significantly affected by the bad road. In particular, humps and ruts for such a car become a real challenge. And to meet similar problems on the Russian roads still uncomplicated. However, the situation with roads in all directions is significantly improving, and this is noticeable to the naked eye. Nevertheless, the desire to raise the vehicle's ground clearance remained. Especially it concerns Hyundai owners i30 of the first and second generation, VW Passat B5 Plus 2.8, Skoda Octavia 7 and Skoda Rapid, Honda Accord and Honda civic... You can continue to list cars with a fairly low clearance endlessly, since there are a lot of them on the market. Optimal ground clearance for RF conditions - 16.5 cm and above.
If the ground clearance of your car is 14 or even 13.5 cm, then this clearance will constantly cause discomfort during the trip. You will have to choose the right trajectory of movement, watch out for humps on the asphalt and always adhere to the position of collision with the ridges of the track. Such troubles in the operation of a car will cause the most unpleasant sensations in movement. And during a long trip, even more unpleasant moments are possible, such as tremendous fatigue and stress from constant monitoring of quality. road surface... So often the owners of cars with low ground clearance begin to look for options on how to safely increase this very clearance. Today we will consider the most adequate and popular ways to raise the ground clearance without harming the quality and safety of movement by car.
Replacing wheels and tires with a larger diameter - effective, but not enough
If the wheel arches allow, you can get an additional 1-1.5 cm of ground clearance by replacing the original wheels with large ones. It is enough to add one inch to the radius of the wheel circumference to increase the ground clearance by about 1 cm. You can also change the rubber. For example, if the factory size for you is 205/55 R16, you can purchase 205/65 R16 tires. This will increase the profile height by about 1 cm, which will also provide a slight plus to the clearance.
The advantages of this method are obvious:
- The behavior of the car practically does not change, but the transport can become somewhat harsher. At the same time, it is very important to choose high-quality discs and effective reliable rubber.
- Safety remains at the factory level, there are no changes in the quality of management. The steering wheel can become more poured, but in most cars such reformation is not noticeable at all.
- If the speedometer readings lie, then only by 3-4%, which in general is acceptable norm for modern car... So this parameter should not be taken into account.
- There are no risks of damage to the car's suspension, in fact, the load does not change, the width of the wheels remains the same, their shock absorption even increases slightly due to the height of the rubber profile.
- The car gets higher with minimal costs. You change the rubber one way or another, and its price will not actually change with a difference of 1 inch. The cost is only for new discs.
It is not necessary to buy new wheels. Sometimes it's better to find used original discs for your car. Manufacturers often offer a range of discs for their vehicles, in which you can find the right sizes. But it is not recommended to take wider wheels. It won't bring you a lot of comfort and confidence, completely changing the quality of control. And also such wheels will greatly increase fuel consumption. Adhere to factory width requirements.
Suspension "bad roads": we apply the package ourselves
Many motorists have always been interested in the concept of the "bad roads" package, which is offered in showrooms for many brands and models of cars. In fact, this is just a set of suspension parts with slightly different characteristics. In particular, the package includes a different type of strut and springs, sometimes it includes factory certified spring racks. There are several important features of self-application of such a package:
- it is imperative that the struts change, since many prefer to install only higher springs, but without replacing the struts, the car will not be safe and of high quality in operation;
- it is better to choose original springs, if your car has the concept of a "bad roads" package, but there are a lot of analog solutions, you should pay attention to the quality;
- the kit may include steering parts, supports, bearings with enhanced resistance to wear, but these are all optional additions to the package;
- the installation of new struts and springs must be professional, otherwise the achieved result will be immediately worsened by the poor quality of installation of the main parts of your suspension;
- it is strictly forbidden to use Chinese cheap spare parts or non-certified auto struts and springs, unless you have experience in designing cars.
The alterations are quite simple, you need to buy struts and springs, replace them and enjoy the additional 2-2.5 cm of ground clearance. You can easily combine the first and second steps and get already about 4 cm of addition under the bottom point. At the same time, the costs will be quite bearable, since the racks will still change sooner or later, as well as the tires and wheels. Next time the strut needs to be replaced, look out for the Bad Roads package.
Spring stands - not always acceptable
Probably the most popular way to lift a car off the road is by installing special spring stands. This is a fairly common method that has been used for many years and has worked well on some cars. But in most cases, this method of lifting will not work properly. There are several factors that will help determine the real possibility and adequacy of lifting a car using stands:
When it comes to modern car, which demonstrates excellent reliability of movement, the selection of parts must be professional at all. Keep in mind that with such a rise, you will notice unpleasant changes in vehicle handling, roll on corners will appear, braking forces and steering characteristics will be changed. All this suggests that it is worth thinking three times before using this method of raising the clearance.
What methods of increasing the lumen should not be used?
There are other methods of working with vehicle clearance. Such solutions cannot be used at all because of their extreme danger in operation. Some of the recommendations of garage masters are difficult to apply with adequacy at all. Sometimes the forums post reports about such alterations, from which an experienced craftsman may have a clouding of mind. Worth turning Special attention to a car repair service center if you are offered the following methods of increasing ground clearance:
- Installing homemade coasters for springs or looking for suitable coasters from other cars. This is unacceptable, since the quality and reliability of vehicle operation will be significantly reduced. This installation will lead to significant problems with the machine.
- Installation of wheels 3 or more inches higher than the factory parameters, as well as an increase in the rubber profile by more than 20%. In doing so, you may be asked to bore the wheel arches to get more space for the wheel to move. It is unacceptable.
- Selection and installation of struts and springs from another car. Even if the master claims about the quality and the possibility of such alterations, it is better not to use this method. It can cause the suspension to simply crumble during operation.
- Digestion of the body, changing the attachment points of the main suspension units in order to raise the ground clearance. This is just an amazing activity that will completely destroy your car and make you look for a buyer for a pile of scrap metal.
It is worthwhile to carefully approach the methods of repair, restoration and modernization of the car. But to raise the clearance for many car owners is a necessity. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the methods indicated at the beginning of the article that really work and can become basic for your car. Use only safe vehicle modification options to get the safest and most confident driving conditions.
We offer you to watch a video with a report on the alteration of a car with an increase in ground clearance:
Summing up
There are several dozen methods to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. A number of them are used for all cars, some options exist only for certain types transport. There is always an opportunity to use the option that is most suitable in your case and will get maximum positive emotions from its operation. Therefore, it is important to choose just such a method of working with the suspension, which will be safe and will not cause any problems in the operation of the car. Otherwise, a trip by car will not turn into the most pleasant moments of your life. Sometimes it will be very difficult to redo everything back.
Before making any modifications, it is worth going to the specialized forums for your make and model of the car in order to get more information about the behavior of the vehicle after the conversion. Even if you decide to completely change the suspension in a car, there are such precedents in Russia. So you can always use the experience of other people and get more information about possible alterations. Also consult at good service stations, check the cost of work and other conditions. This will help you prepare for the costs and not be surprised during the rework process. And what methods of increasing ground clearance in a car do you know?
Increase the vehicle's ground clearance, especially for off-road driving enthusiasts. But when there is no experience, then the question becomes where to start the process. We will try to tell you in detail about the methods that are needed for this and the nuances during work.
The content of the article:
Equally important in a car is its ground clearance, it is he who affects the aerodynamics and handling of the car. Some deliberately underestimate, while others, on the contrary, increase it. As a rule, fans of off-road driving and to transport heavy loads increase the clearance.
What is vehicle clearance
Ground clearance, or in other words, ground clearance, is the space from the road surface to the lowest point of the underside of the car. As a rule, the lowest point of the car is most often considered to be the differential, the engine sump guard, the suspension struts or the exhaust pipe.
Often at experienced motorists ground clearance is associated with the maximum depth of a hole that a vehicle can drive. This figure gives a 100% result that the underbody of the car will not be damaged and the car will not get stuck on the road.
For all characteristics, the most large clearance in SUVs, from the manufacturer's factory, these cars are originally designed for off-road driving. The clearance of such SUVs or crossovers starts from 200 mm. For example, the clearance of the VAZ 2121, Mitsubishi pajero (Pajero sport) is 220 mm, Toyota Land cruiser from 225 mm to 270 mm (for complete sets with air suspension).
Passenger cars have lower ground clearance, Lamborghini Diablo about 100 mm, Lada Kalina- 158 mm, Honda Civic 6 EJ6 - 110 mm. But there are situations when the owner is completely satisfied with the car, but its clearance is not, as a result, the search for options begins to change it.
Increase due to spacers
One of the most common ways is to increase ground clearance due to special struts in the springs. For this, special rubber gaskets, calculated in thickness a little more than the span between the coils of the spring. Installing is quite simple and you can handle it yourself.
The essence of the work of such inserts is to support the car when it sags on the springs under its own weight. Rubber inserts simply reduce this sagging and maintain ride height. Due to the inserts, the coils of the spring, where it is located, almost do not bend, and the free coils bend as much as possible, as a result, the clearance increases.
For example, by installing such rubber inserts on Kia cars Rio, Ford focus and Toyota Corolla you can increase the clearance by 3-5 cm, if you do not abuse it, if you overdo it, you can achieve a greater result.
Such a change in ground clearance will adversely affect the suspension stiffness in the negative direction. It will definitely be noticeable knowing the stiffness before and after the change. With such tuning, it will be very uncomfortable to drive off-road, it will be pulled by the deterioration of control and directional stability of the car.
In addition to the trick described above, due to rubber inserts, the vehicle's ground clearance can be increased by replacing the standard suspension springs. Replacing with larger springs with a large number of turns, you get the desired clearance result.
But there is one thing, the availability of such springs will depend on the popularity of your car model and how much it is in demand. given view tuning. Some models are full of them, but other roofing felts do not exist at all, roofing felts are sold at exorbitant prices. As a rule, original springs made by the same manufacturer as your car simply do not exist in nature, in very rare cases even on SUVs.
Often these are special manufacturers who work purely in this direction. When buying such a part, you must understand that it must be made with high quality, with proper materials and withstand heavy loads. Regarding the disadvantages, the most unpleasant is the deterioration of the car's behavior on the road, due to the loss of directional stability, as well as rolls when cornering.
With this method, the clearance can be increased by 8-12 cm, or even more. It should be understood that such figures will greatly affect the safety of the car and its aerodynamics.
Fitting wheels with a larger radius
The third way to change the ground clearance is to replace the entire set of wheels and tires on the car. Often this method is chosen to improve the appearance of the car and in the case when you simply do not understand about cars at all.
As an example, for this method, you can pick up a set of wheels and tires 215/65 R16, while the car costs 205/60 R16 or 195/60 R15. It is worth remembering that replacing wheels can not always increase the ground clearance, sometimes you can get the opposite effect. Often, tires with a larger diameter are low-profile, which means that the ground clearance will not change or, on the contrary, will decrease.
The disadvantage of this method of increasing the clearance is that the wheels will begin to rub over the arches, wheel arch liners, this will be especially visible and audible when cornering. Therefore, when choosing new wheels and tires, re-read a hundred times, calculate and make sure that this does not lead to consequences for your car. Usually this method increases the ground clearance by 1 to 3 centimeters.
Leaf springs, adding a leaf spring
This option to increase the ground clearance is suitable only for those cars that have leaf springs. Not to say that this is the easiest way, but one of the most common. If your car has springs available, then it is enough to add the required number of plates, and you will get the desired result.
The downside will be an increase in the stiffness of the suspension, but the plus is that the nominal load on these springs will increase. In other words, you can carry heavier loads than before. Experts recommend changing the discs to a larger size together with the springs, this will show much best result and in terms of softness and quality of replacement.
Adjusting the torsion bar suspension
If your car has a torsion bar suspension, then consider that many of the problems with changing the ground clearance have simply gone away from you. To increase the ground clearance, it will be enough to adjust it. It is necessary to regulate in moderation and not to abuse, then the aerodynamics of the car and the quality of its control will not change.
Shock absorber spacers
This is most likely the best and most commonly used method to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. The essence of this method is to install special inserts at the junction of the struts of the shock absorbers and the body. These spacers perform a similar role as rubber spring spacers and increase ground clearance.
The disadvantage of such spacers is the deterioration of the center of gravity of the car, as a result of the deterioration in the car's handling. Dense plastic or aluminum is used as a material for manufacturing.
The coolest way to increase ground clearance is considered to be the installation of air suspension. This method involves replacing almost the entire chassis and costs a lot of money. But the result justifies its own, you can choose the ground clearance at will, setting the parameters. At the same time, the car's handling will not deteriorate, some say the opposite, it only improves.
The cost of components for clearance
The first on the list were the rubber inserts for the springs. Depending on the make and model of the car, the price may vary. Installation kit for Nexia or other machines Russian assembly can cost from 250 to 1200 rubles. But for foreign cars Kia, Toyota or Honda, such a kit will cost from 1,000 to 4,000 rubles.
The second way to increase ground clearance is to replace the standard springs with higher springs. The price of such pleasure will also depend on the car model, the average cost starts from 1000 rubles, the maximum in this variant is hard to say.
The third option for changing the ground clearance involves replacing discs and tires with a larger diameter. It's hard to say about a specific price here. It all depends on taste and desire, the start is usually from $ 100, but there is definitely no maximum, everyone goes crazy to the best of their wallet.
The next way to increase the ground clearance is the spacers between the shock absorbers and the car body. The price of such pleasure does not vary much. Plastic will cost around 400-800 rubles, aluminum will be a little more expensive.
Video review of an increase in ground clearance due to spring spacers:
As you know, we have two problems - fools and roads. With the first, alas, nothing can be done, but the roads can be fought by increasing the height of the car above the road. This height of the car above the road is called clearance. But how to increase the vehicle's ground clearance?
We study the materiel
How to increase the vehicle's ground clearance so that pits, potholes and other surprises are not scary? In fact, there are several ways, but first we need to carry out preparatory work.
First, let's deal with the materiel and find out what is the clearance (ground clearance) and how it is determined.
If we turn to the technical literature, then this concept refers to the distance between the road and the lowest point of the car.
IN different countries measurement methods are slightly different, so before proceeding with the "lift" of the car, look in its documentation and measure the ground clearance yourself.
This is the first nuance. In addition to real clearance it is also useful to know the parameters of the geometric cross-country ability of the machine.
Unfortunately, off-road performance cars depend not only on the clearance, but also on the angles of impact, exit and the angle of longitudinal contact with the road. We conclude that a car with a long hood overhang and a long trunk has a smaller approach and exit angle.
Simply put, at low angles you will cling to the road, and the increased clearance will only help a little in this matter.
The longitudinal angle of permeability determines the angle of the car's fracture, which bump it can move without problems without catching an obstacle with sills and bottom.
Clearance affects this parameter, but the wheelbase also acts as a defining characteristic.
As we can see, dear readers, an increase in the vehicle's clearance is not a panacea for all the problems of bad roads, but the cross-country ability also depends on it.
If you decide to revise the suspension, then read the following tips.
So how do you increase the vehicle's ground clearance? Four ways:
- to put discs and wheels of increased diameter - the easiest option to increase the ground clearance, but it will not be much higher. The main thing to remember is that you strictly adhere to the recommendations of the automaker for permissible wheel diameters, otherwise you will get more problems than benefits;
- installing aluminum, plastic and polyurethane spacers between the shock absorber and the car body is a more costly method, but more effective. Spacers make quite tangible changes in the suspension design, which means that the car after their installation will behave differently. These three options have different lifetimes, with the longest lasting being aluminum;
- replacing springs with a large number of turns - increasing the vehicle's clearance by this method is more costly, because you still have to buy long-stroke shock absorbers. As compensation for the expense, you get a longer service life and less load sag when loading the machine compared to the spacer option. Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that the suspension geometry is changed, which will negatively affect handling;
- replacing with is the most expensive method to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. The car will have to be equipped with a whole complex of various equipment in addition to the pneumatic shock absorbers themselves. This is a compressor with a receiver, a control unit, and various sensors... All this costs a lot of money. However, you get a fully controlled suspension, the height of which can be adjusted at will - if you want to increase the clearance, if you want to - reduce it.
As you can see, friends, there are no problems with how to increase the vehicle's ground clearance.
There would be a desire and a certain amount in the wallet.
Good luck on the road, fewer holes and more pleasant driving emotions.
Every car owner wants his car to be able to easily overcome any obstacles, but in most cases the car's ground clearance does not allow this. Spacers - best helpers in increasing the ground clearance, and today we will install them on the car ourselves.
We install spacers - we increase the clearance of the car
The essence of such tuning of the suspension, and the installation of spacers is a real tuning, which not only changes the appearance of the car, gives it boldness and brutality, but also has a real practical function to increase ground clearance and, as a result, improve cross-country ability.
Previously, to raise the car, DIYs inserted tennis balls between the coils of the rear springs. Now, for such a purpose, anyone can purchase rubber pads for springs, known as spacers for increasing ground clearance, at a car shop or in the car market, which can be completely different thicknesses, it all depends on how much you want to raise the car.
But are these so-called spacers really necessary, do they not pose a threat to the entire suspension of the car? Agree, it is necessary to understand this before making a final decision and proceeding with the installation of these very spacers.
Of course change appearance Is a matter of taste for everyone. But the softness of the stroke and the ease of landing, and first of all the driver's seat, are similar to the stool, after the transformation of the spring, yes, the spacers give additional load on the shock absorbers, as a result of which they can no longer cope with their duties, and what is even worse, they are completely prone to premature failure. According to the reviews of those who nevertheless decided on such a modernization, after a week of operation, the worn-out car becomes unusable rubber bushing the lower mount of the shock absorber, and the entire lower bracket becomes noticeably fatigued. In winter, the increased ground clearance is inconvenient with ice stability, especially for rear-wheel drive vehicles.
Pros of increased ground clearance
All of the above, you must agree, does not paint a pleasant prospect for an increase in ground clearance, however, there are positive results from the spacers. Let's take a look at them. The increased ground clearance allows you to protect rear suspension from breakdowns, and the rear wheels from striking on the wheel arch liners. Of course, there are few pluses, but they are quite significant. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people still install spacers. It is quite easy to do it yourself, we will not go into the installation procedure, since it is described in detail on the packaging of these same rubber spacers.
We have already talked about the pros and cons of spacers, we said where you can get acquainted with the description of the procedure for their installation, now we need to talk about operating a car with increased ground clearance. First of all, be extremely careful about shock absorbers, diagnose them in a timely manner and, if necessary, replace them with new ones. However, not only the shock absorbers, but the entire suspension as a whole, require increased attention to themselves when increasing the clearance with the help of spacers, and it is not at all surprising that you will visit service stations more often or devote more time to your car.
Love your car, take care of it and, before interfering with its design, weigh all the pros and cons so that later you do not have to regret wasted nerves, energy and money. Moreover, these are only the smallest troubles that are threatened by reckless intervention in the car, the most terrible consequences are road accidents in which your loved ones and loved ones, as well as you personally, can suffer. Take care of yourself and your family, assess your strengths sensibly, and if you are not sure, then it is better not to start this business!
In order to protect the car suspension from damage while driving on domestic roads, they are increasingly using spacers to increase ground clearance... There are several modifications of these devices that are installed under the A-pillars and rear springs. How effective is their application?
Spacers for increasing ground clearance - what are they?
Depending on the make of the car, spacers of a certain modification are installed. For the front shock absorbers, they are made of steel and aluminum. Under the rear springs, devices made of special types of rubber of increased density, as well as plastic and polyurethane, are used.
As for the price, a set of spacers for costs from 1000 rubles or more - it all depends on the material and the manufacturer. Installing them at the service station does not take much time. The design of the front spacers is a bracket in the form of a box with mounting holes, the rear ones are made in the form of rings with three lugs.
Along with the undoubted advantages such as an increase in ground clearance and an increase in the vehicle's cross-country ability, such modernization of the suspension design is fraught with a number of serious disadvantages:
- With an increase in ground clearance, the center of gravity of the car also shifts upward, which in turn leads to a decrease in its stability and controllability on the road.
- Rigidity and reliability are violated, while there is some change in the width of the wheelbase, camber and toe, and the angle of inclination of the wheels.
- More intensive wear of the steering gear assemblies and parts occurs.
- The position and operation of the shock absorbers are not changing for the better.
A set of spacers to increase ground clearance - choose the material
The installation of spacers to increase the ground clearance can be justified only if it is necessary to return the original ground clearance, which has decreased as a result of the shrinkage of the springs. These changes are most suitable for motorists who often have to move on rural roads.
However, even this fact does not justify the use of spacers with a thickness of more than 30 mm, moreover, it is necessary to take into account what material they are made of.
For example, polyurethane spacers to increase ground clearance, which are installed between the body and the pillar, have one significant drawback. Since their body is made of polyurethane, and the bushings are made of steel, it is polyurethane that wears out the fastest during operation, as a result of which the steel parts cause damage to the car body.
Aluminum spacers for increased clearance are more reliable than the previous sample, but, unfortunately, they are prone to corrosion. There are also a number of materials that are used for the manufacture of spacers, they are almost identical in design. Plastic is also attractive for car owners; it has not yet distinguished itself with significant drawbacks.
Installing spacers to increase ground clearance - how is it done?
If you have already decided on the material of the spacers and bought a kit, it remains to decide where and how to install them. Most often, car owners turn to specialized centers to increase ground clearance, but you can show interest and do it yourself. How does the whole process of mounting the spacer on the A-pillar take place?
- First, we raise the car with a jack, remove the wheel, disconnect the brake hoses, then the stabilizer struts, unscrew two more nuts on the front pillar. To remove it completely, unscrew 3 more nuts on the upper support of the same front pillar. In most cars you will be able to reach them without problems, in some, for example, Toyota, you need to disassemble almost half of the car, trying to get to the nuts from the hood side, removing the wiper panel, ventilation grilles, etc.
- Now the rack can be taken out and cast over it. What immediately catches the eye is the "native" strut bolts, they are just short for an additional pad that we would like to attach there. Therefore, we knock out the old bolts and insert the new ones.
- We attach the spacer to the new bolts, and you can put everything in its place in the reverse order. If the spring of the cross-member does not give you the opportunity to put everything in place, then it must be supported with something until it reaches the hole for the fasteners. It is useless to push manually, use another jack.
Installing spacers on the rear pillars
To lift the rear part of the body above the road surface, thick rubber spacers are installed instead of the factory springs under the springs. Unlike the front ones, they do not deform the body, do not rust and do not adversely affect performance indicators car. But, as they say, to each his own, if you chose a different kit, you will still have to install it according to the general principle.
- Depending on the type of car, you will have to do something like the following. Remove the sills under the trunk lid and near rear doors... Move the rear seats as far forward as possible. Remove the trim and trims in the trunk. Do the same with the skins and side panel overlays near rear seats... In fact, you should be able to see the metal skeleton of your car.
- After preparatory work jack up rear wheel, we proceed as in the modernization of the front end. We remove the wheel and begin to struggle with the support. Having unscrewed the upper and lower nuts, remove the support and consider the bolts. Most likely they also need to be replaced with longer ones. Sometimes there is a danger that "non-native" bolts will not adhere well, since there is no special sealing skirt. Resourceful car owners simply weld new bolts onto the rack.
- We put a spacer and assemble everything in the reverse order. Put some polish on the salon and you can end there. It may not be that difficult if you have a simpler car model than the Japanese one. Toyota... And there are the same problematic constructions, and you will have to sweat. In any case, do not forget about the instruction manual for each machine, it will help you calculate the most rational way to the cherished nuts.
