My Toyota Matrix seems too bumpy ever since I put in the lowering springs. Well, it was somewhat bumpy before with the factory springs. If I get some new shocks will my car drive much smoother, or are most small cars naturally bumpy--unfortunately.
2007-03-06 20:50:09 · 6 answers · asked by ray91_91 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
When you shorten your springs you reduce the amount of up-take in your suspension system, and this naturally results in a rougher ride. The payment for better handling is almost always a bumpy ride. Higher damping rate shocks may help a little, but beyond a certain stiffness they'll actually make the ride WORSE by preventing suspension movement.
2007-03-06 20:54:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most lowering springs are not only shorter (lower) which gives you less suspension travel (more bottoming) but they are also stiffer than stock to compensate and to provide more controlled handling and braking. So yes, typically shorter aftermarket springs will provide a firmer ride. That's the whole idea after all.
This problem is made worse if you use your original equipment struts or shocks with the new springs. Depending on your mileage not only will these parts have some wear on them already, but they are engineered to work with the stock spring rates, not with the stiffer aftermarket ones. In short, your OE struts can't keep up with the higher demands of your new springs. You ride could probably be improved by using a set of aftermarket replacement struts tuned for use with stiffer, lowered springs.
2007-03-07 06:20:51 · answer #2 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most of the time when u put new springs on u do replace the shocks depending on how old your car is. it also depends on the type and brand of springs you put on the car whether you put springs or coilovers. what u pay for is what u get.most small cars are bumpy after you lower them but there are things you can buy to fix soem of that. upper strut bars, lower anti sway bars. also depending on how much tyou lowered the car can make a difference too low and you can mess the suspension of the car.
2007-03-06 20:58:51 · answer #3 · answered by The H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. There are lowering springs that can actually give you a better ride than the stock ones.
These are called progressive rate springs. These special springs are allow a soft spring rate on the first few inches of travel then a stiff rate on the next and again soft on the last few inches.
2007-03-07 01:57:49 · answer #4 · answered by Tom C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does. When you reduce the range of your suspension travel you have to make it stiffer to avoid bottoming out.
2007-03-06 23:43:15 · answer #5 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, that is not true. I had a lowered blazer and it rode real nice. Just put in good shocks and you will be fine.
2007-03-06 21:29:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋