Increase car clearance - how to increase ground clearance?

Clearance is one of those parameters that is directly related to the vehicle's cross-country ability. If we look at powerful SUVs, we will notice that their ground clearance ranges from 20 to 45 centimeters, while for cars “A”, “B” and golf class, designed mainly for driving on high-quality road surfaces, the clearance fluctuates between 13-20 centimeters.

Many car drivers often have a desire to increase ground clearance. What is it connected with? First of all, in order to avoid damage to the bottom when driving on poor-quality roads, because a broken engine oil pan or a torn off bumper are the breakdowns that often happen when driving over bumps and pits.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to make an SUV out of a sedan, because the manufacturer sets such parameters as geometric cross-country ability - exit / entry angles and the angle of longitudinal cross-country ability, but still on broken roads it will be possible not to worry so much about the suspension elements, bumper, muffler and crankcase.

Another important point is that you can increase the ground clearance up to a certain value, on average it is no more than five centimeters, but if you increase it by 10 centimeters, then the car will behave unpredictably on the track, because you will change the main characteristics of the car.

The main ways to increase ground clearance

The first way that immediately comes to mind is change tires and rims. You can put on tires with a higher profile, or buy completely new wheels with a larger radius. As a result of this modification, the clearance can be increased by several centimeters. However, there will also be a number of problems:

• incorrect readings of the odometer and speedometer and deterioration of controllability;
• increased fuel consumption - the engine will need more energy to spin the enlarged wheel;
• faster wear of some suspension assemblies, steering, wheel bearings.

That is, the replacement of rubber and discs can be considered as an option, but it is desirable if this is done in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations - the tire interchangeability table is located on the front door on the driver's side. A simple installation of tires with a higher profile, for example, replacing 175/70 R13 with 175/80 with the same radius will increase the clearance by 1.75 centimeters, the car will become softer, but at the same time all the problems described above will appear: the accuracy of the speedometer will decrease by 6%, it will be worse to keep the road at speed and enter turns. Well, among other things, there will be a risk of rubbing the fender liner, that is, it will be necessary to clarify whether the new wheel will fit under the wheel arch.

A more common way to increase ground clearance is use of spacers.

Spacers are different:

• rubber spacers between coils of springs;
• rubber, metal or polyurethane spacers between the base between the springs and the body;
• spacers between the rear shock mounts and the rear beam lugs.

Each of these methods has its own nuances. For example, inter-turn spacers do not actually increase the clearance, but the car stops sagging and swaying on difficult sections of the road or being overloaded, the risk of damage to the suspension elements and the bottom is reduced. But at the same time, the travel of the spring itself also decreases, the stiffness of the suspension increases with all the negative consequences: comfort decreases and the load on the suspension increases.

If you put a spacer between the spring and the body, then the effect of this will be felt only if the spring is normal, not sagging. Clearance will really increase. But on the other hand, the compression stroke will increase - the car will begin to nod more and sag under load. Spacers on the rear shock absorbers, they are also called houses, are also an acceptable way, the ground clearance will increase noticeably.

Well, the most expensive option - installation of air suspension. Here you will have to install new elements: air bags, compressor, receiver, pressure sensors, display switches on the instrument panel. It will be very difficult to do all this on your own. The main advantage is the ability to adjust the amount of clearance. From the negative, one can name the possibility of a quick failure of all this equipment, because the clearance is increased in order to drive on broken roads.

Loading…