lowering a 4200

Fat Arnie

New Member
Messages
428
Er don't use a spirit level to do this. Setting your spring platform heights is a science and small changes can make massive differences to the dynamics of your car, normally for the better. Find a place that does "flat floor setup" typically on cars like Lotus Elises/Caterhams. They will set up your car with you sat in it to have good front/rear balance, but critically diagonally. Afterwards you will be a roundabout hooligan.
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
Bit of a thread resurrection, but having just bought a 4200 which has a steering wheel that doesn't quite sit straight, a geometry set up is on my list, so lowering slightly might be worth it at the same time.
Lowering will alter the geometry as the angles will be different.

I presume the GranSport has stiffer suspension as well as sitting lower?
Is the GranSport geometry set up different too?
Did those of you who lowered the car set the geo to GS settings, or just leave it as it was?

Chris
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
With yours being an 04 the springs are listed the same from 03 MY both for the 4200 and GS. Same goes for the anti-roll bar diameters.
So all they did with the GS is wind it down a little, and fit the 19 inch wheels of course.
Can't comment on whether the geo was changed though.
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
With yours being an 04 the springs are listed the same from 03 MY both for the 4200 and GS. Same goes for the anti-roll bar diameters.
So all they did with the GS is wind it down a little, and fit the 19 inch wheels of course.
Can't comment on whether the geo was changed though.

Interesting. From reading and watching reviews I always got the impression that the GS sorted a handling 'problem' (not really the right word, perhaps the correct statement is just that the handling is more sorted...) with the 4200, but more unsprung mass with the bigger wheels, and assuming large overall diameter, the handling surely would get worse.. Even if the radius isn't different, the less compliant low profiles wouldn't help things either I'd imagine.

I'll speak to my friendly mechanic who also has some top spec geometry equipment and check out the settings on stored his PC.
I'll also look at GS overall tyre radius vs. 4200 and if they are the same, may well just have the car set to GS settings (assuming different).

Chris
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I'm looking to get my 4200 lowers to GS levels. Although when that will be, who know. Hopefully in the not too distant future.
Just want it back first!
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I'll also look at GS overall tyre radius vs. 4200 and if they are the same, may well just have the car set to GS settings (assuming different).

Chris

The lower profile tyres on the GS account for the 1" bigger rims, so the rolling circumference is the same as the 4200 wheel/tyre combo.
For a true improvement in handling you need to look at Formula Dynamics sport springs and stiffer anti-roll bars.
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
I've just been looking at that.

4200 18 inch vs. GranSport 19 inch..
235/40 R18 = 645mm
235/35 R19 = 624mm
So the radius of the GranSport fronts is actually smaller than the 4200, which would help the handling.

The rears are more or less identical:
265/35 R18 = 634mm
265/30 R19 = 642mm

I appreciate that I could start fitting after market parts to help the car along, but for now, I'm just thinking if I'm going to have geometry done anyway (slightly off centre steering wheel), I might as well maximise the effort :)
I plan for the car to stay standard!

Chris
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
Thread re-resurrection..

Looking to get this done soon.

Where do I get the correct C spanners / how can I tell if they are the right ones?
 

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
Im gonna do mine soon too . But will probably get the geo done and lowered to GS spec . Where s the best place south of london ?
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Emblem, end of.

They have their own modified GS spec which is brilliant and does not wear the inner edges of the front tyres.

Smile nicely and your looking at £200
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
I need Emblem to do mine before my track weekend in a few weeks time. But they're closed for their summer hols, so can't even book it in!
 

DPS20K

Junior Member
Messages
168
Emblem, end of.

They have their own modified GS spec which is brilliant and does not wear the inner edges of the front tyres.

Smile nicely and your looking at £200

Agreed, The Emblem spec for set-up on the GS is much better than standard.
 

DPS20K

Junior Member
Messages
168
I need Emblem to do mine before my track weekend in a few weeks time. But they're closed for their summer hols, so can't even book it in!
Emblem don't do it themselves, they have a local guy, so if anybody on here knows who it is you might be able to book direct.
 

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
What about getting it corner-weighted while lowering the suspension? Doesn't seem to be any mention of it in this thread.