phillip wrote:

Paul,

   If you lower a car, what aerodynamic gains would be had? Higher
speed?

Maybe. Depending on what the bottom looks like.
You really ruin the high speed ride. Suspension travel is your friend

:)

Paul Lamar

So it doesn't change anything, like the frontal area, just how much

air

is passing under the car?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is, all else being equal, what effect
does lowering have on aerodynamics? Speeds are under 150 mph. This is

a

Focus ZX3 afterall...it looks like a blasted egg on wheels. :)
Suspenders are H & R adjustable coil-overs...plenty of travel.

Most of the time it decreases drag.
Travel is ultimately a function of ground clearance.
What are we trying to do here? Better MPG at 80 MPH?

Paul Lamar

Paul,

A couple of us were sitting around shootin' the breeze and the subject
of lowering came up. Other than lowering the CG (and reducing ground
clearance), we were trying to decide what it did (if anything)
aerodynamically. If it decreased drag, our question was how it did so?
Less air moving under the car? Term wise, would this be the same as
reducing the drag coefficient?

Thanks

Phil Williamson
Oregon City, Or.

Yes and yes. The air in contact with the ground is stationary
so more air is diverted to the sides. The sides are smoother
than the bottom. Done right you can get downforce.

Paul Lamar
 
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