Shock Surgery to Get Low

Ride Height is an important component of vehicle handling. The Elise/Exige has a smooth under-body, which means that getting it close to the ground will help speed up the air under the car. Faster air has less pressure, thus creates down force under the car. A lower ride height also lowers the CG (center of gravity), which make the vehicle more stable in fast corners.

The following pictures show before and after the modification. We add several grooves both front and rear to afford flexibility in getting the shocks dialed for the desired ride height.

Our goal is to continue to utilize the OEM shocks. However, we also want the ability to lower the car to a more ideal ride height. In this case we want the entire car lower and the front end yet another 10mm lower than the rear. This will ensure that the car always has a negative incidence angle to the road. In other words, the front under-tray needs to always be lower than the rear to ensure the best Cdf (coefficient of Down Force) possible. Intuitively, a positive incidence angle to the road essentially turns the flat under-tray into a kite!

This modification has made a very noticeable difference in the handling of the car. We now have more down-force and a lower CG. The lower CG in essence allows the slightly under sprung OEM shocks to have more leverage on the car reducing body role.

Of course the car looks better too!

Feel free to send us an email if you're interested in this modification to your shocks. This is possible on both LSS and Standard Suspension groups.

Ride Height Before Lowering

Front: 136mm

Rear:138mm

After

Front: 108mm

Rear: 118mm