Lowered standard Suspension Model S review

[boonedocks]

What did it cost you to do that? I purchased the air suspension so I could lower my car as needed, and it gets low, but also raise it higher than a Honda crosstour when needed. Just curious what you paid. I did that to a Mercedes I once owned and vowed to never drastically lower a car again after driving it for a while. It didn't matter how careful or slow or angled I was there were several places that would scrape front or back without fail.

 

[MrJones390]

What did it cost you to do that?

It costs $128 for the lowering links, $120 for a 3-ton jack, $25 for a torque wrench and $25 for a digital caliper.

 

[boonedocks]

It costs $128 for the lowering links, $120 for a 3-ton jack, $25 for a torque wrench and $25 for a digital caliper.

I am willing to bet ParkLiFe paid a bit more than $298 for his

 

[ParkLifE]

Awesome write-up. I too have been looking to lower my car on standard suspension, but know the ramifications to the tire life if I did. I don't think I would cut any additional coils, but worried about getting it aligned correctly. Would these links be all that I need to get the rear properly aligned if I lowered it on the Tsportline springs? I'm also running 21s.

As far as I know, the Model S rear camber is not adjustable. So yes, these adjustable links that Edmond posted should be your fix. And honestly, if you just lower it with the T Sportline springs with no cut, your negative camber won't be that bad at all. Not great, but not bad. The springs only lower the car slightly under an inch. Here is a pic of my car with 1.5 coils cut on the rear. And here is also a comparison pic of the spring intact and with 1.5 coils cut.

 

[ParkLifE]

I am willing to bet ParkLiFe paid a bit more than $298 for his

Yessir! I did pay A LOT more! I should've just got air suspension smh.....

 

[FlatSix911]

As far as I know, the Model S rear camber is not adjustable. So yes, these adjustable links that Edmond posted should be your fix. And honestly, if you just lower it with the T Sportline springs with no cut, your negative camber won't be that bad at all. Not great, but not bad. The springs only lower the car slightly under an inch. Here is a pic of my car with 1.5 coils cut on the rear. And here is also a comparison pic of the spring intact and with 1.5 coils cut.View attachment 173978 View attachment 173979 View attachment 173978

Which photo is before and which is after? Hard to tell the difference ... does cutting 1.5 coils equal 1 inch lower?

 

[ParkLifE]

Which photo is before and which is after? Hard to tell the difference ... does cutting 1.5 coils equal 1 inch lower?

LOL Im sorry, the 2 pics are exactly the same, it posted twice for some reason. The 1.5 coils barely made a difference, Let me see if i can find a picture of stock and ill post it.

 

[ParkLifE]

Which photo is before and which is after? Hard to tell the difference ... does cutting 1.5 coils equal 1 inch lower?

Ok so here is a comparison pic. The first pic is stock. 2 pic is with the T sport line springs with 1.5 coils cut in the rear. The end result was 3 coils cut which is the pics on the first page.

 

[Panthers1521]

I have lowered many cars too, but if I hit the bottom i never minded. With the battery pack on the bottom, i would be worried that it might hit when driving over a large speed bump, or anything else.

 

[gregplive]

I was looking into cutting springs also, has the car lowered any further after the springs has settled?

 

[FlatSix911]

I was interested in the lowering springs, but decided to install larger 21" wheels and tires

 

[White]

Well for those who do care, you can buy an adjustable upper link for both rear sides from BBC Speed & Machine . (Newer cars have a ball on one end instead of both bushings) If you must get a fixed upper link, make it 0.21" longer. One way or t'other set that rear camber to -1.00 and rear toe to 0.15 -- and get 25k-30k out of normal tires, not to mention using 10%-20% less W/mile. (Front: -0.70 Camber, 3.55 Caster, -0.04 Toe) (Acknowledgement to lolachampcar)

All Teslas come with way too much rear camber as it is, at least -1.50, and sometimes as high as -2.60 degrees, which accounts for the tire longevity problems. And an alignment from the SC is completely hit and miss, like they don't know what they're doing. And they won't align it with a lowering kit or an adjustable link anyway, so find an independent shop with an experienced hand on a laser aligner, give him these numbers, and pay their fee. It'll be like riding on rails thereafter.

Just because you haven't known what to do about it before, doesn't mean you should continue to blow it off. Senseless. And you kids get off my lawn!

Can you not buy these links anymore? Any current options for rear camber adjustment with a 2018 Model S?

 

[aus]

It's sad to see a $100,000 care with cut springs as the only means to lower it. That's stuff that performance guys would cringe at in other cars, but I guess there's really no choice in this situation. Cutting springs is what Ricers used to do back in the day, but even they've outgrown cutting springs.
And to do it right, you need a stronger/stiffer shock to controlled the stiffer and likely "bouncier" spring after being cut.
.

 

[Booner]

TSportline has their lowering springs back in stock.

 

[FlatSix911]

TSportline has their lowering springs back in stock.

Good news ... Tesla Model S Lowering Springs

 

[aus]

Good news ... Tesla Model S Lowering Springs

$500 for springs!!!
And I thought BMW and Porsche "tax" was ridiculous. This is straight up, bending you over, and giving it to you with a broom stick price gouging.
.

 

[FlatSix911]

$500 for springs!!!
And I thought BMW and Porsche "tax" was ridiculous. This is straight up, bending you over, and giving it to you with a broomstick price gouging.
.

Agreed ... I would say equal to the P-car tax for low volume models like the 918/

 

[bob_p]

With the battery pack underneath the car, there are increased risks of damaging the battery pack when lowering the car.

One of the early Model S cars ran over a tow hook, which punctured the battery pack - and caused a rapid battery fire destroying the car.

Tesla immediately disabled all of the air suspension systems to prevent drivers from lowering their cars (which air suspension cars can do above a user configurable speed). Tesla then modified the cars to add additional armor plating to the front to increase battery protection and retrofitted all of the existing cars, before re-enabling air suspension.

Even with the armor plating, there is increased risk of damaging the battery pack when running the car in a lowered position.

If this is with a non-Tesla suspension, that might invalidate any Tesla warranty on the battery pack, should there be damage from underneath.

 

[Booner]

Was just looking these guys up to install my lowering springs and it appears they’ve closed the doors permanently. Anyone have any other recommendations for Orange County?

 

[MilesAxleRod]

I just bought these springs and installed them myself. The front ones were fairly easy, but the back we're a pain. My ground to fender clearance is now about 29 inches front and rear. It looks more sporty now then before, it could be lower.