Model 3p ground clearance question

[robl45]

Does anyone know standard ground clearance of model 3p? I'm at just Under 3.5 inches now with what I assume are unplugged performance lowest springs. Bought car like this and it has unplugged performance front lip so I assume it has those springs as well. Car looks great but it's such a pain being so low I've been thinking of maybe raising it but curious how high the lowered 3p are from the factory. I can handle going slow over speed bumps, it really seems to bottom of at all on the two metal bars hanging below the fabric behind the front bumper but I am kinda worried if I have to drive over gravel roads etc.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

What part of the car is less than 3.5 inches from the ground on your car? That's way too low even with lowering springs.

 

[robl45]

That's measured from bottom to ground. I can just get a jack under it.

 

[dsgerbc]

From the bottom of what?
Here's where you measure.
Front should be 139mm +/-3mm
Rear should be 146mm +/-3mm

 

[robl45]

I measured essentially from that spot. The Jack points stick down slightly so probably slightly less if measured off of there.

 

[JT_M3P]

isnt the UP lip a conservative lip in regards to ground clearance? From pics, it doesn't hang much lower than OEM.

 

[robl45]

The lip isn't the issue. The whole car is slightly less than 3.5 inches of the ground. If that's relatively normal for a performance than fine. Otherwise I'm getting nervous it's going to get destroyed

 

[dsgerbc]

Sounds like you're lowered by ~2", which is probably too much. What size tires are on the car? This measure is sensitive to tire pressures and tire sizes. The most reliable way to measure lowering is from the fender down to the center of the wheel hub.

 

[robl45]

Stock 20 inch tires

 

[destructure00]

Mine is ~5" ground to jack point. Slightly higher in the rear, maybe like 1/8" or so.

 

[robl45]

My guess is I have unplugged low springs.

 

[aspec818]

1.5" is the max for street driving IMO. even then you will bottom out on bigger uneven dips in streets, driveways, etc. the 3 is already a low car from factory. The design with the huge wheel gap makes it appear high up. you're probably dropped closer to 2".

 

[robl45]

Yep it says low is about 2 inch drop. So assuming that's 2 inches from model 3 performance ground clearance, is it worth the aggravation and money to raise it a bit

 

[aspec818]

Yep it says low is about 2 inch drop. So assuming that's 2 inches from model 3 performance ground clearance, is it worth the aggravation and money to raise it a bit

Yes. Unless you want to bottom out every drive. And your ride must be horrible with that low of a drop on stock shocks.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

Sounds like you're lowered by ~2", which is probably too much. What size tires are on the car? This measure is sensitive to tire pressures and tire sizes. The most reliable way to measure lowering is from the fender down to the center of the wheel hub.

Do this and let us know that figure so you can compare like with like. The stock ride height is around 395-400mm measured that way.

 

[MasterC17]

Both of my cars are about 4-4.25" in the front (measured from jack point to ground) and 3.5-3.75" in the rear.

Measuring from wheel hub to fender, that translates to roughly 14".

 

[TwoK4drSi]

isnt the UP lip a conservative lip in regards to ground clearance? From pics, it doesn't hang much lower than OEM.

The lip doesn’t hang down at all. It protrudes out. That’s was my deciding factor bc of my driveway.

 

[TwoK4drSi]

My guess is I have unplugged low springs.

PICS?

 

[robl45]

PICS?

Do this and let us know that figure so you can compare like with like. The stock ride height is around 395-400mm measured that way.

How do you measure that accurately. Do I guess where the center of the wheel hub is?

 

[TwoK4drSi]

How do you measure that accurately. Do I guess where the center of the wheel hub is?

So an inch drop is 27” from ground to highest arch of fender well.