Has my Q45a been lowered?

[mpoyner]

Saw the following comment in a posting on the general Infiniti board:

"You can lower your suspension by setting the height level to the minimum at each wheel. See your service manual. You can do it without CONSULT, but of course it is easier with. You have to be under the car while the wheels are on a flat surface, engine running. The ride will suffer, because you will limit travel, and you will chew up the inside edges of the tires, but if you want the look..."

Now it makes me wonder if my Q45a has been lowered. The original tires that came on it (bought a couple months ago) were completely ragged, to the point of the metal bands showing through the rubber. But only on the inside, on all four tires.

I noticed when changing the oil, that it was hard to even get under the car to reach the oil pan.

If it has been lowered, how can I tell?

What are the drawbacks to this having been done?

[PalmerWMD]

Even on non lowered cars its hard to get there.As you drive an "a" I would guess no as few shops have the expertise to accomplish this.

Advantages: lower CG= better handling response Disadvantage: less comfort, more wear on systems.

Fred...

[PalmerWMD]

PS: Post a pic with engine running and car full wamred up (as this makes a minor height difference on an "a")

Fred...

[AZhitman]

Alternatively you could get your factory service manual out and check the height at each wheelwell lip against the numbers in the manual.

Lowering an "active" Q is not difficult. SoCal91 is discussing this very issue in Infiniti General.

[SOCAL91Q45a]

""You can lower your suspension by setting the height level to the minimum at each wheel. See your service manual. You can do it without CONSULT, but of course it is easier with. You have to be under the car while the wheels are on a flat surface, engine running. The ride will suffer, because you will limit travel, and you will chew up the inside edges of the tires, but if you want the look..."

This was a response to my thread in general.

Ima try 18" wheels and tires to achieve the looks i want on my 91 Q45a before messing with ride height - but I may do a bit - tiny bit .... will be reviewing the FSM section shortly - so much to wrench on so little time .....

[PalmerWMD]

Lowering an "active" Q is not difficult.

You still need to have a basic understanding of the "a" suspension, I bet many shops who know how to slap on lowering springs wouldnt know how to do this.

Fred...

[AZhitman]

True - Most of those idiots wouldn't make it through the first chapter of the Q45 FSM...

[Q45tech]

The software in the active system assumes oem wheel sizes and weights. Heavier wheels will throw the dynamics off.

[SOCAL91Q45a]

Doubt highly Im going to find a 18" wheel that is AS light as a stock 15" er ...... hmmm....

Have the stock wheel weights already been discussed in this forum elsewhere or is it in the FSM - the FSM is not nearby to me at this moment.