Lowering your car is one of the most effective ways to give it an aggressive look while improving its handling characteristics. However, it's not as easy as slapping on some shorter springs and calling it a day. There are a few supporting modifications you'll need to install to avoid issues and get optimum performance.

Aftermarket Camber Kits

Lowering your will change the angle that the wheels are at relative to the suspension and chassis. Even a moderate ride-hight reduction of an inch or less will throw the camber and caster alignments of your wheels out of whack.

The camber and caster alignments on most factory cars can only be adjusted minimally. They aren't designed to compensate for the extreme levels of misalignment that will be caused by installing a lowered suspension. You'll need to install an aftermarket camber kit along with your new suspension system to get all of the alignments back in spec. Afterwards, you'll need to have your wheels realigned by a professional auto repair shop.

Aftermarket Upper Rear Control Arms

If your car is all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, lowering your car can throw off the pinion angle of the driveshaft. The driveshaft connects the rear differential to the transmission toward the front of your car. When you install a lower suspension, the rear axle and differential will sit closer to the chassis. That can put the driveshaft in a bit of a bind, which can lead to grinding and vibrations. Beyond the noise nuisance, it can cause the driveshaft or internal parts of the differential to become stripped out over time. If that happens, you'll be stuck making some complex and expensive repairs, so it's best to nip the problem in the bud.

Aftermarket upper rear control arms solve this issue. They have an adjustable length, which allows you to manually adjust the height of the differential relative to the chassis. Using precise measuring tools, an auto repair shop can correct the driveshaft pinion angle of your lowered car to get it back to factory specifications. 

Rolled Fenders

Depending on how extreme your lowering kit is, you may run into rubbing issues with your fenders and tires. This is especially common on the front fenders: when your wheels are turned and you hit a bump, it will force your tire up into the underside of your fender. Over time, your tires will get eaten away by your fenders. In extreme cases, your tires may even rub so hard that they bend your fenders and ruin the look of your ride. Before that happens, you should have your fenders rolled to avoid any issues.

Fender rolling requires a skilled auto body worker. The underside of your fenders have to be carefully bent and tucked upward to give your tires more clearance. Don't try to do the job yourself or you may wind up with dents and creases. Contact a body shop, like Dugan Oil and Tire, for more help.