Ride Height Sensor and lowering, a bad combo?

[Superhatch]

So I was reading through this article: https://www.motor1.com/features/711587/type-r-engineering-deep-dive/

And they stated this:

The FL5 is more wired up than most folks know. Each corner has a ride height sensor, and that information gets sent to the brain of the adaptive dampers many times per second. Damping forces adjust based on those sensors’ information, steering angle, and yaw, around 600 times per second. This allows engineers to actively map damping forces based on suspension travel and G forces–Practically a custom damping curve for every situation. Though the physical valving of the damper can’t be overcome, the near-instant adjustability can’t be overstated.

It goes on to talk more about the vectoring, but it got me thinking about what lowering a car with a ride height sensor would do to the adaptive dampers (assuming you're just using a spring).

I ended up finding one FK8 thread about it and this is the only video that is suggested to watch, but the thread has no answers. The video talks about resetting the sensor, and how brake vectoring is effected if you do an alignment or change the ride height.

(shared from relevant timestamp)


This really makes me feel like lowering the car will really effect the intention of the brake vectoring and unless you are putting on a full track suspension, you're just losing performance by lowering at all even if you adjust the sensors because you're losing travel and those systems are all intended to work together using specific measurements.

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[Ac12]

So I was reading through this article: https://www.motor1.com/features/711587/type-r-engineering-deep-dive/

And they stated this:

The FL5 is more wired up than most folks know. Each corner has a ride height sensor, and that information gets sent to the brain of the adaptive dampers many times per second. Damping forces adjust based on those sensors’ information, steering angle, and yaw, around 600 times per second. This allows engineers to actively map damping forces based on suspension travel and G forces–Practically a custom damping curve for every situation. Though the physical valving of the damper can’t be overcome, the near-instant adjustability can’t be overstated.

It goes on to talk more about the vectoring, but it got me thinking about what lowering a car with a ride height sensor would do to the adaptive dampers (assuming you're just using a spring).

I ended up finding one FK8 thread about it and this is the only video that is suggested to watch, but the thread has no answers. The video talks about resetting the sensor, and how brake vectoring is effected if you do an alignment or change the ride height.

(shared from relevant timestamp)


This really makes me feel like lowering the car will really effect the intention of the brake vectoring and unless you are putting on a full track suspension, you're just losing performance by lowering at all even if you adjust the sensors because you're losing travel and those systems are all intended to work together using specific measurements.

I'm not too sure about this stuff, do didnt wanna mess with the suspension but I changed the colour of my rims so now the gap is very noticeable. You can try asking the author of that article. I emailed him about lowering springs and this is what he responded with...


The car will be OK on springs. The system isn't smart enough to worry about specific rates, but rather just adapts based on the data its receiving. I encourage the modding!!! If you're looking for a stock-like ride quality, the Spoon Sports springs will be best. For more aggressive feel and handling, Swift is the best choice.

 

[Superhatch]

I guess if it's just referencing the difference in height vs. a specific point then the affects won't be too bad. That's what I'm assuming happens with it being 'adaptive'.

@Ac12 good call reaching out to him!

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