Team-BHP - Increasing the Ground Clearance

Does anyone know how the all new Honda City 2012 model got its GC raised. Can it not be implemented in the 2009-2011 models?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cityvic (Post 2566420)

So guys I have overcome this problem finally when I upgraded the car's rubber to 195/60/R15.This upsize is really helping and the car is no more scrapping on Speed Breakers.

Which tyre did you use? I have a Michelin and does not really work with 4 people on board!

Note from Team-bhp support: Please refrain from using abbreviations for car names. Also take a look at rule 5(b) and use multi-quote & edit functionality for back to back posts in the same thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommie (Post 2855001)

Does anyone know how the ANHC 2012 model got its GC raised. Can it not be implemented in the 2009-2011 models?

I asked the same to the Honda chaps and the reply was in the negative. Am planning to try the coil spring adjuster similar as GTO, since even in my case the only issue is the rear suspension sagging when fully loaded.

I am using 15" 195/60 Yokohama AVS ES100 but the car still scrapes at entrances to apartments where you have sudden drop from the road level or if the hump is unscientific. My swift would very rarely face this problem.

However if you take speed breakers in granny mode and using diagonal approach then even with five people and luggage in the boot I can avoid scraping on fairly large sized humps. But to do this you have to come to almost a stop and endure the honking from vehicles immediately behind you.

I have been trying to ask Honda Cars India and TBHPians and asking them an option to raise ground clear of the car for a long time. For Honda, instead of providing a solution to the cars that were sold, they gave the ground clearance to the new vehicles. As per the actual specifications, the new model's ground clearance is just 5 mm more than the pre-2012 models. I lost trust on Honda as they are not interested in doing anything for the existing car owners who trusted the Honda brand.

According to Honda, The New Honda City now comes with enhanced ground clearance of 165 mm, 5mm more than its predecessor giving it an extra bit of comfort on bumpy roads. The length of the new City is 4440 mm (20 mm longer than its predecessor) (Ref: Honda Car India : Press Release) .

I felt that the new car is having much higher ground clearance than as mentioned as 0.5 cm as mentioned on the Honda website and documentation. I tried to do a small experiment with a steel tape with my car and my neighbors new car parked in our basement.

Based on my simple experiment, it proves that the much more than the 0.5cm improved ground clearance. See the pics below to prove the same.

Front GC for the pre-2012 ANHC

Front GC for 2012 ANHC

Rear GC for pre-2012 ANHC

Rear GC for 2012 ANHC

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgiitk (Post 2860316)

Try the same fix as for the Civic. It should work for all cars with Coil Springs.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ension-22.html

I do not want to do anything that Honda is recommending. I cannot have a snap of one of the rubber suspension when riding at the top speeds on our roads whether it is falling inside a pothole or riding over a unknown localised speed breaker. Did anyone in Team-BHP, the known auto experts try to find out what did the Honda City 2012 do to increase the ground clearance. I am looking for an answer from the experts. If the experts do not have any answer, I will go hunt for it my self and quit the group.

Quote:

Originally Posted by avisidhu (Post 2859585)

I Am planning to try the coil spring adjuster similar as GTO, since even in my case the only issue is the rear suspension sagging when fully loaded.

Dont try this at all. If you are going to do this as GTO suggested, then make sure that you are going to shell out for regular replacement of your dampeners. I checked out with the Honda service center here in Bangalore and he mentioned to me that many vehicles had to be replaced with new dampeners who ever tried this additional rubber stuff.

If you do not believe me, please check with your service technicians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommie (Post 2895291)

Dont try this at all. If you are going to do this as GTO suggested, then make sure that you are going to shell out for regular replacement of your dampeners. I checked out with the Honda service center here in Bangalore and he mentioned to me that many vehicles had to be replaced with new dampeners who ever tried this additional rubber stuff.
If you do not believe me, please check with your service technicians.

Well, no one on this forum has yet mentioned any issue so far with this approach. And honestly, I would take anything Honda folks say with a pinch of salt mate. They are reluctant to say yes to any modification you suggest.

Btw, what do these guys mean that dampeners have to be changed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommie (Post 2872374)

I do not want to do anything that Honda is recommending.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommie (Post 2895291)

Dont try this at all. If you are going to do this as GTO suggested, then make sure that you are going to shell out for regular replacement of your dampeners.

We had an extensive discussion at the beginning of the thread. What it appears to be is that in normal conditions, the spacers are not functional (the rubber is too soft). Only when extreme excursions occur do they come int play to reduce the risk of bottoming out. One possibility can be that people are driving more aggressively, thus wearing our their dampers.

I am planning to get them for my Civic and am waiting for Darryn to return before ordering them.

This solution is Ok for all cars using coil springs. I may avoid the 1-1/2" types and stick with the 1" units.

I did some exhaustive reading on T-BHP and did not come accross any related answers,
As asked earlier here, I don't find any reason as to why the rear suspension on the post 2012 City can't be fitted onto the pre 2012 City - to improve the GC and ride qualities - as I asume it should be a direct fit, I doubt Honda must have modified the mounting or done serious changes apart from retunning the rates.
Maybe GTO or a techical BHPian can throw more light, GTO I'd appreciate if you can suggest here as your answers are complete and practical. Also since you have a Civic you must have researched this after the changes in the post 2009 Civic.
This way everything stays safe with Honda Genuine parts for someone willing to spend that 10-15k or so applicable. My friend is interested in a relatively inexpensive /peace of mind solution (compared to modified suspensions or Coil Spring Adjusters) for the 2009 City (I had this idea as option) and would not mind that kind of sum, maybe only will have to sacrifice a couple of weekend outings.
He says Service Guys aren't clear on this.
Thanks.

Hi,
I picked up a new CrDi Verna a month back, and I use to drive a Swift Dzire, I wanted to know if there are any options to increase the clearance / height of the chassis.

I had an after market Spacers added to swift Dzire, but the suspensions used to go off very soon and the car used to roll, Hence I do not wanna go for this.

I feel very bad when my car touches those crappy road humps in Bangalore.
Any other suggesions????