Lowering a Rally?

[DeusEx]

@ant123mci, I get it. You want your car to be perfect and can't settle for less than that. It's the reason why I went in the opposite direction with lifting the Mach-E because I disliked the bounce over rough roads.

My car is about 1 inch higher than previously with the Rally springs, but handles a lot better with the Eibach sway bars than the OEM sway bars.

Also, just a month ago Pat mentioned he loved how his car rides with the lifted springs. Was there a different post you meant to link?
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...s-and-mach-e-rally-springs.51138/post-1040255

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[markboris]

There are many threads on here about lowering the Mach-E with Eibach springs. Only one is on a GTPE with the MagneRide suspension which is my thread. Is that the one you were thinking of since you have a MagneRide suspension?

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/eibach-gt-pro-kit-lowering-springs-on-a-gtpe.33310/

 

[DeusEx]

Haha, yes many threads on spring upgrades with the Mach-E. Yet somehow I can recall something I read weeks ago but not remember something my wife told me to do an hour ago.

I think the only reason my wife puts up with this is because I wash her car weekly!

 

[markboris]

Yes, I liked lowering my car because I wanted less of a wheel well gap. It was not for handling purposes as lowering the car an inch or so didn't seem to change that even though you thing it would have. I did get a slightly better ride out of it over irregular road surfaces do to the slightly lower spring rate with the progressive springs. Eibach's lowering springs for the GT WITHOUT the Magneride suspension is what I used because I wanted front and rear progressive springs. Their lowering springs for the GT WITH Magneride suspension has a linear front spring with a progressive rear springs that does not lower the car as much. They came out with this kit because you cannot replace the bump stops on the MagneRide struts and the car bottoms out easily when lowering it. For a Magneride Mach-E I would recommend this kit (the one meant for the MagneRide) so you don't have the bottoming out issue. Of course it only lowers the car about an inch if that is ok with you.

I did not run taller tires with my lowered cars. All my wheels and tires have been aftermarket. I have never run the OEM wheels/tires on any of the three Mach-E's I have owned. I build my setups so that they have a flush fit. That said, when lowering the car, since the tires would be closer to the fender moulding they would slightly contact it if going over a huge bump with the rear of the car loaded with passengers which I rarely have. This was never an issue with me because that rarely happens but if I had run taller tires, then it would have been. Now, with my current '24 GTP, after lifting the car an inch with the Rally springs, I am running taller tires. They are one inch taller taking up 1/2" of the wheel well gap so my car only has 1/2" inch larger gap than a standard Premium Mach-E. That way I have a lifted car but doesn't look as high as a Rally. Hope that all makes sense.

 

[Fitzy-Rally]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of the data, opinions and conversation. I definitely hesitated posting this topic bc I figured it would be slightly controversial. But this has been helpful as I am still learning the platform coming from an Audi S4.

Mark is right - the desire to lower the car is purely aesthetic for me. I would love to get rid of, or at least decrease, the wheel gap. That being said, I do love the existing ride quality. It is pretty drastic from my previous car. I would be really curious to see if the harshness that some mentioned would be better/worse than my Audi had on coilovers, but with electronic dampers.

I bought the Rally for a few reasons - one, bc I liked the additional trim features - spoiler, grill with fogs, perf seats, and wheels (a perfect winter setup here in Colorado). Two, it was very lightly used, less than 12k miles for a great deal and local to me, so jumped on the opportunity. All that to say, I didn’t necessarily buy it for the increased ride height. Although it is so nice not grimacing over every large bump wondering if my front lip got ripped off like before.

In a perfect world, I would lower the car by an inch to decrease the wheel gap but keep the ride quality and softness. It sounds like both can’t be totally true. I love the current setup as a winter setup, but just trying to consider what I want to do for the warmer months - I’d love to do 21” wheels, but just don’t know if I can pull those off with the current ride height or not. Mark, would love to see pics of your current setup on the Rally springs!!

 

[markboris]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of the data, opinions and conversation. I definitely hesitated posting this topic bc I figured it would be slightly controversial. But this has been helpful as I am still learning the platform coming from an Audi S4.

Mark is right - the desire to lower the car is purely aesthetic for me. I would love to get rid of, or at least decrease, the wheel gap. That being said, I do love the existing ride quality. It is pretty drastic from my previous car. I would be really curious to see if the harshness that some mentioned would be better/worse than my Audi had on coilovers, but with electronic dampers.

I bought the Rally for a few reasons - one, bc I liked the additional trim features - spoiler, grill with fogs, perf seats, and wheels (a perfect winter setup here in Colorado). Two, it was very lightly used, less than 12k miles for a great deal and local to me, so jumped on the opportunity. All that to say, I didn’t necessarily buy it for the increased ride height. Although it is so nice not grimacing over every large bump wondering if my front lip got ripped off like before.

In a perfect world, I would lower the car by an inch to decrease the wheel gap but keep the ride quality and softness. It sounds like both can’t be totally true. I love the current setup as a winter setup, but just trying to consider what I want to do for the warmer months - I’d love to do 21” wheels, but just don’t know if I can pull those off with the current ride height or not. Mark, would love to see pics of your current setup on the Rally springs!

Here is the thing John, with the Eibach lowering springs, you won't be lowering your car only one inch. It will be a minimum of 2" or more unless you buy the OEM premium springs for an AWD EX. Maybe that is what you want but if you do go for the lowering springs, like I mentioned before, go with the Eibach GT w/MagneRide spring setup. That setup lowers the car the least amount with the progressive rear springs. Part number E10-35-054-05-22.

If you want to lessen that wheel well gap then get taller tires. You can't go any taller than 1" higher as they will not fit in the front do to them contacting the bottom of the spring perch on the strut. This will lessen the gap by 1/2".

I have lots of photos of my cars with all different setups. Here are a few:

'24 GTP, OEM height with OEM diameter tires (28.7") 275/35R21

'21 GTP OEM height with 1" taller tires (29.7") 275/40R21

'24 GTP with Rally springs (1/5" higher than OEM) with 1" taller tires (29.7") 275/40R21 ( my winter tires in this photo)

 

[markboris]

It is a slightly better ride than OEM but only with the GT springs that are for the non MagneRide since front and rear are progressive but not nearly as smooth and less bouncy as the Rally springs.

 

[60hotrodder]

Hey All! This is my new-to-me 2024 Rally. Loving it so far. I know this might be counter to why a lot of people chose the Rally spec, but just curious if anyone has lowered theirs?

And since the Rally has an additional 20mm of ground clearance over the GT, I’m guessing something like the Eibach Pro kit would lower the car nearly 2 inches compared to the listed 1.2”?

Appreciate any info or advice!

Can you lower it with magnaride?

 

[markboris]

Can you lower it with magnaride?

Yes you can. Raise or lower it. At one time I installed an air suspension on my ‘21 GTPE with MagneRide

 

[markboris]

NorCal. Kind of far from you.

 

[Fitzy-Rally]

Here is the thing John, with the Eibach lowering springs, you won't be lowering your car only one inch. It will be a minimum of 2" or more unless you buy the OEM premium springs for an AWD EX. Maybe that is what you want but if you do go for the lowering springs, like I mentioned before, go with the Eibach GT w/MagneRide spring setup. That setup lowers the car the least amount with the progressive rear springs. Part number E10-35-054-05-22.

If you want to lessen that wheel well gap then get taller tires. You can't go any taller than 1" higher as they will not fit in the front do to them contacting the bottom of the spring perch on the strut. This will lessen the gap by 1/2".

I have lots of photos of my cars with all different setups. Here are a few:

'24 GTP, OEM height with OEM diameter tires (28.7") 275/35R21

'21 GTP OEM height with 1" taller tires (29.7") 275/40R21

'24 GTP with Rally springs (1/5" higher than OEM) with 1" taller tires (29.7") 275/40R21 ( my winter tires in this photo)

Thanks for the pictures, Mark - that’s super helpful to see the slight differences between your setups. I like them each for different reasons which is probably why you did them.

Definitely want to get used to the car and the ride height for a little bit longer before I jump on any certain direction. But this has been very informative and gives me a lot of data points to consider.

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