Increasing the clearance of the Lacetti Chevrolet: how to avoid mistakes with spacers

The ground clearance of the Chevrolet Lacetti is selected in such a way as to ensure sufficient cross-country ability while maintaining good handling throughout the vehicle's entire speed range. In domestic realities, the clearance provided by the factory is often insufficient.

The car gets hit on the bottom when overcoming road obstacles, catches on curbs while parking, and gets stuck in the snow. For these reasons, car owners resort to increasing ground clearance using various methods.


Increased ground clearance of Chevrolet Lacetti

Increasing the clearance of the Lacetti with spacers - how not to make mistakes

The term refers to the distance from the ground to the bottom of the car body. Ways to increase a road Chevrolet Lacetti: how to raise it The Chevrolet Lacetti station wagon has a ground clearance of mm. But over time, under the influence of external factors, this distance is reduced. The reason for the decrease in ground clearance is often the installation of additional equipment or external modifications.

In such cases, it is imperative to increase the ground clearance. There are two ways to do this. The first method involves the use of spacers - special rubber-metal pancakes. Their installation is carried out in several stages: Using the Chevrolet Lacetti method, it is possible to increase the ground clearance by at least 15 mm. The main thing is to choose quality spacers. Their wear resistance and practicality depend on the material. The most successful solution is considered to be spacers made of polyurethane.

They are elastic, durable and do not corrode over time. The only drawback of polyurethane spacers is their high cost.

Increase in clearance

However, such investments are completely justified, because raising the Chevrolet Lacetti's ground clearance will increase cross-country ability and prevent repair costs. The second method will require high shock absorbers or springs.

The installation process in this case takes even less time. Because of this, the load on the suspension increases and the ground clearance decreases.

Try not to carry heavy loads with you, such as bags of vegetables or a set of old tires.

This negatively affects the springs, they begin to lose their elasticity. Check the functionality of the suspension. Raise the car on a lift or jack. Inspect each rack carefully. A broken spring could cause a sharp decrease in ground clearance. Install spacers that allow you to raise the car. They are usually sold as a set.

Before purchasing, make sure that the spacer kit you are purchasing is designed for installation on your Ford Focus. Remove the wheels. To do this, unscrew all the bolts that secure the hub and disk.

Grab the wheel and how to lift a Chevrolet Lacetti onto. Remove the disc from the hub axles. Remove the bolts holding the stand.

Chevrolet Lacetti ground clearance

Carefully remove it from the recess. Carefully read the instructions that came with the insert kit.

Install the inserts and secure them with zip ties or plastic clamps. Check the length of the installed springs. Very often, several turns are cut off to lower the machine. In this case, it is necessary to purchase and install new Chevrolet Lacetti how to lift. Buy springs only of the brand recommended by the manufacturer.

After installation, the car may be slightly tilted at first. Don’t worry, after two or three days of using the car the springs will sag and the Chevrolet Lacetti how to raise the ground clearance will decrease. Install high profile tires. This will increase the ground clearance by about three to five centimeters. It is also worth considering that the high profile smoothes out all road irregularities well, so there is much less pressure on the suspension.

Over its entire considerable period of existence, many people liked it for its reliability, ease of maintenance, interesting design and many other qualities. This, perhaps, remains the main Chevrolet Lacetti to buy on the Russian market. And in order not to one day damage the bottom along with the suspension parts, many car enthusiasts increase the ground clearance. Agree, install larger diameter tires. This is one of the most popular tuning methods, which in some way can solve the problem with ground clearance.

Styling enthusiasts often mount large inch low-profile tires in place of standard steel wheels. Yes, outwardly it will look quite impressive, but if you miscalculate the dimensions and most Chevrolet Lacetti tires have a wider width than standard ones, you can play a cruel joke on handling. When installing wheels of larger diameter, there is a risk that they simply will not fit into the wheel arches or that turning the steering wheel will be complicated.

Therefore, it is very important to calculate all the nuances and dimensions.

Let's modernize the shock absorbers This method will be more effective and how to raise the Chevrolet Lacetti than the first, although it does not make adjustments to the appearance of the car.

I wanted to buy a taller car - a Duster, just for our roads. Fool, I had seen enough advertisements that the cost in Moscow was thousands of rubles and I went, thinking of moving to the river.

Increasing the ground clearance of the Chevole Lacetti

They just recently started being released. I came, traveled and was stunned.

Cheapest R. For that kind of money you could have found a better car. I went to look at the Chevrolet Lacetti Station Wagon - r. I asked the guy how much ground clearance it had, and he, thoughtfully, replied that it was 19 cm. How to raise a Duster Chevrolet Lacetti, here it’s 19, well, I think that’s enough. The thresholds look really high. After driving along the village roads, I realized that I had been duped. I went on the Internet, and there they write that the station wagon has 14.5 cm. I wanted to take out all the anger on my wife, since she really liked this car, but I thought that I was a fool myself, and switched to the manager.

If the Chevrolet Lacetti knows how to raise it, it didn’t say so. But the job was done and I had to look on the Internet where to buy spacers to increase the ground clearance. It’s good that my son-in-law and daughter live in Moscow. I wrote what I needed, sent a photo and of course they didn’t deliver. A simple plastic bag and 4 spacers, how to raise a Chevrolet Lacetti in the front and two in the rear without increasing them by 2 cm.

Tuning

Chip tuning

Since such cars are found quite often on our roads, many Chevrolet Lacetti owners strive to somehow improve or decorate their car so that it stands out from the crowd. Some people immediately start with tuning the power unit. Chip tuning of Chevrolet Lacetti can begin with engine diagnostics and determining its real performance. Next, the program that was installed at the factory is read from the electronic control unit.

Then they change it and write it back into the ECU in an updated form. Thanks to this procedure, power increases by 10%, and gasoline consumption decreases by 5-8%. But there are special firmwares that allow you to save even more on fuel, but you shouldn’t expect “nimble” driving in this case.

You can also use technical tuning of the car. For example, some replace the piston group with a lightweight one, grind the manifold, and install different camshafts on the engine for finer tuning. Using a zero-resistance filter, you can equip the engine with the required volume of oxygen.

Some owners of the Chevrolet Lacetti station wagon, sedan and hatchback create a so-called “spider” in the exhaust system - a pipe system of complex configuration and install a direct-flow muffler. Due to the increased power, it is worth changing a few things in the gearbox. Reinforced baskets and clutch disc can be used

It is important to pay attention to the braking system

Exterior tuning

If you want to change only the exterior, you can use tuning the appearance of the Chevrolet Lacetti. There are car enthusiasts who change the body. For example, they install a hood cover with air intakes, pits on the roof, gills on the wings, and so on. Do not underestimate aerodynamic body kits, designed not only to change the exterior of the car, but also to improve its handling.

Some modify the suspension and install body kits with a spoiler. The appearance of the car will also be decorated with stylish “rollers” of a larger radius and low-profile tires

If funds allow, you can pay attention to new optics and radiator grille

Interior tuning

It is also worth improving the interior, especially if you value comfort and coziness. The simplest thing is to buy rugs, covers, etc. But if you wish, you can significantly change the interior of the Chevrolet Lacetti. The seats are upholstered with more expensive and high-quality fabrics or leather. You can install new seats from famous sports brands, for example, Recaro or Sparko. They also install a sports steering wheel, which has a smaller diameter and fits better in the hand.

It is worth considering the development of interior lighting, which will also increase the overall level of comfort

Particular attention can be paid to highlighting the dashboard and organs. Thanks to the installed special door sill trim, this will not only decorate the car, but also simplify the process of getting in/out

For music lovers, it is important to pay attention to replacing the standard radio with a new, better one. The center console is perfect for a display, and the luggage compartment can accommodate an amplifier and subwoofer. Experts also advise working on sound insulation

Experts also advise working on sound insulation.

Increasing wheel diameter and modernizing shock absorbers

The first method is the simplest, but ineffective and very expensive. By installing larger diameter wheels and tires on your car, the driver will increase the ground clearance by a few millimeters. In order for the ground clearance to be greater, changes will have to be made to the design of body elements. Plus, the use of larger diameter wheels creates additional stress on the car's suspension.

Some craftsmen, in order to increase the ground clearance of their car, upgrade shock absorbers by inserting special gaskets between their coils. Thanks to this method, although the ground clearance increases by a couple of centimeters, the stroke of the shock absorbers is significantly reduced, which makes the car ride much harsher.

Radical modification of the suspension

In cases where the suspension is too “dead” or if you want to radically change the ground clearance, you need to digest the body cups. When carrying out this activity, the car owner must be aware of the consequences this may lead to. Deterioration in handling, the car pulling to the side and the inability to perform wheel alignment and camber are common consequences of this type of car modification.

Using spacers

Using special spacers is the most effective and safe way to increase vehicle clearance. This method makes it possible to increase ground clearance by three or more centimeters, and good results can be achieved without subjecting the suspension and body to deformation.

The only drawback that most drivers who install spacers on their car face is a slight deterioration in handling. You should know that the thinner the spacer, the better the car's handling.

Spacers to increase the distance between the car body and the strut supports can be made of aluminum, polyurethane and so-called ABC plastic. Aluminum spacers are highly durable, but can cause corrosion if frequently driven on sand-salt roads.

Most car owners prefer spacers made of ABC plastic, since this material is durable, does not deform the body, and does not provoke oxidation and corrosion on parts and the car body. In some cases, in order to increase the vehicle's ground clearance, spacers can be installed only on the rear wheels.

Clearance dimensions for the Chevrolet Lacetti

The clearance of the Chevrolet Lacetti is directly related to the vehicle load and the location where the distance is measured. The official data that the automaker provides in the manual is presented in the table below.

The car's suspension is rigid, so the actual ground clearance rarely differs from the official data. A decrease in ground clearance can only be noticed in vehicles in poor technical condition. With a “broken” suspension, ground clearance may decrease by 20-30 mm.

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Increasing the ground clearance of the Chevrolet Lacetti without major design changes

The easiest way to increase ground clearance is to use wheels with a larger diameter than the standard ones. This method allows you to raise the car up to 15 mm. In this case, returning to the standard ground clearance is not difficult; it is enough to return the old wheels to their place. This method is not without its drawbacks. The main ones are:

  • false measurement of the distance traveled by the odometer;
  • bumps and wheel jams when driving over obstacles on the road, such as speed bumps;
  • incorrect speed measurement by the speedometer, which can lead to a fine;
  • deterioration in handling, which is most noticeable when entering a turn or at high speed;
  • inability to move the vehicle when fully loaded due to wheel jamming;
  • the need to change wheels to standard ones when passing a technical inspection;
  • The maximum increase in ground clearance is limited to 15 mm.

Increase the ground clearance of a Chevrolet Cruze - Auto workshop online

From the moment of its first appearance on our market to this day, the Chevrolet Cruze model has attracted the attention of the automotive community. The reason for this popularity is that this car combines a solid design and a reasonable price. But that is not all.

The technical characteristics of the car, the most important of which is ground clearance, allow it to successfully conquer our specific roads. Thus, the designers were able to create an inexpensive, quite stylish and technologically advanced car in which you can comfortably drive around the city and beyond.

Today we will take a closer look at the design, technical characteristics, ground clearance of the Chevrolet Cruze and its other features.

Exterior

Of course, the exterior design of the car is one of its strengths. Thanks to the curving relief roof and “inflated” wings, the car looks very sporty and dynamic. Many of the model’s “classmates” are far behind it in design.

The front end matches the expensive profile of the body. The radiator grille is divided into two unequal parts by a horizontal strip, and slightly curved headlights rush upward.

The exterior of the car is very similar to a four-door coupe - one of the most fashionable body types today.

The Chevrolet Cruze sedan has the following dimensions: length 4597, width 1788, height 1477 mm. The hatchback car is 87 mm shorter than the sedan. The station wagon is 78 mm longer than the sedan. And if roof rails are installed on its roof, then it is 44 mm higher.

The wheelbase of the model is 2685 millimeters. The trunk volume of the sedan is 450 liters, the hatchback – 413, and the station wagon – 500 liters. There is a full-size spare wheel in the trunk underground.

By folding the rear seats you can increase the volume of the luggage compartment.

Clearance

The Chevrolet Cruze has earned fame in our latitudes not only thanks to its interesting design, but also thanks to its ground clearance, which is quite enough for you to drive into the private sector without worrying about the bottom of the car. The ground clearance of the model depends on the body type and some nuances.

The ground clearance of the Chevrolet Cruze sedan is officially 16 cm. In reality, this is not entirely true. Firstly, if we take into account the lower bumper trim, it will be 2 cm smaller. Secondly, in the rear of the car the ground clearance is greater due to the fact that the stern is raised. Here it reaches almost 22 centimeters.

The clearance of the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback, according to the passport data, is 155 millimeters. If you take into account the overlay, it turns out to be 135 mm. Of course, you can’t go off-road with such data, but for confident driving in our cities, it’s quite enough.

What has the Chevrolet Cruze station wagon prepared for us? The ground clearance of this modification is the same as that of the sedan. Only the feed is a little lower, due to the increased load on it.

Increased clearance

The Chevrolet Cruze can additionally lose precious millimeters if engine protection is installed. It’s better not to drive on domestic roads without it. This is still minus a couple of centimeters from the ground clearance. And if you load the trunk and put 5 passengers in the car, the ground clearance will become even less. Therefore, many resort to increasing it. This is done in three ways:

  1. The most common method is spacers. They are liners made of various materials (plastic, rubber, aluminum, etc.), which are placed between the coils of shock absorbers. This modification allows you to raise the car a few centimeters, but affects the comfort of passengers - the suspension becomes stiff. In addition, many experts do not recommend such interventions in the design of the car.
  2. Installation of larger diameter discs. This method is more suitable for a car. It allows you to increase ground clearance, but affects comfort - passengers will feel road irregularities more strongly.
  3. Well, the last, least common way is to increase the gap between the body and the strut supports.

Competitors

Many will say that the ground clearance of the Chevrolet Cruze model is not that great. It all depends on what car you compare it to. Compared to crossovers, of course, the Cruz is far behind in ground clearance, but if you compare it with its C-class competitors, the situation here is completely different. For example, the Citroen C4 has a ground clearance of only 120 mm, the Hyundai Elantra - 150 mm, the Skoda Octavia A5 - 160 mm, and the Ford Focus 2 - 150 mm. And these are manufacturer data, which are indicated without taking into account engine protection.

Interior

We've discussed the outside, now let's look inside. The salon also did not disappoint. It is interesting not only to look at it, but also to touch it. Attention to detail is evident in everything here. Interesting architecture and successful fabric-look inserts on the front panel immediately catch the eye.

But there are also plenty of shortcomings, which is not surprising, given the price category in which this car is located. The entire interior is replete with backlashes. The buttons are unclear to press, and the glove compartment closes unevenly. In terms of interior design, the Cruze is certainly one of the more interesting Koreans.

But if we talk about the build quality, its weaknesses will immediately become apparent.

But the interior is quite spacious. Three adults can easily fit in the back row. The driver's seat has quite tolerable lateral support and a wide range of adjustments. The steering wheel can also be conveniently adjusted to suit you.

Equipment

In the basic configuration, the equipment of the car is very ascetic: air conditioning for an extra charge, electric drive and heated mirrors, front windows, a simple audio system, and air blowers for rear row passengers.

Video

Main author of the site and founder of several automotive Internet projects

As for a specific car, this copy of the 2006 Chevrolet Lacetti Hatchback has covered 120 thousand km and continues to please its owner. The car has a 1.6 liter engine with a capacity of 109 hp. With. This power is quite enough for a car weighing 1.35 tons. The engine is very famous in our latitudes - it was installed on both the Chevrolet Aveo and Lanos, it is quite reliable and repairable. During operation there were no complaints about the engine, maintenance was in accordance with the regulations, and that’s all.

As for the dynamics, with a 5-speed manual transmission the car copes with overtaking trucks on the highway very well, but do not forget that this is not a sports car. When driving within the rules, consumption outside the city is about 6.5 liters per 100 km, which is significantly better than the Chevrolet Aveo I already mentioned with a 1.5 liter less powerful engine. Consumption in the city is about 10 liters per 100 km. Such indicators, in my opinion, are quite acceptable.

As for the chassis, the suspension is also quite good and reliable. At the front there is an independent McPherson strut, and the struts are still original. There is a multi-link at the rear, I won’t go into the details of its design, but it allows the car to better grip the road and avoid “rolling” in corners. At the same time, the suspension is quite comfortable, and the silent blocks still do not require replacement. There are ventilated disc brakes on all wheels, an anti-lock braking system and a brake force distribution system.

Ground clearance is 145 mm (with 14-inch wheels), this is not a very high figure, for example, the same Chevrolet Aveo has 5 mm more

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