Approval from RTA needed to raise or lower car suspension

[Piper]

A friend of mine found this on another forum, check this story out!

taken from http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st...77,00.html

Approval from RTA needed to raise or lower car suspension

July 16, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press

NEW laws making it an offence to raise or lower a car's suspension without proper approval is about saving lives, New South Wales Roads Minister Michael Daley says.

From August 1, car owners will be limited to raising or lowering their suspension by no more than five centimetres, and all modifications will need approval from Roads and Traffic Authority engineers.

Currently, a car can be raised or lowered by up to five centimetres without approval and by up to 15 centimetres with approval.

Mr Daley says while drivers may think a lowered car looks "cool" it really is dangerous and any adjustment of more than five centimetres doesn't belong on the road.

"I don't want to see young hoons putting their lives or the lives of others at risk, just because they think their car looks better 15 centimetres closer to the ground," Mr Daley said.

"Raising or lowering a vehicle's height can put the driver, passengers and other road users at risk.

"It can affect handling, braking and safety features such as electronic stability control."

Any vehicle that is raised or lowered after August 1 will have to carry a certificate stating that the modifications confirm to safety standard requirements.

[Jesterarts]

"I don't want to see young hoons putting their lives or the lives of others at risk"

Mr Daley is a tool.

So anyone who wants to lower or raise their car is a "young hoon". Interesting.

Glad I don't live in NSW!

[TVR-190]

"It can affect handling

usually for the better.....

remind me why we have the RTA?

[stocky]

how many of these young hoons have cars with ESP? he seems so concerned that this system will be affected. another idiot behind a desk with no idea

[TVR-190]

itll probably just be a new annoyance that takes 5 mins to get approved, if it isnt alot of businesses will lose money.

[Grennan]

It isnt as bad as I first thought, i read through it a couple of times. Is it just over 5 cm that you need aproval? Superlows usually drop it by about 5-6 cm so you should be able to just squeeze by.

[Stressball]

It isnt as bad as I first thought, i read through it a couple of times. Is it just over 5 cm that you need aproval? Superlows usually drop it by about 5-6 cm so you should be able to just squeeze by.

That's how it is now... As of August 1 though, it changes. The way the article is worded, it means the maximum raising/lowering is 5cm, with approval. You can not lower or raise the car at all by any amount without approval, and when you do get approval, 5cm is the limit.

[Rufus®]

It isnt as bad as I first thought, i read through it a couple of times. Is it just over 5 cm that you need aproval? Superlows usually drop it by about 5-6 cm so you should be able to just squeeze by.

No, the way I read it is, cars will now be limited to a maximum change of 5cm, and all mods need to be approved, whether you go 1cm or 5cm.

My question is, how will they know when your car was modified?

[pow3rslave]

not sure whether it's from factory height or if it's 5cm from lowest suspension available (like fe2)

[Jesterarts]

What about if you have a VN and the springs have sagged heaps because you have a fat family? Do you need a certificate to say you have a fat family and that is the reason the car is low and it's not actually a modification?

[Troy711]

^^^In that case you get a defect lol.

[Troy711]

Interesting to note you chose to write VN too :chinstroke:

[S.O.S]

This is a hilarious joke.

2 cars.

SS - Omega. Both using the same V8 engine brakes weight but riding on FE2 is the SS, and the Omega is on standard suspension. You don't need to ask which car is the better handling.

These clowns don't think any decision through at all.

[Philthy]

I can see where they are coming from. They are trying to stop people from lowering their cars to the point that they become unsafe, but still allowing people to do it properly.

And yes, lower cars only handle better to an extent, but there comes a point when you sacrifice handling for looks

[kniever]

That's how it is now... As of August 1 though, it changes. The way the article is worded, it means the maximum raising/lowering is 5cm, with approval. You can not lower or raise the car at all by any amount without approval, and when you do get approval, 5cm is the limit.

No, the way I read it is, cars will now be limited to a maximum change of 5cm, and all mods need to be approved, whether you go 1cm or 5cm.

My question is, how will they know when your car was modified?

a car can be raised or lowered by up to five centimetres without approval and by up to 15 centimetres with approval.

[andyman]

usually for the better.....

remind me why we have the RTA?

usually for the better yes, but chopped springs dont make a car handle very well

[Stressball]

a car can be raised or lowered by up to five centimetres without approval and by up to 15 centimetres with approval.

Currently, a car can be raised or lowered by up to five centimetres without approval and by up to 15 centimetres with approval.

(emphasis mine).

Why is it so hard for some people to read things in context? Both myself AND Rufus said 'currently' and 'will now be'.

[redrags]

****s.. i was gonna get mine done next month but im not even gonna bother anymore, ittl be too much of a **** around and too expensive.

[one_and_only2004]

****s.. i was gonna get mine done next month but im not even gonna bother anymore, ittl be too much of a **** around and too expensive.

surely you could get your local mechanic to write you out a reciept for this month?

[Rufus®]

a car can be raised or lowered by up to five centimetres without approval and by up to 15 centimetres with approval.

Yes that is the current rule, as of 1st August, any change will need to approved, and you can only go to a maximum of 5cm in either direction.

[TVR-190]

how would they enforce it

have a list of every car out of the factory's height.

my car is standard fe2. if i lowered it another 5cm id be losing my petrol tank.

[Philthy]

What about cars with FE2 as an option?
Could you claim that your exec came with FE2 from factory and lower it 5cm from there?

[danja]

I think you all are getting worked up over a non-event. As it stands, half the lowered cars out there are defectable anyway - and 5cm is actually quite a lot to play with. Not sure what the problem is?

On the whole lowering vs handling thing, let's be clear here. Lowering the centre of gravity does improve handling on a perfectly flat surface, but the lower you go, the stiffer your spring and shock rates need to be, and that reduces the ability of your car to handle and stay in control over rough surfaces.

Now if Aussie roads were like the Indianapolis Speedway, lowering wouldn't really be a safety issue, but we all know they aren't - in fact they are shit house. Ya'll can say the laws are made up by some idiot behind a desk who doesn't know what he's talking about, but you'd in all likelihood be wrong. Your car needs a certain amount of suspension travel to stay in control over poor surfaces and in poor conditions. You don't, on the other hand, really need to take 90 degree corners at 60km/h.

[Swordsy]

Its quite easy to get around, buy a car made before aug this year, then they have no idea when it was lowered. Same goes for the tinting rule in NSW.

[Zeussy]

how would they enforce it

have a list of every car out of the factory's height.

my car is standard fe2. if i lowered it another 5cm id be losing my petrol tank.

+1 Agreed...


To me, I took it as directed more at the 'mini truckers' out there, taking a car with a clearance of around 20cm + and bagging it, getting it sitting on the ground, or lowering it to the stops...

5cms lower than FE2 is pretty low, even 5cms off stock is basically what most of us do anyway, although, I'm seriously thinking about going lower!

EDIT: I ddint read the whole article.. Thats just the impression I got off the first bit.