Wheel liner damage on a JCW lowered with KW V1s, and this is with the lower spring perch screwed to the top. Another consequence of lowering, the right side refrigerant line gets banged by a rubber sleeve on the axle. Over time, repeated contact weakens the line at a nearby coupler causing a crack and loss of refrigerant. This is the coupler where the line becomes compromised (crack side not shown); it rests in the support bracket below it. I know an engineer who is in the process of fabricating a rigid bracket that would aid in supporting the line and coupler. In the mean time I lift the line with a foam saddle over the stock bracket. Koozy parts shown here. Foam insulation used for this saddle. This R56 had contact between the line and axle at near stock ride height. So far all the R56 cars I've been under, show rub marks on the right side lower refrigerant line.
Good information Keith, thanks. All of these examples must have been extreme suspension drops. Are these examples of street or track cars? Any feel on where the line gets crossed on the amount of drop where these problems start showing up? Thanks! Chuck
It can occur even with stock springs, one gentleman had his line replaced four times, on stock springs; but yes, the R56s with contact I'm aware of have seen track or autocross.