What is Rake?
The nose-down or nose-up attitude of a car, measured as the difference in ride height between the front and rear.
Rake describes how level a car sits front to rear. A car with forward rake sits nose-down, with the front ride height lower than the rear. A car with reverse rake sits nose-up, which is generally considered the less desirable look.
Rake matters for both aerodynamics and appearance. On race cars a degree of forward rake can help airflow under the car and shift aerodynamic balance. On road and show builds it is mostly visual: a slight nose-down attitude reads as purposeful and fast, while a nose-high stance tends to look unfinished or, worse, like the rear is sagging under load.
Getting rake right is a core part of setting up a lowered car. Many builders adjust front and rear ride height independently, chasing a small amount of forward rake rather than a perfectly level car.
