What techniques are used to create the bouncing cars featured in movies?

These vehicles, referred to as lowriders, are particularly popular in southern California. A lowrider is essentially a car customized to sit extremely close to the ground, a style that appeals to many enthusiasts.

However, lowriders face challenges like speed bumps and uneven roads, making driving tricky. To address this, fans install hydraulic lift kits, which let drivers adjust the car's height. These kits rely on electric hydraulic pumps and standard hydraulic cylinders, similar to those explained in How Hydraulic Machines Work, to lift or lower the vehicle. Picture attaching the cylinder next to the shock absorber or spring, and you’ll grasp the concept. The installation is complex and can cost thousands of dollars.

Once the hydraulic kits solved the height issue, something unexpected and fascinating occurred—a quirky twist in the evolution of lowriders. At some point, someone discovered that with sufficient power, the hydraulic system could make the car bounce!

Lowrider hydraulic systems rapidly advanced to enhance hopping, eventually enabling cars to leap up to 6 feet () into the air! Initially, a single 12-volt or 24-volt pump controlled all four wheels simultaneously. Nowadays, cars can feature four pumps (one per wheel) and eight, 10, or even 12 batteries to power them. An eight-battery setup usually consists of two sets of four batteries, forming two 48-volt systems. Twelve batteries create two 72-volt systems. These high-powered setups are what you see in those iconic movie scenes.

Explore these resources to deepen your understanding: