There are lots of auto mods you can look into to improve a vehicle’s handling. However, some of the most effective upgrades are suspension modifications. Your suspension affects how your wheels react with the ground – including how well your vehicle turns and how smooth the ride is. But just what are some of the best suspension upgrades you can make to improve handling? Below are 6 suspension secrets unveiled.
Lowering springs
Lowering the springs is a popular way to add more traction. Most cars are designed to have a certain level of bounce for helping them to smoothly glide over rough terrain. This is the result of springs. Shortening these springs can make the car more rigid and less capable when taking on bumps. However, it can also improve a car’s grip and aerodynamics by making the vehicle closer to the ground and by reducing chassis movement. This in turn can lead to faster speeds and tighter corners on road surfaces.
Coilover installation
Instead of lowering the springs, you could switch to coilovers. These are a more expensive form of springs and shocks that similarly stiffens the suspension and lowers your vehicle to improve aerodynamics. Unlike lowering the springs, switching to coilovers allows greater adjustability. This allows you to get elements like dampening and rebound just right for ultimate handling.
Air suspension
Air suspension is an alternative to springs. It involves using pressurized air bags which adjust to the driving conditions. Not only can air suspension improve grip and reduce body roll, but it can also help provide a smoother ride. A vehicle with air suspension can glide over potholes and bumpy surfaces. For those wanting to improve handling on rough terrain, it can be a worthwhile modification.
Caster adjustments
‘Caster’ and ‘camber’ are two measurements used to describe the angle of the wheels. While camber adjustment is a popular way to improve grip around corners, caster adjustment can sometimes have an even more positive impact on handling. This post explains how caster adjustment improved handling for this Shelby GT500.
Sway bars
Reducing a vehicle’s body roll can also help improve handling. A popular way to do this is to add sway bars (also known as an anti-roll bar or stabilizer bar). This involves connecting the left and right side of a vehicle’s suspension to reduce a vehicle from leaning to one side when going around corners. This allows for sharper cornering.
Stiffer sidewall tires
Finally, it’s worth considering the tires of your vehicle. The types of tires you choose can impact the grip and speed of your vehicle. However, when doing sharp corners, it’s also worth considering how resilient a tire is from rolling over. Tires with thick sidewalls are often favored by motorsports drivers because they’re less likely to roll over or deform when doing tight corners. This helps to encourage better steering response and also ensures that your tires last longer. Most high performance tires will have thick sidewalls, while cheaper tires for more regular use may have thinner sidewalls.
