5 Suspension Mods You Should NEVER Do To Your Car

While some modern cars have a great suspension, some car owners may feel that they need suspension mods for their relatively old cars.

The suspension of a car defines to a great degree what a smooth ride it will be. Apart from absorbing the shocks when you brake or move on an uneven road, it also dictates how much grip you may have on your car. 

But, everything that glitters is not gold. So, here we have some of the craziest ideas that can actually ruin your car. Trust us because a good mechanic can give you proof during car parts inspection.

5 Crazy Suspension Mods that are a Big NO

Spring Clamps

This, by far, is the craziest. These are clamps that can hold down the spring to lower it. Clearly, it interferes with the spring itself, and thus, the car safety. It also has the ability to damage everything around it.

Here is why you must not use it. It reduces the suspension of the car but not the spring rate which will cause clearance issues, resulting in serious shock damage.

It causes the suspension travel to lower, so the spring rate needs to increase if the car is lower. However, these clamps fail to do so.

The spring rate must be higher if the car is lower, else ground interference will maximize. This is why the suspensions of a hatchback and an SUV are different.

With time, it also changes the way the spring bends, rendering it ineffective. So, it is a terribly dumb idea as far as safety is concerned.

Take a great maintenance tip, and consider using coilovers.

Lowering Springs

These help you lower the center of gravity of the car, and offer improved handling, along with better aerodynamics.

The cons however, are much more than pros. It increases the probability of bottoming out since it increases the negative camber and reduces the grip on the road.

Also, these come with a set height that you cannot adjust. The spring rate, in this case, doesn’t match the damping rate.

The spring rate won’t match the damping rate. The stiffer spring with the original shock will not offer you a matching damping rate. 

This situation offers you less overall suspension travel. The shock, however, had been designed to travel more. Thus effectiveness will be lost. The range of operation is shortened. Thus, the shock absorber will be damaged.

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Camber Kit

Camber kits are used to correct the camber of a lowered car or to simply adjust the camber. 

A little bit of negative camber maximizes the grip on the patch as you corner through the car and it leans on to the tire.

However, when a camber kit increases the negative camber, it only works negatively for you. A lot of negative camber is a bad thing. It reduces the amount of grip and cause uneven tire wear.

Wheel Spacers

This one is not exactly a suspension mod, but has great effect on the suspension, all the same. 

Wheel spacers are used to widen the track of your car to achieve improved handling. It is so because you have less load transfer. 

The fact of the matter is that it gives only 1.2 less load transfer to the outer wheel. The shortcomings far outweigh the advantages.

It simply changes the scrub radius which can increase the amount of tire wear. Also, it changes the dynamic toe while braking or accelerating. Under braking you may lose stability. 

It also brings down the effective spring rate. Apart from this, it reduces the life of the wheel bearing because of the excess weight and movement against it. And, it can also damage the fenders.

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Anti Roll Bar

Anti-roll bars are used to reduce the amount of body roll for the car. It helps stiffen up the cornering feel, due to which the driver may feel more confident.

Nevertheless, it increases the likelihood of under steering or over steering depending on which axle you fix it on. The slip angle of the tires on that axle will increase. 

It also reduces the independence of the suspension. In an independent suspension, each wheel acts independent of the other. 

Anti-roll bars make both the wheels dependent on each other. What happens to one tire, affects the other. The result – increased likelihood of the axle to slide out.

FAQs

1. Why is cutting my springs to lower the car a bad idea?

Cutting springs to lower a vehicle might seem like a cost-effective shortcut, but it compromises the structural integrity of the springs and can drastically affect the car’s handling and ride comfort. 

This modification can lead to a harsher ride, increased wear on suspension components, and potentially dangerous handling characteristics due to the altered spring rate and suspension geometry.

2. Can overly stiff suspension setups cause damage to my car?

Yes, installing an overly stiff suspension system can lead to increased wear and potential damage to the vehicle’s chassis and suspension components. 

While a stiffer setup can improve handling to a degree, excessive stiffness can reduce the car’s ability to absorb road imperfections, leading to a rough ride and increased stress on the entire vehicle structure.

3. Why should I avoid using spacers to fit larger wheels?

Using spacers to fit larger wheels can change the wheel offset and load distribution, potentially leading to handling issues, increased bearing wear, and stress on the suspension components. 

It can also affect the vehicle’s braking efficiency and overall safety. It’s essential to choose wheel and tire sizes compatible with your vehicle’s design specifications.

4. What are the risks of installing a lift kit on a non-off-road vehicle?

Installing a lift kit on a vehicle not designed for off-road use can significantly impact its center of gravity, making it more prone to rollovers. 

Additionally, lift kits can strain the drivetrain, suspension components, and alter the vehicle’s handling characteristics, potentially reducing safety and comfort on regular roads.

5. Is it safe to mix and match suspension parts from different manufacturers?

Mixing and matching suspension parts from different manufacturers can result in compatibility issues, uneven wear, and unpredictable handling. 

Suspension systems are designed to work as a cohesive unit, with each component engineered to complement the others. 

Using mismatched parts can lead to a suboptimal setup and may compromise the vehicle’s safety and performance.

So, which one of these suspension mods is killing your car? Let’s Car From Japan know in the comment below!