Transforming the way your car handles isn’t as simple as just bolting on a few parts and calling it a day. The world of suspension tuning is a complex and nuanced one, with a vast array of dos and don’ts to be aware of. Plus, these dos and don’ts will change depending on what car you drive and how you drive it. Some components and setup techniques work well for some applications but not others. So, how do you know where to start?

If you’re new to suspension tuning and want to learn how to improve your car’s handling the right way, you’re in the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’re going to walk you through the process of upgrading your car’s suspension step-by-step, from exploring the available options right the way through to installing your new parts and setting them up.

Identify your goals

What do you intend to use your car for? And what does ‘improved handling’ mean to you? For some, it means razor-sharp response, uncompromising agility (at the expense of ride comfort) and faster lap times. For others, it simply means a more enjoyable driving experience - more satisfying and communicative steering and improved turn-in.

Before you get your credit card out and start shopping, it’s important to think about what your goals are. If you fall into the first category and plan to do track days on the regular, you’ll want track-orientated parts and more aggressive alignment settings. If you fall into the latter category, you might not need to change many parts at all - some fresh suspension bushes could be all you need to make your car come alive on your favourite road.

Perhaps you fall somewhere between the two extremes and want a comfortable car that can still perform well on the occasional track day. If that sounds like you, make sure you prioritise adjustability: a good set of coilovers with adjustable damping will allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds, making it easy to optimise your car for both road and track.

Research your chosen platform

Some cars have a whole lot more aftermarket support than others. So, once you’ve established what your goals are, you should research the different options available to help you achieve them.

If you’re starting with a sports car or hot hatch, for instance, you should have plenty of choice. Cars like the Mazda MX-5 and Audi S3 are well catered for by the aftermarket scene, with an array of different brands each producing high-quality suspension parts. The same goes for other popular models like the Volkswagen Golf and BMW 3 Series: any popular model with even a modicum of motorsport heritage should have plenty of aftermarket upgrade options available.

Rarer, less well-known models (or cars that aren’t typically modified) are harder to find parts for. If you’re struggling to find quality parts to fit your car, you might want to speak to other owners and ask for their advice.

Choose the right components

So, you’ve identified your goals and explored the various aftermarket options available to you. Now it’s time to go shopping and order the parts you need. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular handling parts available and their pros and cons.

Coilovers

Arguably the most effective suspension upgrade you can make to any car, a quality coilover kit can transform the way your car handles. Coilovers combine the spring and damper into one unit, the spring being wrapped around the damper (hence the term ‘coilover’). Not only does this reduce weight and complexity, it means that both the springs and dampers can be adjusted in unison.

Coilovers allow you to adjust the right height of your car (by moving the spring perch up and down), alter the preload of your springs and, on some models, alter the bump and rebound stiffness of the dampers. Although the level of adjustability coilovers offer can seem overwhelming at first, it means you can tailor them to suit your preferences perfectly. Want agile handling and a firm ride? You can have that. Fancy a more compliant ride that copes well with bumps and undulations? You can have that too. 

The sheer amount of adjustability coilovers provide is why they’re used on high-end, track-orientated road cars and racing cars. From a handling and performance standpoint, they’re ideal. The only real downside is cost. While cheaper coilover kits are available, they can often make your car’s handling worse, not better. Quality mid-range kits usually tend to cost upwards of £700, but they’re worth every penny.

Lowering springs

If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to a set of coilovers, lowering springs are worth considering. They aren’t adjustable like coilovers are, instead offering a fixed drop in ride height. But by lowering your car, they not only improve its looks but reduce its centre of gravity, allowing it to corner flatter and respond more quickly to your inputs.

Lowering springs are typically stiffer than their stock counterparts too, resulting in a firmer ride and a more agile feel. Although they can be installed on their own, they work best when paired with stiffer shock absorbers…

Anti-roll bars

When people talk about improving their car’s handling, often what they mean is reducing body roll. They don’t necessarily want a firmer ride, they just want their car to remain level in the bends and corner with more composure. 

That’s where aftermarket anti-roll bars come in. They’re often overlooked, but they can reduce body roll significantly, giving your car a more predictable, agile feel. Compared to their stock counterparts, aftermarket anti-roll bars are thicker and more rigid, improving the car’s roll stiffness. As an added bonus, they’re relatively affordable to buy and pretty simple to install.

Bushes

Speaking of overlooked suspension upgrades, let’s not forget bushes. Sure, they’re not exciting to look at (or fun to install), but they can make a huge difference to the way your car feels. Old, worn bushes allow your suspension to flex in ways it shouldn’t, resulting in vague, unpredictable handling. By switching these out for brand-new replacements, you’ll remove excess play in the suspension and give your car a tighter, more sure-footed feel. 

Adjustable suspension arms

For those looking to get more in-depth, adjustable suspension arms are well worth a look. Some cars offer very little in the way of camber, caster and toe adjustment from the factory, making it tough to achieve the alignment specs you’re looking for - especially when your car is lowered.

Installed in place of the standard arms, adjustable arms give you the flexibility to add or remove as much camber, caster and toe as you need, allowing you to fine tune your car’s handling to suit your driving style.

Complete suspension kits

Want to hit the ground running? We offer complete suspension kits here at LK Performance, which include all the parts you need to transform the way your car drives. If you don’t want to spend too much time shopping around for individual parts, an all-in-one suspension package is just what you need.

Set everything up correctly

Once you’ve chosen the right parts for your vehicle, it’s time to install them and set them up correctly. This applies particularly to coilovers and adjustable arms; if you just bolt them onto your car and don’t set them up right, you won’t be improving your car’s handling at all - you’ll likely be making it worse! The ride height must be set evenly across all four corners, for instance - and the spring preload should be set according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Whenever you make any alterations to your car’s ride height or fit new suspension components, you should always carry out an alignment afterwards too. Even slight suspension changes can impact your alignment settings, counteracting the benefits of fitting new parts in the first place. Remember, it’s not just about buying quality parts, it’s about installing and configuring them correctly.

Make adjustments to suit your driving style

There’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ suspension setup, because every driver is different. Some prefer a safer, more understeer-biassed setup, while others prefer a more lively setup with a sharper turn-in and more oversteer. Some prefer a firm ride, while others prefer a softer, more compliant one.

So, once you’ve fitted your new parts and carried out an alignment, drive your car around for a while and see how you get on. If you’ve fitted coilovers or any other adjustable components, you can then make further alterations and really dial in the setup of your car to suit you.

Discover our complete range of car suspension parts

That wraps up our suspension tuning guide. If you’re ready to start shopping for parts, LK Performance is the place to be. As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of aftermarket parts, we stock quality suspension components for everything from Ford Fiestas to Porsche 911s and plenty in between, along with an extensive range of alloy wheels, tyres and engine parts.

Discover our complete range of car suspension parts online today to get started, or get in touch with our team of experts for advice you can count on.