Upgrade Your Vehicle

em For Shocking ResultsHave you ever grabbed breakfast on your way to
Dissatisfied with your car’s ride?  How doeswork and taken a sharp turn only to find your
increased safety and a smoother ride sound? grande-skinny-mocha-frappachino spilt all over you
Discover the many benefits of installing a newlap?  When you turn, weight is shifted in the
suspension system.opposite direction by gravity trying to compensate
If you are looking for a performance pick me up, afor the force.  This is known as body roll, and
new suspension may be just what the doctorconsequently is the coffee-spilling culprit. Lowering
ordered.  A rugged lift kit can provide clearance andsprings reduce your car’s center of gravity,
strength for navigating rough and rocky terrain, whileand therefore reducing resistance on the chassis
a set of lowering springs can enhance cornering andthrough the turns.  The result you might ask?
handling on the road.  No matter the case, yourQuicker steering response and feeling like your car is
suspension should be inspected and maintainedglued to the road.  It is important to realize your
periodically for optimal safety and performance.expectations and desires when shopping for new
Volkswagen said it right.  “On the road of life,springs though.  Higher spring rates will give you a
there are passengers and there are drivers.” Nottighter suspension, but will stiffen up your general
every driver wants a sports car. There are plenty ofride.  Basically, you will turn on a dime, but feel every
people content with their stock parts and thenook and cranny in the road.  Softer springs will still
performance that comes with them.  Myincrease performance, but won’t nearly affect
grandma’s 83’ Corolla for example, isoverall ride quality as much.  For the most part, I
more than enough car to get her to art classes anddon’t like extremes.  I would advise against
friends’ houses.  But then there areinstalling some really stiff springs unless you have a
automotive enthusiasts; drivers who are looking forseparate track car or are willing to put up with a
the most from their car.  Guys, and occasionally girls,bumpy ride.
who get behind the wheel and push theirI would also recommend upgrading your shocks as
machine’s limits until every last drop ofwell.  They are another component of you
performance has been squeezed out, like a personsuspension system and crucial for the smoothness of
with OCD wringing a toothpaste tube until every lastyou ride. Shocks serve two purposes. They absorb
molecule is expelled.  Odds are, you are like me, andany larger than average bumps so the shock
fall somewhere in between.isn’t transferred directly to the car chassis. 
Just like everything else, suspension systems are soSecondly, they keep all of your wheels planted on
technologically advanced that they can be adjustedthe road at all times.  This means your car would
by the turn of a screw.  So if you’re aboutturn into a rolling death trap without them. The
to take on the curves of the Pacific Coast Highway,shocks dampen vertical motion your car experiences
with the quick adjustment of a knob, you will be ablefrom rough surfaces.  Without shocks, your car
to handle every twist and turn thrown at you. would wallow all over the road until you got sick or it
Done with the bends?  In a few moments you canfell apart…or both.
loosen up your suspension for a more relaxed ride.