Performance Suspension Components

Performance suspension components are a beneficial add-on for any vehicle that is used in extreme conditions such as track racing, rallies or even street racing. These components greatly improve your car’s handling and ensure the safety of your life and that of others around you. There are various components that you can add to improve the performance of your car’s suspension.

Shock Absorbers and Springs

Shock absorbers absorb the effects of rough terrain and uneven tracks and prevent it to be transmitted to the car’s body. Performance shock absorbers comprise of high quality seals and suppressing mechanisms that allow for more absorption of shocks, thus improving handling. Performance springs tend to make the ride stiff and help reduce unwanted suspension movements to ensure that your car handles the way you want it to.

Coilovers

Coilovers are a recent development and are a replacement of shock absorbers and springs. They consist of a single coilover that has a shock absorber and spring built into one unit. It allows for adjustments that can modify the car’s height as well as its suspension response by changing the tension in the springs.

Sway Bars, Torsion Bars and Strut Bars

Sway bars and torsion bars are add-on components that improve a car’s handling by reducing unwanted body roll. They fit in the undercarriage of the car and help the car to remain glued to the tarmac when cornering at high speeds. Strut bars are used to avoid unnecessary strut and suspension movement by securing both the strut mounting locations, thus improving handling in rough terrains and tight corners.

Track Control Arms

Track control arms are used to prevent unnecessary wheel hub movements. They are installed with one end secured to the chassis and the other to the car’s main wheel ball joint. They contribute to a better driving experience by improving cornering and traction.

Performance suspension components add the required reliability and safety to your ride to make it perform up to your expectations, and are an important add-on for any person who wishes to enhance his or her car.

How to Fit Top Mounts on Your Own

Top mounts are car suspension components that secure the struts or the shock absorber assembly of the car and prevent them from abnormal movements. If the top mounts of the car are damaged or worn out, this will result in abnormal suspension movement that can cause driving problems as well as unwanted noises. The top mounts are located above the shock absorbers or coilovers, and require periodic maintenance. If you have the right set of tools, you can fit top mounts by yourself.

To fit top mounts by yourself, you will need the following:

• New top mounts and bearings
• 22 mm or 24 mm socket wrench (depends upon car make and model)
• 18 mm wrench for undoing securing bolts
• Spring compressor
• Lug wrench
• Jack and stand

Now that you have everything you need, follow these simple steps and you will be done in no time.

1. Loosen the lug nuts and jack up the car on the stand.

2. Remove the wheel to get access to the lower bolts.

3. There will be two 18 mm bolts that secure the shock absorber/coilover to the wheel hub, undo them, and disconnect the lower portion of the shock absorber/coilover.

4. Open the hood, and locate the top mount securing bolts. These are usually of 22 mm or 24 mm.

5. Undo these screws using the wrench, now your shock absorber should come out easily.

6. If using a shock absorber and not a coil over, use a spring compressor to compress the spring, and then undo the main bolt that secures the top mounts and bearing.

7. Once undone, remove the old top mount and bearing, and install new ones in their place.

8. Tighten the securing bolt, and insert the shock absorber back into its slot into the car body.

9. First, tighten the top bolt in the hood to hold the shock absorber in place.

10. Now, tighten the lower 18 mm bolts while pulling the shock absorber towards you, this will make sure that the wheel alignment stays proper and there are no camber problems.

11. Tighten all the bolts and apply grease where necessary.

12. Put the wheel back on, and lower the car back on to the ground. Repeat for the other side.

Congratulations! You have just succeeded in fitting top mounts by yourself. Enjoy your improved ride.

Ford Universal Track Rod Ends

Track rod ends are basically designed to help keep the tires flatter on the road. They are used for a number of purposes but the most common use is to build tie rods and linkages. They have become extremely popular with time in the performance segment of the automotive industry.

Track rod ends typically improve handling and traction which is why they are used in high-level modifications. They tend to get ignored for low stage modifications however. They work in-line with the suspension and steering system and help in reducing tire spins and drags.

They provide balance and better control to the driver while at the same time improve stability of the steering system as well. Changing and replacing them can sometimes be tricky which is why it is better to be careful when doing so.

There are specific track rod ends available for Ford models. Especially for those cars which are manufactured for superior performance, these track rod ends help in upgrading and enhancing the overall handling. The Ford universal track rod ends can be installed in any Ford automobile because their design is based on the engineering patterns adopted by the company.

Ford is well known for manufacturing cars which have a lot of room for modification and automotive enthusiasts all over the world have been doing so for a long time. The brand is a legend in the racing world and some of their cars have outperformed all others in rallying, drifting or even NASCAR.
Track rod ends are an essential part of the suspension placed in these cars. They are able to withstand extreme pressure and adapt to all kinds of surfaces. Because they can be used for such a wide variety of applications, the Ford universal track rod ends are being sold all over the world.

Model Specific Adjustable Top Mounts

Adjustable top mounts, also known as eccentric top mounts, are a popular performance upgrade available in the market. These are usually installed in the suspensions of race cars because they help improve handling and traction.

These top mounts are made from aluminum and are therefore, durable and reliable. They can be used for a wide range of applications but are only suitable for racing diameter springs. The basic function of adjustable top mounts is to allow the adjustment of the camber/caster which is placed on top of the strut. Changing and replacing these adjustable top mounts is not difficult either and can be done by making use of some basic tools.

This in turn helps in reducing the movements created by the regular rubber mounts resulting in better handling and steering geometry. Better feel and control of the vehicle is provided to the driver which is extremely helpful in high performance settings.

Because they are versatile and can be used for such a wide range of purposes, adjustable top mounts are preferred over fixed top mounts. Although fixed top mounts too are designed for the same purpose but they work in a slightly different way. Adjustable top mounts are considered to be more efficient and are therefore, more popular.

VW Golf Adjustable Top Mounts

There are specific adjustable top mounts variants available for the Volkswagen models, especially the Golf. The VW Golf is a legend in the automotive industry and is extremely popular among performance enthusiasts. The car has given record breaking performances in rallying tournaments and championships which requires extreme modifications and upgrades.

The VW Golf adjustable top mounts are readily available in the market and have been designed specifically for these cars based on their engineering patterns. These top mounts are sold all over the world because of the immense popularity of the car itself

The Importance Of Top Mounts

Why Should I Install Top Mounts?

In high level modifications, top mounts are considered to be one of the best components to install in a vehicle for better handling and steering. Alloy top mounts are very common these days because they are versatile and reliable.

These alloy top mounts are typically made from aluminum which means that they are durable and can be used for a number of applications. The bearings, spacers, fasteners and sleeve nuts are usually provided but an important point to note here is that they are only available as pairs.

Types Of Top Mounts

Top mounts have become a very popular suspension modification because of the impact they have on the performance of the vehicle. There are two basic types of top mounts available in the market. They both work in a slightly different way but the core purpose remains the same.

Fixed top mounts are designed to help in retaining the centre position of the OE strut. This takes away the movements that are created by the normal rubber mounts and therefore, provide better handling, steering geometry and traction. These are also known as concentric top mounts and are best suited for standard or racing springs.

 Adjustable top mounts too are designed to provide a better handling and steering geometry but they do this in a slightly different way. In order to reduce the movements created by the rubber mounts, these top mounts allow the adjustment of the camber/caster which is placed on top of the strut. These are referred to, as eccentric top mounts and can only be used with racing diameter springs.

It is safe to say here that top mounts serve a very important purpose in suspension modifications. Performance enthusiasts all over the world have been installing top mounts in their vehicles which have been built for racing in particular.

An Overview Of Track Rod Ends

Track Rod Ends

Track rod ends are essential components which are usually neglected during low-stage modifications. They are most commonly used for building tie rods as well as linkages. Track rod ends are very versatile but changing the can be slightly tricky which is why it should be done carefully.

Purposes Of Track Rod Ends

Track rod ends have in fact become one of the most common performance upgrade for suspensions. This is because they basically help in keeping the tires flatter on the roads. They connect the hub assembly to the steering assembly to provide better handling and traction.

Another important function of the track rod ends is to reduce tire spin when accelerating from a standstill position. This is very important for any automobile which has been built for extreme performance purposes. Uncontrolled and unnecessary tire spin can cause the vehicle to drag and loose valuable tract time.

However, there are some points which need to be considered when installing track rod ends into a vehicle. A faulty steering system or suspension will not be able to properly support the track rod ends. Any other modifications to the suspension too need to be done carefully as they can impact the performance of these components.

For example, lowering the height of a vehicle can improve its overall performance but it might not be a good idea to install track rod ends here. This is because even the slightest bumps can cause the suspension to come in contact with the surface and the track rod ends could snap due to the impact.

Track rod ends are therefore, most commonly used for vehicles designed for extreme modifications where all the aspects of its use and application are covered in much detail. The installation process is fairly simple and so is the replacement process which is also why they are so popular