SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS

 While this feature focuses on cost-effective ways to restore your springs and dampers to the original maker’s standards, many readers will consider suspension modifications. Speak to a specialist, because changing an aspect of your suspension will have knock-on effects. Reducing ride-height (or ‘lowering’) can promote better handling and a sportier feel – but you trade-off suspension travel and ride comfort, because most performance systems tend to be 25-40% stiffer than standard. KYB reports that its standard-specification dampers can tolerate up to 30mm of lowering: any further reduction in rideheight risks the damper’s piston rod slamming into its base and over-working the bump-stops/spring assisters. Consider also that parts, which are not used in the way the manufacturer intended, will invalidate the warranty.