Suspension System: The Low Down

It doesn’t matter if the road is dirt, gravel, asphalt or freshly paved cement—there is no such thing as a perfectly smooth road. And, without the proper suspension system, those not-so-smooth surfaces really shake and rattle your ride, but not in the Big Joe Turner kinda way—more like the blow a tire, wear out a shock, your outta luck kinda way. Before your ride turns into a heaving pile of junk, take the time to shield your ride from the vicious attacks the road tosses its way.

Suspensions systems lift, lower, add comfort, increase handling—you name it. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re merely looking for some added comfort to cure your minor motion sickness or you’re seeking a major lowering kit for an aggressive stance and superior handling sure to capture any checkered flag from here to Daytona. When it comes to suspension systems, there are several components to consider – air compressor, coil spacers, coil springs, shocks, leaf springs, leveling kits, steering components, lift kits, wheel spacers and more – and each performance piece has its own function for smoothing out your ride experience. Need to keep your springs sprung? Find the perfect air compressor or air tank. What about lifting your ride up to infinity and beyond? For that, choose quality leaf springs or complete lift kits. And, of course, if you’re just after serious comfort improvements, a leveling kit gets the job done right.

Once you figure out which suspension pieces you want to upgrade, choose from the best names in the business. Be careful when selecting your components from aftermarket manufacturers whose claim to fame is something similar to the lyrics of an overplayed Chubby Checker party song. Stick with the names most trusted in the suspension systems industry: Air Lift, Air Zenith, Edelbrock, Eibach, KONI, Rugged Ridge, Skyjacker, Tokico and more.