You're Setting Your Ride Height WRONG (Probably)

You’re probably doing this wrong, but it’s not your fault.

Suspension setup and ride height adjustment isn’t a difficult task, but sadly there is plenty of misinformation out there on the internet on how to setup your shocks/damper and adjust your ride height, and even some manufacturers are partly to blame. In this hands-on guide, engineer Connor explains how to properly set up and adjust coilover suspension for street or race use so your suspension actually performs as designed.

KEY KNOWLEDGE:

Why adjusting ride height from the spring perch doesn’t change your spring rate (linear spring)
How to find your minimum coilover length safely
Why helper springs matter for full droop
How improper setup ruins bump stop function
The real way to avoid expensive issues like guard rub, blown tires, and bottoming out

Whether you're setting up your street car or dialling in a race build, this is how aftermarket coilover setup should be done.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Most Coilovers Are Installed Wrong
0:21 - Street Vs Race, It's The Same
0:25 - Spring Preload Myths
0:43 - Helper Springs
0:49 - Lower Mount Adjustment Problems
1:01 - Bump Stop Failure & Crash Risk
1:14 - The RIGHT Setup
1:24 - When To Adjust The Lower Mount
1:38 - Lowest Ride Height Possible
1:49 - Low = Slow?
1:59 - HPA Wheel Alignment Fundamentals
2:05 - Ride Height Adjustment
2:12 - Have You Had Any Of These Problems?