Suspension tuning - why is it needed and all the pros and cons

August 15, 2019 Lada.Online 23 566 2

Among owners of Lada Granta and Lada Kalina cars, one of the suspension modifications is very popular. It is notable for the fact that there is no need to redo anything, and for little money we get a tangible effect. Let's figure out what you need to buy and install yourself for this.

The point of the modification is to replace the standard disc suspension limiter with a rubberized one from Peugeot

. You can read the reviews at the end of the article.

Why is tuning necessary?

Has anyone ever thought about how much time it takes a person to choose and buy a car? This happens when, seeing all the advantages of a car and its rich functionality, we suddenly notice that we don’t have something we need. We begin to compare 2 or 3 optimal car options, however, something is missing everywhere, and in any case we buy one of them, since there are no other options. Having bought a car and moved away a little from such emotional stress, we understand that, in general, you can equip a car with what you want if you look for high-quality equipment and experienced people. This is where the concept of “car tuning” takes its roots.

Correction of motorcycle appearance

Changing your appearance can happen in different ways. Among the most common:

• Fairing installation.
• Replacing the fuel tank.
• Seat modification.
• Motorcycle painting.

Fairing installation. This is the first thing that many lovers of modifying the appearance of motorcycles undertake. Although it is possible to cope with such a task, it should be recognized that the development of such components is a complex task that requires specific skills. The enterprises employ entire groups of specialists engaged in the design of fairings.

Previously, plaza development methods were used for this, but today automatic design systems are used. Finished parts are blown in wind tunnels so that their behavior in air flow can be assessed.

A person who does not have specific skills, despite all his talents, will most likely receive a result of dubious quality. The surface of the fairing will be uneven, which is clearly visible in the 5 photos posted online illustrating Jupiter tuning. The aerodynamics of the motorcycle may not improve, but worsen. Take all this into account before you decide to start making and installing a fairing.

Replacing the fuel tank is a completely justified decision. But you shouldn’t try to make a complex part yourself. This is not an easy task even for enterprises with special technological equipment. It’s smarter and easier to choose a ready-made fuel tank from some other motorcycle model.

Seat modification. You can try to make a change to the standard structure by upholstering it with a new material like leather or a good substitute, and installing a new filler. But the original seat has a significant mass. To reduce the weight of the motorcycle, it makes sense, as in the case of the fuel tank, to select a part from other equipment.

Painting IZ Jupiter-5 is a good thing. Here you can let your imagination run wild. But the best results can be achieved if you know the laws of color combinations or consult with a professional designer. Otherwise, instead of a stylish combination of contrasting colors, you can end up with an eye-catching color scheme.

If you are interested in long-lasting paintwork, first apply a layer of high-quality primer and refuse to use nitro paint, preferring alkyd or polyurethane enamels.

What is tuning?

The word tune - from the English “tune”, clearly reflects the meaning of tuning a car, that is, giving it characteristics that the owner lacks in the purchased configuration. At the same time, if you want, you can even call the improvement of the car the replacement of rubber mats with fabric ones, since this action also represents the realization of the owner’s desires. So, any adjustment of a car’s parameters is its tuning .

Thus, suspension tuning is directly related to the use of cushions, which give the car unprecedented properties. In this case, it doesn’t matter at all what needs to be done: strengthen the suspension, reduce the risk of suspension breakdown, or increase comfort. Suspension tuning is recommended for use on many brands of cars, such as Audi and Kia, Hyundai, Chevrolet or Nissan - the cushions are universal and will fit on any car that has springs. By the way, Kia tuning using shock-absorbing pillows is a very effective and common means of strengthening the suspension , which is used by the owners of these cars.

Not tuning, but restoration

However, modernization is not the only way for owners of the popular model. After all, the age of many motorcycles has already exceeded two decades, which means that they can already be classified as rare. Restoring IZ Jupiter-5, restoring it and bringing it to its original state is also quite justified.

A legendary motorcycle that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line yesterday will attract no less attention than the tuned version. It’s just that how to properly restore equipment by performing qualified repairs often turns out to be much more difficult than remodeling it to your taste.

Previous post The evolution of the Minsk 125 motorcycle

Next entry Modern tuning Voskhod 3m

Tuning using TTS pillows

The big advantage of these pillows is that you can easily do the suspension tuning yourself. For such a low price, the car owner receives driving comfort, reduced roll, elimination of shock absorber breakdowns and other characteristics. As the Korean manufacturers of shock-absorbing cushions say about their product, “install TTC cushions and feel like you are driving a Mercedes.” And indeed it is. Plus, they are suitable for any type of work, be it tuning the rear suspension, front suspension or the entire suspension of the car. The sensations you get after installing the airbags will make you fall in love with driving even more. Driving through any hole, rail junction or speed bump, you will understand that their passage has become much quieter, with less shaking and less vibration than before installing the pillows. This gives a feeling of comfort when moving. In addition, the roll of your car when turning will decrease and the car will no longer roll from side to side.

You need to redo it wisely

You can find a lot of materials on this topic on the Internet. But they should be treated with great caution. Some recommendations openly contradict common sense; the result of other alterations may be unpredictable. Let's try to help with advice to those who decided to do the tuning of Jupiter 5 with their own hands.

There are several directions for making changes to the design of the popular model:

• Correction of the appearance of the motorcycle.
• Modification or alteration of the suspension.
• Engine tuning.

Let's consider each of them separately.

Reinforced suspension

Shock-absorbing pillows from the TTC company, while providing comfort while driving, at the same time make the car's suspension more collected. A reinforced suspension is what, in addition to the comfort of the suspension, a car receives after installing the airbags. Any car enthusiast knows this unpleasant feeling when a suspension breakdown(s) occurs. If your suspension constantly breaks, consider improving it with shock-absorbing pads.

Every car owner should take a realistic look at the condition of the elements of his car. If it is obvious that if the car has a weak suspension, then it is necessary to take measures to eliminate this problem. For example, quickly sagging springs can be attributed to a weak suspension. What sagging springs are fraught with is, of course, constant breakdowns of shock absorbers and ultimately their breakdown. Strengthen the front and rear suspension of your car by equipping it with TTC shock-absorbing cushions, and forget about damage to the shock absorbers.

To summarize, we can say that shock-absorbing pillows from the Korean company TTC are an inexpensive and very effective way of tuning the springs of your car! If you want to know what a comfortable and quiet suspension is, click “Spacers and their effect on ground clearance” and “Test results”.

TLK front suspension design

The TLC suspension is called hydropneumatic. The front independent torsion bar design includes:

• Pump – pumps up hydraulic fluid.
• Valves distribute its flow.
• Receivers – accumulate hydraulic system pressure.
• Sensors – determine the suspension level above a horizontal surface.
• Telescopic shock absorbers for adjusting the suspension height.

The elastic element of the system is gas. It is obtained due to the pressure in the device. Hydraulic suspension works like this:

• Electronic sensors assess the condition of the road surface and the direction of movement. They also record the vehicle's speed.
• In accordance with these data, the required pressure is supplied to each shock absorber. Their work becomes optimal for each current moment of driving.
• The result is a smooth ride, the car does not “notice” potholes and irregularities.

The electronic system either lowers a car traveling at high speed or raises it above the road surface in difficult areas where the speed is reduced.

Every second, the electronic unit collects and analyzes information about the position of the Land Cruiser 100 relative to the road. If necessary, adjusts the clearance.

When the car's mileage is 150,000 km, the suspension ball joints are replaced. They come complete with lower control arms. Worn bearings do not knock, but they damage other parts of the chassis.

At the same time, the shock absorbers are updated along with the ball ones.

Engine modification

Most representatives of the domestic automobile industry require high-quality improvements, and Niva is no exception. Tuning can significantly improve many parameters of an SUV, from the interior to pumping the chassis.

Changing the suspension helps increase the vehicle's passing ability. You can also change the external design of the body, making it more modern and original. Many people try to increase the power of the power plant by tuning the engine.

Most often, supporters of updates turn to professionals for help, although tuning a Niva 4x4 with your own hands is quite possible. You just have to take into account that remodeling a car will require significant costs and certain skills.

The small SUV went into mass production in April 1977. Today the VAZ 2121 is a passenger car with increased cross-country ability. Available in two body types: a three-door hatchback and a five-door station wagon. It has permanent all-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission.

Two-stage transfer case with center differential lock. High cross-country ability of the car is ensured by significant ground clearance (220 mm). The wheelbase is 2.2 meters. Earlier modifications were equipped with engines based on the engine of the sixth VAZ model.

When new modifications were released, the previous engine was replaced with a more powerful four-cylinder unit producing 81.9 liters. s., having a working volume of 1.69 liters. Average fuel consumption in mixed mode is 10 l/100 km.

Tuning the VAZ 2121 engine involves improving its parameters, in particular, increasing the power of the power plant.

There are two main ways to improve the unit:

1. Chip tuning.
2. Mechanical modification of the engine.

For injection engines, the first option is best suited. Reflashing the electronic control unit allows you to increase engine power by 8%, reduce fuel consumption and eliminate failures at low speeds. But this will require the help of specialists, because incorrect tuning can lead to a number of problems in engine operation. The second option is possible on any SUV, which determines its popularity.

Engine tuning using mechanical modification is carried out in several stages:

1. Carburetor modernization. Here it is necessary to replace the pump accelerator and old jets with an indicator of 2 kam.
2. Modification of the gas distribution system by increasing the diameter of the valves and sealing them.
3. Installation of a crankshaft with increased stroke.
4. Replacing the piston.
5. Increasing the cylinder diameter (boring).

A high-quality exhaust system can also increase the efficiency of the power plant by optimizing the process of air supply and exhaust gas removal. To do this, it is recommended to replace the intake and exhaust manifolds with more modern options.

Installing a turbine is the most common way to increase power. It has a fairly simple structure, and its installation does not cause much difficulty. Therefore, such a tuning solution is far from uncommon.

Traditionally, upgrading the power unit of a domestic SUV should begin with reworking the carburetor. A simple solution would be to install an advanced modification with an enlarged diffuser, also called a throttle. This spare part can also be replaced on a standard injector model. If you completely change this unit, it is recommended to install an electronic ignition system.

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Tuning the Niva 2121 carburetor will be most effective together with replacing the camshaft. This gives an impressive increase in power. And here, to avoid overheating, it is necessary to install a radiator with a larger surface area.

Tuning the Niva 2121 engine also includes correcting the engine geometry. This is done by increasing the diameter of the valves. About 10% of the power comes from sealing them. It wouldn't hurt to do the same with the intake and exhaust manifold pushers. To increase the power of the power unit at high speeds, a turbine should be installed. At the same time, it is advisable to replace the intake and exhaust manifolds with advanced modifications.

Useful advice If the car will be used in extreme off-road conditions, it is necessary to install a snorkel. It will allow you to overcome water obstacles without consequences for the engine.

Chip tuning of the Niva 2121 is ineffective, since the car is equipped with an atmospheric engine. There is no need to waste money on purchasing equipment or time on re-flashing. This will only give small improvements to the driving characteristics of the SUV.

Instead of the factory carburetor, you can install a modification of it with an enlarged diffuser called a throttle. You can also install an injection model. It is worth considering installing a new electronic ignition system.

Replacing the camshaft will increase the car's power, but will also increase the likelihood of overheating. To prevent this from happening, you can install a radiator with a larger working surface.

You can also increase the diameter of the valves and strengthen the sealing, which will give an additional 10% of power. Installing a turbine further increases the power of the power unit. Take the time to replace the standard intake and exhaust manifolds with advanced modifications.

Thus, with the help of modifications and tuning, a Niva can be made into a car that fully meets the requirements of its owner.

Let's sum it up

We didn't say that only high quality replacement parts should be used, because that's obvious. Sometimes, especially on older cars with high mileage, the quality of the parts used improves handling and stability. Fans of driving at high speeds install an anti-roll bar on the rear axle, which, after certain modifications, can be taken from the domestic front-wheel drive VAZ 2108.

As is clear from our story, there are a lot of opportunities for upgrading the Hyundai Solaris suspension. We have described the basic methods for remaking the chassis of this Korean passenger car, and all you have to do is assess your financial capabilities and technical requirements, and begin work.

Mirrors and glass

Replacing standard mirrors is not only a desire to improve the appearance of the car, but also to increase traffic safety by increasing visibility. For greater comfort, electrically adjustable mirrors are installed. This allows you to adjust them if necessary, even while driving. Mirrors of various shapes can become a distinctive feature of the car and emphasize its individuality.

You can enhance the tuning effect by using side and rear windows. Various tinting, especially with a spray effect or mirror, will best complement the appearance of the SUV.

Cause of problems

On all forums dedicated to Hyundai Solaris, car owners discuss design flaws in the rear suspension.
The automaker assures that in recent models the wishes of motorists have been taken into account and everything has been corrected, however, models from earlier years of production require certain changes. Owners make especially many complaints about the yaw of the car when driving at speeds over 80 km/h. Experts determined that this was due to an unsuccessful mounting design for the rear shock absorbers.

We all realize that a car that is ideal in every sense does not exist, but everyone wants to have a car with a minimum number of shortcomings. After a certain operating period, the wheel bearings may become weak, and the steering rack may also begin to hum. Subsequently, the steering wheel will begin to beat, and the tips will wear out faster. To avoid the problem, certain elements need to be modified.

Shock absorbers are installed at a certain angle, which causes an inevitable increase in loads and inertia forces. Installing shock absorbers strictly vertically will reduce suspension travel, but will reduce loads and inertial moments. These simple modifications usually involve car owners upgrading the Solaris suspension.

Tuning the instrument panel of Niva 2121

Traditionally, domestic designers developed the Niva not as a luxury, but as a means of transportation, and equipped it with an instrument panel that looks dull and sad. There are many tips on how to bring it to mind with your own hands. In this case, it will be transformed, but its functionality will remain at the same level. Therefore, the best tuning of the Niva 2121 panel is its complete replacement.

A good option would be to install a Flash electronic instrument cluster. This is a futuristic design, complemented by a number of functional features:

• Arrows replaced with LED arcs
• Oil and fuel level indications via scales and digital values
• Built-in trip computer with excellent viewing angle
• Availability of diagnostic service
• Ability to update software versions by simply uploading a new assembly in place of the old one without dismantling the panel

Tuning the Niva 2121 torpedo is often due to the need to install a new modification. Standard minimalism is quite difficult to modernize. The only effective option is to cover the torpedo with various materials or cover it with carbon film.

Refinement of instrument panels is the second most difficult tuning of Niva 4x4. The Niva has always been considered, and is still considered, a workhorse, so there is no need to talk about a spectacular panel.

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Modernization of the dashboard can be of two levels: in the first case, we modify the existing panel, and in the second, we completely change the panel to a qualitatively better one.

Tuning the trunk of Niva 2121

The Niva's extensive luggage compartment is an advantage only at first glance. The large volume provides absolutely no functionality, and the rib at the bottom of the trunk is a completely unnecessary element that interferes with loading. On later modifications it is missing. Also in the way is the folding shelf, which divides the trunk into two parts in the transverse plane.

It is best to remove these disturbing elements and install a box with pockets, drawers, compartments, which will allow you to organize the loaded items. It can be made from wood and metal. Corners or tubes should be used as a frame; it is subsequently sheathed with plywood or other material and trimmed with fabric. Before installing the box, it would not hurt to install noise and thermal insulation on the body.

You can also go the standard route and install a speaker system, LCD monitor or other fashionable gadget in the trunk. The latter option is impractical if the car is being tuned for difficult off-road conditions.

An expeditionary trunk for the Niva wouldn't hurt. It will allow you to take a lot of things and save internal space. It will also be a harmonious addition to off-road style. An alternative would be to install an arc with headlights. This will increase the driver's visibility. It is a useful element when driving in bad weather conditions.

Improvements to the Niva-2121 include improvements to the luggage compartment. The trunk has a large volume, which can be considered an advantage, but the technical performance of this part of the car leaves much to be desired. Most often, complaints are caused by two disadvantages of the trunk:

1. A rib at the bottom of the trunk that interferes with loading things.
2. A folding shelf that divides the trunk crosswise into two parts.

A tuned Niva, at a minimum, should be rid of these unnecessary elements. By the way, they are absent in the latest models - the technicians took into account the numerous complaints of Niva lovers.

Instead of a rib and a partition, it is worth installing a box in the trunk. It can have any shelves, dividers, pockets that allow you to organize the things you transport. You can do it in the following way:

1. We make the frame of the box from tubes or corners.
2. We cover it with plywood, thick fabric, cardboard or other suitable material.
3. We attach partitions or pockets to it according to our taste.

In addition, the trunk can be improved by covering it with thermal insulation, sound insulation and waterproofing film.

Some people install a TV, speaker system or other gadgets in the trunk, but this is not very functional if the car is often driven off-road. When shaking, the contacts fly off, and the equipment quickly fails.

Remodeling the stove and airflow

To increase the operating comfort of the vehicle in winter, many Niva owners resort to modifications to the interior heater, trying to increase the performance of the stove and improve airflow.

There are several options for improving the heating system:

1. Modernization of air ducts. The idea is to increase the tightness of the connections. It is necessary to coat problem areas well with silicone glue.
2. Replacing the old fan with a new, more powerful one.
3. Installation of a larger diameter tap. This will speed up the spread of liquid in the radiator.

Watch the video that shows the modernization of the stove.