In our guide to racing suspensions, we’ll discuss the importance of a finely-tuned system for performance and do a basic review of the essential components. Race car suspension is a world apart from its street car counterpart, meticulously crafted to shave milliseconds off lap times and propel you to victory. As you take a deeper dive into our comprehensive guide, you'll understand the key components, their functions, and crucial factors to consider when selecting the perfect setup as you build or upgrade your race car's suspension system.

8 Key Racing System Components and Their Functions

The relentless pursuit of faster lap times hinges on a finely tuned machine, and the racing suspension system is at the heart of this precision. But with so many intricate components working in harmony, navigating this world can be daunting. This section is your roadmap to understanding eight of the essential components that make up a high-performance suspension system. We'll delve into the unique functions of each component, explaining how they work together to improve ride quality and transform your race car from a mere machine into a corner-carving, podium-chasing champion.

1 | Springs & Coilovers

Springs are the foundation of any suspension system, and in the demanding world of racing, they play a crucial role in optimizing performance. Unlike their street car counterparts focused solely on absorbing bumps, race car springs prioritize three key aspects:

• Maintaining Grip: By ensuring consistent tire contact with the track surface, even during cornering and over uneven terrain, springs contribute significantly to grip and handling.
• Controlling Body Roll: Stiffer springs minimize excessive body roll, keeping the car level and composed through tight corners, allowing for faster and more precise maneuvers.
• Optimizing Weight Distribution: Carefully selected spring rates can optimize weight distribution across the car, improving overall balance and handling characteristics.

While traditional springs play a vital role, many race cars use coilovers. These sophisticated units combine springs with adjustable shock absorbers in a single, compact package. This allows for:

• Independent Adjustments: Racers can fine-tune both spring preload (ride height) and damper settings (compression and rebound), enabling precise control over handling characteristics for different tracks and driving styles.
• Weight Savings: Coilovers often weigh less than separate spring and shock absorber setups, contributing to a lighter overall car weight for improved acceleration and handling.

Behrent’s carries springs and coilovers from the top racing brands in the business including Eibach Springs, Hyperco, and Draco Racing.

2 | Shock Absorbers

Unlike their street car counterparts designed for comfort, race car shock absorbers—often simply called shocks—prioritize performance and control over a smooth ride. Shocks manage the spring's natural tendency to bounce back after absorbing a bump, preventing excessive suspension movement and maintaining tire contact with the track. They effectively dissipate high-frequency vibrations caused by uneven track surfaces, ensuring a stable and predictable platform for the driver. By controlling suspension movement, shocks allow the car to respond more precisely to driver inputs, enabling sharper turns and improved cornering ability. Trust top racing brands known for high-quality shocks and accessories including FOX, BILSTEIN, and AFCO.

3 | Struts

While separate springs and shock absorbers are common in many race car suspensions, struts offer a unique and advantageous design. These compact units combine a high-performance coil spring with an integrated shock absorber, creating a single, self-contained component. Compared to separate components, struts are easier to install and maintain, saving racers valuable time and effort.Similar to separate shock absorbers, the integrated damper within the strut effectively controls suspension movement, minimizing bounce and body roll for sharper handling and improved cornering ability.

Note:Struts are typically used only on the front suspension of a race car. This is due to the need for more independent movement in the rear suspension system, which facilitates power delivery and efficient handling during cornering.

4 | Tie Rods

Tie rods, robust metal bars, connect the steering rack or gearbox to the steering knuckles on each front wheel. As the driver turns the steering wheel, the tie rods translate this rotational motion into linear movement, pushing or pulling the steering knuckles to turn the wheels. Tie rods are also crucial for maintaining proper wheel alignment, ensuring the wheels point in the desired direction for optimal handling and tire wear.

5 | Ball Joints

Ball joints are pivotal linkages that work similarly to the ball-and-socket joint in your hip or shoulder. They allow for rotational movement in multiple directions while also supporting and connecting suspension components. Ball joints facilitate the smooth up and down movement of the suspension as the car navigates bumps and track imperfections, ensuring the tires maintain as much contact with the track surface as possible.

6 | Bushings & Bearings

Bushings and bearings play an important part in maintaining precise control and responsiveness in a race car's suspension. These components, strategically placed at various connection points, absorb vibrations, manage friction, and allow for controlled movement within the suspension system. The optimal bushing or bearing material depends on your specific needs and priorities.

• Rubber:Traditionally used rubber bushings offer good vibration isolation but are prone to wear and tear, leading to increased play and potential handling issues over time.
• Polyurethane: A popular upgrade, polyurethane bushings are significantly stiffer and more durable compared to rubber. This translates to sharper handling and improved steering response due to minimized deflection under load.
• Steel: Offering the ultimate in performance and durability, steel bearings eliminate deflection almost entirely. STeel provides unmatched responsiveness and precise control, ideal for high-performance racing applications where minimizing flex is paramount.

7 | Sway Bars (Anti-Roll Bars)

Sway bars, also known as anti-roll bars, keep a car composed and predictable during cornering maneuvers. They connect the left and right wheels on the same axle, essentially acting as a torsion bar. When the car leans in a corner, the sway bar twists, transferring weight from the rising side to the dipping side. This helps to "flatten" the car, reducing body roll and improving stability. By minimizing body roll, the sway bar allows the suspension to work more effectively, keeping the tires in better contact with the track for optimal grip and control. Count on racing brands DMI and BERT Transmission for sway bars that keep your car in line.

8 | Control Arms

Control arms allow the wheels to move up and down freely as the suspension navigates bumps and uneven surfaces, ensuring optimal tire contact with the track. They also play a critical role in controlling the lateral movement of the wheels, preventing excessive side-to-side movement and maintaining precise steering response. Unlike their street car counterparts, race car control arms are built to withstand the immense stresses and forces encountered on the track. Control arms from top racing brands like Howe Racing Enterprises are typically constructed from high-strength materials like lightweight aluminum or forged steel to ensure unparalleled strength and rigidity.

By now, you're equipped with the knowledge to decipher the intricate components of racing suspension systems and their roles in optimizing your car's performance. Remember, a well-tuned racing suspension setup isn't just about shaving milliseconds off lap times; it's about achieving that crucial balance between peak performance and precise control.

Here at Behrent's Performance Warehouse, we understand the passion that drives you to push your race car to its limits. That's why we offer a comprehensive selection of top-tier suspension components from trusted brands including JOES Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Moroso, QA1, and Bicknell. With Behrent's Performance Warehouse as your pit crew, you can be confident that your race car's suspension system is built to conquer the track and deliver an unforgettable ride that propels you towards victory lane.