No matter how detailed your race vehicle is, there's only one thing your performance truly depends on—a good racing battery. And
Braille Auto Development knows exactly how to make one. As you know, braille is a form of communication that utilizes touch. Applying this idea to every battery they create, Braille is able to offer drivers performance they can truly feel on the track.
Braille studies every aspect of a race car as it runs the track and the result is a battery that provides a competitive advantage—it's much more lightweight than any other battery on the market. And on the track, the lighter you are, the faster you'll go.
Tire Rack offers a variety of different Braille racing batteries and mounting kits. And not only is every Braille battery extremely lightweight, it also features heavy-duty vibration resistant power posts that resist cracking and other forms of deterioration. Shop the selection to find a racing battery you won't be disappointed in.
"I installed the Braille Lightweight Racing Battery (15 lbs.) into my daily drive. I searched the Internet and found these had really good reviews. When I received the battery I was shocked how little it was! The mounting bracket took a minute to figure out but once it was adjusted for the battery it mounted right were my factory battery was with the hooks provided. Overall, I saved about 16 pounds which is awesome. The auto posts included were a nice touch and everything seemed thought out pretty well." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, AK
One of the most over-driven parts on a modern vehicle is the shocks. In most cases, you can feel the difference from a used and new shock with only 40,000 miles on the vehicle. In many cases, people will go more than 100k without changing their shocks and struts. So if you are looking for a smoother ride or better constitution through the corners, replacing the dampers may be for you!
When looking to replace your dampers (generic name for shock absorber) there are a few things
you need to keep in mind. First, are you planning on using the stock springs or lowering the vehicle? It is vitally important that you match the spring's ride height with a proper damper.
The next thing to consider is the mounts. If you have struts, many times there are bearings in the mounts because a strut is a damper that handles some of the duties of the suspension (more than just controlling shock... they may be part of the actual steering mechanism or camber adjustment). It is always recommended to change the mount if you can on the front of your vehicle, and often recommended on the rear as well, especially if you are in the snow belt (rust issues).
So go ahead and get started. Enter your
vehicle info and get moving along. A smooth ride awaits!
Planning a trip to the track, drivers school or local autocross? Do you have everything?
- Track brake pads? Check.
- Adjustable shocks? Check.
- Perfomance summer tires? Check.
- Lightweight aftermarket wheels? Check.
- Winning attitude? Check!
What about heat cycling of your tires? Have you considered the benefits?
Tire Rack's heat cycling of Track & Competition D.O.T. tires is a non-destructive service that brings the tire up to race-track operating temperatures (minimum of 170- to 180-degrees Fahrenheit). Heat cycling is accomplished by placing a mounted and inflated tire on a machine that does NOT scuff in the tire or cause tread wear. Our mechanical heat cycling service will not remove mold flashing or even the tread stripes/or printed codes often used to identify the extruded tread slabs before they are assembled in the tire manufacturing plant.
Avon,
Hoosier,
Kumho and
Yokohama all recommend that their competition tires be heat cycled before being run in competition. Tire Rack is currently able to heat cycle tires in our South Bend, IN and Sparks, NV locations for quick shipping times to you.
We had a chance to
test drive our BMW 325i test cars with both lowering springs and coilover shock/springs installed and what an experience!
The cars outfitted with the O.E. shocks/struts and the
Eibach Pro-Kit Springs ("mild" lowering, about one inch of drop) felt nearly as comfortable as stock, but helped the car feel more responsive to steering input.
The
Eibach Pro-System Plus Kit "sport" springs lowered the car nearly two inches and made a noticeable change in both handling and ride comfort. It was nothing that I felt was too stiff for daily use.
The
Eibach Multi-Pro Coil-Over R1 Kit was set up to lower the car about two inches as well, but the more aggressive shocks made a pronounced change and took a fair amount of comfort out of the ride on city streets and highway runs.
While the coil-over gives you the flexibilty to adjust your ride height to make it "just right," it will come at the cost of some ride comfort. I'd say that coil-overs are best on a track car in my opinion!
A coil over is created when you combine a spring, shock and bump stop into one unit. The spring itself encompasses the shock and the bump stop, and works to minimize any bounce that occurs when the vehicle comes in contact with road imperfections. And while the shock helps control unwanted suspension movement, the bump stop keeps all of your vehicle suspension parts from coming in contact with the vehicle's frame. In addition, coil overs are usually on an adjustable spring perch so that a vehicle's height can be adjusted without having to change the springs themselves.
Tire Rack carries a variety of
coil-overs from companies like
Eibach (shown above) who are committed to engineering excellence.
Click here to see a complete list of coil-overs, or
shop by vehicle for access to all of the
performance suspension products in our inventory.
The next step for project STR is a suspension upgrade to replace the Mazda shocks and springs. We’ve settled on the
KW Variant 3 Coil-Over system. It offers flexibility in adjustments, with separate controls for compression and rebound settings. Ride height is adjustable, too.
All together, this system should do a good job helping to control the increased grip of the
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires we’ll be competing on.
KW has a reputation for winning – with plenty of victories in Europe, chosen as the O.E. supplier for the Viper ACR suspension, as well as on some of the best AMG package Mercedes on the road.
The Corvette is a powerful vehicle, made even more so with a few aftermarket upgrades. And at
Tire Rack, we're in the game of knowing exactly what those upgrades should be—starting with Corvette suspension products.
The
Eibach Multi-Pro R2 Coil-Over Kit shown at right facilitates precise tuning for optimum handling balance. You can also adjust dampening for more comfort or the ultimate in grip. The choice is yours, which you'll base on your driving style.
And speaking of style, you're probably well aware of our selection of Corvette
tires and Corvette
wheels. To see these, and also the Eibach kit above, you'll want to take advantage of our
Upgrade Garage—entering your Corvette's specifications will make you privy to a whole slew of aftermarket products that suit it, including Corvette shocks and Corvette brake pads.
In no time at all, you'll be driving that "brand-new" 'vette of your dreams.
KYB Gas-Adjust are the perfect replacement for your worn out shocks. How long should you wait? Your shocks and struts start to show age as early as 40,000 miles!
KYB has both the
Gas-Adjust and
GR-2 lines that are perfect for replacement. Don't let the name fool you, these are non-adjustable factory setup shocks that will fit many of your damper needs.
When it comes to improving your vehicle's performance,
shock absorbers, and
springs are an integral part of your vehicle's
suspension.
Coilovers combine these two into an integrated and height adjustable system.
The Tire Rack now offers
KW coilover supsension products for BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, and other high performance cars.
Variants 1, 2, and 3 are available at competitive pricing.
What are the differences, and which one is best for you?
KW Variant 1 inox-line – Perfect Street Performance
Sporty Handling with factory pre-set damping
The ideal systems for customers wishing to rely on the experience of our engineers to set the damper setting, yet determine their own degree of lowering. In extensive driving tests our engineers have set the dampers for the best balance between sporty driving, comfort and safety. The user is then free to decide the best height setting for their use and preference.
- Optimally pre-set
- Sporty harmonious damping technology
- Stainless steel technology "inox-line"*
- Individually height-adjustable
- Lowering range approved by the German Technical Control Board (TÜV)
- Fully finished complete solution
- High-quality component parts for long durability
KW Variant 2 inox-line – Perfect Street Performance
Sport Handling with adjustable rebound damping
The system intended for the experienced driver who does not only wish to determine the individual lowering of his vehicle, but also wishes to carry out setup adjustments. The adjustable rebound damper allows adjusting the pitch and roll behaviour of the vehicle and therefore the driving pleasure can be adapted to the own requirements. Varient 2 features the following upgrades/additional features in addition to those found on Varient 1 :
- Damping technology with individually adjustable rebound
KW Variant 3 inox-line – Perfect Street Performance
State-of-the-art technology from motor sports for more performance on the road. The separate and independently adjustable rebound- and compression damping allows for an individual suspension setup for different uses and preferences. The unique patented system with its two-stage valves allows a rebound damping adjustment (comfort) and a compression adjustment (driving dynamics) in the low-speed range while the high-speed range which controls the driving safety, is fixed. Varient 3 features the following upgrades/additional features in addition to those found on Varient 2 :
- Damping technology with individually adjustable rebound- and compression technology
- Infinitely variable rebound damping adjustment
- 14-way adjustable compression damping
- Unique, individually working damping force adjustment
Click here to check the site for availability and pricing for your vehicle.
50 years ago,
Bilstein revolutionized the shock industry with their monotube gas pressure shock absorber technology. And to this day, Bilstein shock absorbers lead the market.
Bilstein offers a number of gas shock absorbers, but also single and twin tube McPherson strut style suspensions that are equally impressive. No maximum load challenge goes unaccepted, thanks to specific design techniques that provide high durability.
But will they fit your vehicle? All Bilstein shocks and struts are built based on the individual fit and performance needs of a vehicle. Search by vehicle to see if they are a fit for yours. And with an excellent lifetime warranty, you can rest assured you'll experience continual satisfaction with the product.
Check out the
5100 Series Adjustable Shocks, or
search by vehicle to fine-tune your suspension.
Coil-overs are part of your suspension system. They combine the spring, shock and bump stop. More specifically, the spring encompasses both the shock and the bump stop. Most coil-over applications use an adjustable spring perch, which allows for different vehicle ride heights without having to change the springs. And that, in turn, gives your vehicle a very race-like approach to its suspension.
At
Tire Rack, we stock a number of coil-over applications. For example, the
Bilstein PSS10 is a fully adjustable coil-over system that provides 10 adjustment settings (all of which are numbered so you don't have to count clicks). And the
H&R Coil-Over Premium Performance Kit is a ride height-only option, which means you can't physically adjust them once they're on your vehicle.
See all coil overs.
The most integral part of your suspension system is, surprisingly, your shock absorbers. They adapt to the roads and your vehicle's weight, as they must be able to absorb every last pothole and bump your vehicle comes in contact with. But, did you know that some performance shocks are adjustable?
Adjustable shocks allow for a certain level of fine-tuning, which brings the vehicle to the ride comfort and handling preferences of the driver. It also allows the driver to adjust dampening, and that compensates for wear. (
Read more.)
Tire Rack carries the following adjustable shocks:
•
Bilstein 5100 Series Adjustable Shock•
KYB AGX Adjustable Gas Shocks & Struts See all shocks.
Give it an
"Altitude and Attitude Adjustment."
Start with
shock absorbers. They maximize the ability of your tires to perform. And, of course, they give you a comfortable ride whenever potholes or speed bumps come into play. If you've been feeling it in your tailbone as of late, you may need to seek out some new shock absorbers.
Next, consider the effect that lowering your WRX will have. You'll increase its spring rate and give it a more aggressive look with reduced fenderwell gap. You'll need properly engineered aftermarket sport
springs that are designed to fit your WRX suspension system. Take
a look at lowering to see the effect lowering springs have.
There are many products available for tweaking your WRX suspension system. Check out
Suspension Tech for the "low" down on suspension, then
shop by vehicle for our list of suitable WRX suspension products.
I bought my 1997 Audi A4 with almost 100,000 miles on it. After replacing the wheels and tires I was shocked at how poor the ride and handling felt. The problem was the old suspension.
After updating to
Koni Sport Shocks and Eibach lowering springs, the car felt just like it should.
Noticeable differences :
- Reduced body roll when cornering
- Reduced pitch and dive when braking and accelerating
- A much more controlled ride
- Much improved cosmetic appearance from lowering
These changes made a night and day difference, and even though my car had very high mileage it felt like a new car.
