Adjusting Your Single Adjustable Coilovers: A Beginner's Guide

Single adjustable coilovers are an excellent starting point for car enthusiasts looking to fine-tune their suspension without the complexity of double or triple adjustable setups. While this might seem intimidating at first, learning to adjust your coilovers properly can significantly improve your vehicle's handling and performance. This technical guide will help walk you through the basics of single adjustable coilovers, explain the difference between compression and rebound, and get you ready to start your journey on the tuning process.

Understanding Single Adjustable Coilovers

Single adjustable coilovers feature a single dial or knob that controls both compression and rebound damping simultaneously. While more advanced coilovers allow separate adjustments, single adjustable models simplify the process, making them more accessible for everyday tuning. Since compression and rebound adjust together across the damping curve as they were designed to do, there is much less room for error than double or triple adjustable setups where it is very easy to create an unbalanced adjustment profile.

Compression vs. Rebound

To tune your suspension effectively, you need to understand the two key damping forces:

• Compression Damping: This controls how quickly the shock absorber compresses when the suspension encounters a bump or load. Stiffer compression reduces body roll but can feel harsh over uneven surfaces. Think of when you go to enter a corner and load forces on the tire, or when you hit a pothole on the street or a rumble strip at the track. These are all examples of where you'll feel compression damping the most.
• Rebound Damping: This determines how quickly the shock returns to its original position after compression. Proper rebound adjustment is critical for maintaining tire contact with the road, especially during quick transitions or over bumps. Too much rebound will make your car feel more jittery, while not enough rebound won't allow the suspension to properly travel through the full motion of range.

In single adjustable coilovers, both compression and rebound are adjusted simultaneously, so finding the right balance for your personal taste is crucial.

Step-by-Step Tuning Process

1. Start with the Baseline Settings: Most coilovers come with a manufacturer-recommended baseline. Our HRD Street Performance Dampers and Podium Ready Dampers are both single adjustable with 15 clicks of simultaneous compression and rebound adjustment. We typically recommend that you begin at around 4 out of 15 clicks, on the softer side, and fine tune upward from here until you've found your desired level of stiffness.
2. Test the Suspension: Take your car for a drive over a variety of surfaces, including smooth roads, rough patches, and corners. Pay attention to how the car handles bumps, body roll, and traction. Remember that being tuned as stiff as possible is not the goal, it's about what feels confidence inspiring and what will maintain maximum grip.
3. Adjust for Your Needs:
   • If the car feels too soft: Turn the adjustment knob clockwise to increase stiffness.
   • If the ride is too harsh: Turn the knob counterclockwise to soften the damping.
   Make small adjustments, usually 1-2 clicks at a time, and retest after each change.
4. Balance Front and Rear: The front and rear coilovers often require different settings. Start with equal adjustments, then fine-tune based on how the car behaves during cornering and acceleration. For example, if the car understeers, stiffen the rear; if it oversteers, soften the rear. You can help shift the bias of how your chassis feels regarding oversteer and understeer through this method.
5. Focus on Rebound Feedback: While single adjustable coilovers combine rebound and compression, most of the feedback you'll notice comes from rebound. Ensure that the suspension doesn't bounce excessively after hitting a bump—this is a sign that rebound damping is too soft. You'll want to turn up your damping setting to achieve a more reactive and balanced feel.

Final Tips

• Document Changes: Keep notes or spreadsheet of your settings and observations after each adjustment. This helps you track progress and identify optimal setups.
• Consider Your Goals: Whether you're tuning for daily driving, track days, or spirited canyon runs, adjust the coilovers to suit your specific needs.
• Don't Overdo It: Avoid making the suspension too stiff, as this can reduce traction and compromise ride quality with no benefit to performance.

Mastering your single adjustable coilovers is all about patience and experimentation. With a bit of patience, you’ll find the perfect setup that enhances both performance and comfort. At HRD, we believe that engineering happiness starts with understanding your car’s potential—one click at a time.