When upgrading their cars, people are usually looking to change the look of the car or its performance. The questions surrounding what to upgrade in a car often include how it handles, acceleration, braking, fuel consumption, horsepower and safety features.
For those car enthusiasts out there, here are some modifications that improve the performance of your car.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
ABS is a relatively recent technological development and is crucial in many modern cars. Older versions use mechanical braking assistance whilst newer ABS work electronically. The main purpose of ABS is to increase safety whilst braking in emergency situations, something the trained professionals at advancedbraking.com know all about and take seriously. Most ABS employ anti-lock procedures and emergency braking assistance.
The other key feature of ABS is distance sensors to track objects in front of the car, this is connected to a computer and the brakes which work together to brake accordingly to keep a safe distance.
ABS systems aim to avoid accidents by taking over control of the brakes from the driver, automatically engaging the brakes faster than a human could react.
Compound tyres
Tyres come in a range of sizes and profiles but ultimately the choice of tyres depends on what you want to do with your car. Most road cars are fitted either with medium or hard compound tyres which provide a good amount of grip, however, if you need tyres for the racing track then slick tyres are recommended.
Airflow intake
Airflow intakes force air into the engine and are vitally important for excellent performance. However, stock airflow intakes have their limitations, as they restrict the amount of horsepower your car can produce.
Cold air intakes are increasingly popular as they push the coolest air into the engine to provide a surge of power. Upgrading the airflow intake to a performance model can certainly give your car that extra oomph.
Shock absorbing suspension
Nobody enjoys an uncomfortable ride in the car, which is exactly what can happen on a bumpy road in a car with a less than optimal suspension system. Installing an aftermarket shock-absorbing suspension system will reduce the effect of travelling on a rough road or track.
Poor handling can also be attributed to poor suspension, as the traction of the tyres will be diminished.
Air spring suspension is a recent advance in suspension technology, superseding the standard metal spring system with a system of cylinders full of air to absorb shocks more effectively.
Change the exhaust system
One of the best ways to modify your car is to change out the original exhaust pipes for a performance model. Switching out exhausts will result in huge improvements in horsepower, torque, emission reductions, and fuel efficiency.
Add a high-flow fuel injector
If you are looking for a roaring engine with great torque then you should consider installing a high-flow injector to ensure fuel delivery to the motor is maximised. Upgrading to an aftermarket fuel injector will result in a smoother ride and more powerful performance.
Get performance spark plugs
The results from switching out old spark plugs for high-quality performance spark plugs are palpable, due to the fact that they ignite fuel much faster and allow for greater fuel combustion efficiency. Spark plugs are a small but important part, however, performance plugs only cost a few dollars more than the usual ones.
High-performance throttle body
Replacing your existing throttle body for a larger version with higher performance specs will no doubt deliver more horsepower. This increase can be as much as 20 horsepower as well as a noticeable rise in torque.
It is a good idea to check if your engine is suitable for a larger throttle body and it is worth remembering that larger throttle bodies will also require a higher-flow fuel injector. These can be calibrated by a local auto-tuning garage to give optimal performance.
Check if your fuel lines are thick enough
Horsepower can be restricted by thinner fuel pipes, as less fuel gets to the engine, the recommended minimum fuel line size is 3/8 inch, however, if horsepower rises higher than 500 a 7/16 inch fuel line is necessary.
Performance cylinder heads
If you choose correctly, a new cylinder head will provide you with more power. When buying a new cylinder head, bigger doesn’t always equate to better quality, and in order to choose the right one for your car, it is important to study the sizes of the valves and ports, and their corresponding flow numbers.
Overhauling the performance of your car to increase speed, torque, handling and safety amongst other things are possible with a wide range of modifications such as assisted braking systems for safety, shock-absorbing suspension for handling and a larger throttle body for acceleration.
Featured image: Will Hough/Unsplash
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