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To get the most from your RC vehicle, you should know a few things about vehicle suspension tuning. Most RC vehicles have a TON of tuning adjustments available, but it’s what each adjustment does that can be the big mystery.
CompetitionX has put together a RC Suspension Tuning Guide that explains tuning options available on most cars. While the process of adjusting the tuning feature might differ slightly from vehicle to vehicle, the actual tuning function will still be the same.
There are 3 segments to our Tuning Guide:
1) RC Setup Quick Guide – quick and easy setup guide to help you conquer your car’s handling issues
2) Tuning Guide Set-Up Order – listing of the proper order you should use when making adjustments to your car
3) RC Suspension Tuning Guide – the list below of available tuning options and what they do.
These three guides should help you gain the knowledge needed to get the most performance from your RC car.
RC Suspension Tuning
| Ackermann | Differential Height | Shock Rebound |
| Active Toe | Drag Brake | Shock Springs |
| Anti-Dive | Droop | Side Links |
| Anti-Roll Bar | Dual-Rate | Slipper Clutch |
| Anti-Squat | End Point Adjustments (EPA) | Stagger |
| Arm Sweep | Exponential Setting | Steering Throw Symmetry |
| Axle, Inline | Final Drive Ratio | Suspension Mounts |
| Axle, Trailing | Kickup | Throttle Frequency |
| Axle Height | Gear Pitch | Tire Additive |
| Battery Position | Gear Ratio | Tire Compound |
| Bearings | Motor Timing | Toe In / Toe Out |
| Belt Tension | Ride Height | Track Width |
| Body Position | Roll Center | Vehicle Weight |
| Bumpsteer | Roll Out | Wedge |
| Camber | Shocks | Weight Distribution |
| Camber Gain | Shock Caps | Wheelbase |
| Camber Link Locations | Shock Limiters | Wing, Front |
| Caster | Shock Mounting Locations | Wing, Rear |
| Chassis | Shock Oil | |
| Differential | Shock Pistons | |
| Differential Fluid | Shock Pre-Load |
It is a good idea to write down the setup that comes with the car. If you decide to get adventurous and start making changes, you could end up with an ill-handling vehicle. Having the original setup will provide you a ‘back-up’ point. If you need one, you can head on over to the CompetitionX Blank Setup Sheet section and download a copy.