RC Ride Height Explained
What Is Ride Height?
Ride Height is the distance between the chassis of your RC car and the ground. It is typically measured at the front and rear of the chassis using a Ride Height gauge or calipers.
Ride Height determines how high or low your car sits relative to the track surface. It directly affects how the suspension operates, how weight transfers and how the chassis interacts with bumps, jumps and corners.
Most setups will specify front Ride Height and rear Ride Height separately, as each end of the car plays a different role in handling.
How Does Ride Height Affect Your Car?
Ride Height has a major influence on handling, stability and consistency. It changes how your car transfers weight and how the chassis behaves under load.
Lower Ride Height
• Lowers the center of gravity
• Increases corner speed
• Improves responsiveness and steering precision
• Reduces chassis roll
However:
• Increases risk of bottoming out
• Less forgiving on rough tracks
• Can make the car twitchy or unstable
Higher Ride Height
• Improves performance on rough or bumpy tracks
• Prevents chassis slap and bottoming out
• Increases suspension travel
• Makes the car more forgiving to drive
However:
• Raises center of gravity
• Reduces corner speed
• Can feel less precise in tight sections
Front vs Rear Ride Height Balance
• Lower front Ride Height = more steering, aggressive turn-in
• Higher front Ride Height = less steering, more stability
• Higher rear Ride Height = more rear grip, better forward traction
• Lower rear Ride Height = less rear grip, more rotation
Small changes (even 0.5-1mm) can noticeably affect handling.
How Do You Change The Ride Height?
Changing Ride Height depends on your suspension design, but typically involves one of these methods:
1. Spring Preload (Most Common)
• Adjust preload collars or clips on the shocks
• More preload = raises Ride Height
• Less preload = lowers Ride Height
2. Shock Length Adjustment
• Adjust shock ends
• Longer shock = higher Ride Height
• Shorter shock = lower Ride Height
3. Internal Shock Limiters
• Adding limiters inside the shock reduces extension
• Used for fine-tuning and consistency
4. Droop Settings Interaction
• Droop limits how far the suspension extends
• Must be checked after adjusting Ride Height
Best Practice
Always set Ride Height:
• With the battery installed
• On a flat surface
• After settling the suspension (drop the car from a few inches)
When To Change The Ride Height
You should adjust Ride Height based on track conditions and handling issues.
Increase Ride Height when:
• Track is rough, bumpy or has ruts
• Car is bottoming out on jumps or landings
• You need more stability and forgiveness
• Traction is low and inconsistent
Decrease Ride Height when:
• Track is smooth and high grip
• You want more corner speed
• Car feels too “lazy” or slow to respond
• You need sharper steering and rotation
Quick Tuning Examples
• Car traction rolling: Lower Ride Height
• Car flipping on bumps: Raise Ride Height
• Lack of steering on smooth track: Lower front Ride Height
• Rear sliding too much: Raise rear Ride Height
What to Check After Changing Ride Height
Changing Ride Height affects multiple aspects of your setup. Always re-check the following:
Camber
• Ride Height changes suspension geometry
• Re-check Camber at ride position
Toe
• Front and rear Toe angles can shift slightly
• Important for straight-line stability and steering
Droop
• Closely tied to Ride Height
• Adjust Droop after setting Ride Height
Shock Position and Angle
• Effective damping changes with Ride Height
• May need tuning for balance
Roll Center
• Ride Height indirectly affects Roll Center through suspension angles
• Impacts cornering feel and grip
Weight Distribution
• Raising or lowering Ride Height changes weight transfer characteristics
Chassis Balance (Front vs Rear)
• Always confirm front-to-rear Ride Height balance after adjustments
FAQ
Q: What is a good starting Ride Height?
A: A safe baseline: On-road vehicles: 4-6mm front / 5-7mm rear. Off-road vehicles: 18–25mm depending on track conditions. Always adjust based on your specific track.
Q: Should front and rear Ride Height be the same?
A: Not usually. Most setups run a slightly higher rear Ride Height for stability and traction.
Q: Does Ride Height affect jumping?
A: Yes. Higher Ride Height improves landing stability and prevents bottoming out, while lower Ride Height can make jumps less forgiving.
Q: How often should I check Ride Height?
A: Before every run or race. Even small changes in shocks, springs or temperature can affect it.
Q: Can I change Ride Height without affecting suspension performance?
A: Not entirely. Ride Height always impacts geometry, so expect to re-check Camber, Toe and Droop.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake with Ride Height?
A: Running the car too low for the track. It may feel fast initially but becomes inconsistent and hard to drive.
Related Tuning Adjustments
To get the most out of this setup change, review these related guides:
• Roll Center
• Shocks
• Weight Distribution
Back to the RC Suspension Tuning Guide.
