Ride Height Sensors: The Low Down
Most cars equipped with adaptive suspensions also have ride height sensors. These can be located at each wheel (as seen on many luxury vehicles), or just three total sensors like on the Volkswagen Golf Mk7/Mk8. These sensors are essential, as they work in tandem with your adaptive suspension to keep your ride level and responsive.
What Do Ride Height Sensors Actually Do?
Adaptive suspensions adjust the stiffness of your shocks in real time. In "Sport" mode, the suspension stiffens for sharper handling. In "Comfort" mode, it softens for a smoother ride. But that’s not all — they also help your car stay level during dynamic driving, especially during turns.
Let’s break it down:
- Imagine you’re turning left at high speed.
- The car’s body rolls right due to centrifugal force.
- The left side lifts, and the right side compresses.
- Ride height sensors detect this roll and inform the ECU (Electronic Control Unit).
- The ECU reacts by:
- Stiffening the right shocks to counter the roll.
- Softening the left shocks to help the car return to level after the turn.
This feedback loop happens constantly and automatically, as fast as 10 to 20 times a second! This provides both comfort and control.
Why Lowering Your Car Triggers Errors
Each ride height sensor has a limited range of motion, typically around ±4 inches (~10 cm). If you lower your car by 3 inches, only 1 inch of "play" remains in one direction. The moment your suspension compresses beyond that limit — say, from hitting a pothole — the sensor gives invalid signals, and your dash lights up with a ride height sensor error.
How to Fix Ride Height Sensor Errors After Lowering
There are a few workarounds if you're modifying your suspension:
- Some platforms (like GM and Ford) support ride height deletes.
- For others, a common mod is to remove the brackets and re-affix the sensor arms in a neutral or “mid” position. This tricks the system into thinking the car is still level, avoiding errors while allowing extreme ride height changes.
🔧 We're working on a full guide to adjusting ride height sensor brackets — stay tuned for that post!
Final Thoughts
This is a simplified explanation of how adaptive suspensions and ride height sensors work together. If you're planning to lower your car or switch to coilovers, it's crucial to understand these limits — or consider a delete kit or sensor adjustment mod.
Have questions about your setup? Drop a comment below or check out our suspension solutions.