Lowering your car can dramatically improve its handling and aesthetics. However, modifications to your suspension, particularly installing lowering springs, often necessitate a Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) calibration. This process ensures your vehicle’s DCC system functions optimally with the new ride height. While some believe a simple alignment suffices after a minor drop, and that the impact on DCC is minimal, DCC calibration, achievable through VCDS (VAG-COM Diagnostic System) with a simple button press while the car is on jacks, is highly recommended.
This calibration becomes crucial because lowering springs typically increase stiffness. Without recalibration, the DCC system, designed to adjust damping based on road conditions and driving style, may not accurately interpret the car’s new lowered position. The DCC module relies on level sensors at each corner to determine the vehicle’s ride height. Altering this height without recalibration can lead to incorrect damping adjustments. The system might perceive the car as being lower than it actually is, resulting in unnecessarily stiff damping, even with the new, firmer springs.
Lowering springs combined with an improperly calibrated DCC system can negatively affect ride comfort and handling. While many drivers with lowered cars and uncalibrated DCC express satisfaction with their ride, this doesn’t negate the need for calibration. The perceived positive driving experience could be due to the DCC system compensating for the lower ride height by stiffening the dampers, inadvertently creating the desired firmness. A proper DCC calibration with VCDS ensures the system operates within its intended parameters, maximizing performance and comfort.
Using VCDS, you can access the DCC module’s basic settings and initiate the calibration process. This process requires the suspension to be fully extended (car on jacks with all wheels hanging). VCDS also allows you to monitor the level sensors’ output, ensuring they’re functioning correctly. A faulty sensor, indicated by erratic readings in VCDS measuring blocks, should be replaced before performing the calibration. During calibration, the DCC module learns the new suspension parameters and adjusts its control algorithms accordingly. This ensures the dampers provide the appropriate level of damping for the lowered ride height, optimizing both comfort and handling. Furthermore, observing target voltage adjustments to each damper in VCDS, after disconnecting the level sensor arm and manipulating it, provides insights into how the DCC system responds to ride height changes. Remember, calibrating with a disconnected sensor, in its fully extended position, will result in increased stiffness when reconnected at the lowered ride height. This mimics the effect of lowering springs and emphasizes the importance of proper calibration.
