DESCRIPTION
An unparalleled dedication to research and advanced engineering has created the ultimate in Model Y spring technology. Every version of every spring we produce is specifically engineered for two distinct linear spring rates. This allows enhanced comfort (spring rate #1) paired with increased handling (spring rate #2).
One size does not fit all, we’ve engineered specific spring rates to more perfectly enhance the handling of each Model 3 variant. Enjoy the immediate benefits of improved comfort and handling, combined with a sporty ride height that reduces drag and increases range.
See why UP is the world’s #1 trusted Tesla tuner and enjoy the benefits of our continued dedication to Tesla R&D.
CONCEPT:
This ambitious engineering project began with a review of factory spring rates and led to a goal of the following:
- Target an increase in comfort in daily driving situations. Solution by studying factory spring rates and producing a softer but proportionate spring rate front and rear.
- Target an increase in performance when cornering. Solution by utilizing the highest technology partner and producing a secondary more sporty performance spring rate that engages when cornering g forces are loaded.
- Target an increase in range. Achieved by lowering the car as height is proven to correlate to aerodynamic efficiency.
- Every day improved performance at a significant value. Solution by producing in bulk volume in a direct manufacturer partnership produced to proprietary Unplugged Performance developed specifications.
WHY CHOOSE UNPLUGGED PERFORMANCE DUAL RATE LINEAR LOWERING SPRINGS?
Choosing UP dual rate linear springs means that you are able to enjoy a 15-30% softer spring rate around town than what is possible with low cost standard linear springs can provide with only one spring rate. After experiencing first hand, you’ll find that UP’s decision to take on the additional engineering work and production costs are well justified with UP dual rate linear springs because the technology allows for a softer ride than ever previously possible, all without giving up performance handling precision when it matters most. The primary spring rate (cruising around town over bumps and pot holes) is intentionally engineered to be as soft as possible for comfort. When the primary spring rate compresses under load (spirited driving conditions) the second spring rate transitions in. The second spring rate is typically 30% more firm and acts to reduce body roll, increase grip and enhance precision. By comparison, when using lower cost single rate linear springs there is only one defined spring rate and therefore it cannot be made as soft because there is no second transition rate to firm up when needed. Alternatively, by comparison with lower cost progressive springs they allow a continuous range of spring rates but do so without the predictability, confidence and planted feeling of linear single spring rates. Performance drivers for decades have always chosen linear springs, this product is uniquely a dual linear rate engineered spring to allow high performance and high comfort.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Produced in an engineering partnership with Formula 1 and 50+ consecutive Indy car winning spring supplier HYPERCO
- Proven Dual Rate spring technology allows for best of both worlds. The car rides at noticeably softer spring rates around town. When sporty handling is desired, natural cornering g forces activate the spring’s 30% sportier secondary spring rate which reduces body roll and gives noticeable difference in both feel and handling at the limit
- Physics proven benefits of range efficiency by lowering center of gravity and reducing underbody air turbulence
- Mild provides nearest factory ground clearance and softest ride. Moderate provides a ground clearance equivalence to modern sports cars with slightly more comfort around town and sportier handling in corners. Low provides a ground clearance equivalence to modern hypercars with most firm of our spring options. Mild is approximately 0.7″ drop, Moderate is approximately a 1.5″ drop, Low is approximately a 2.1″ drop. * Drop measurements are relative to measurements of the factory Tesla Model 3 however from the factory we have seen different heights varying by 0.6” across different production dates, battery pack configurations, and tire sizes. Drop measurements are a general reference point to compare our springs across our lineup but cannot be exact in measurement due to various starting heights of factory car configurations.
- Designed, Engineered and Produced in America
UNPLUGGED PERFORMANCE UK
FAQs
IS THIS A LINEAR OR A PROGRESSIVE SPRING?
Neither. It is a third category. The dual rate nature of this product is a direct descendant to motorsports “stacked’ spring setups. A stacked spring is two linear springs of differing spring rates and lengths that are stacked together with a predetermined location for a transition point between spring rates. This strategy employed on high end motorsports suspensions provides predictable results yet allows advanced tuning of handling characteristics by using two independent linear spring rates. The dual rate spring we offer is of equivalent concept. It employs two specifically engineered linear spring rates with a specifically located transition point between the two rates. Therefore, it is more linear spring than progressive spring in nature, yet is a third category.
WILL TESLA WARRNATY NON-TESLA PARTS SUCH AS THESE SPRINGS?
We warranty our spring kit with our lifetime product warranty. Tesla’s warranty covers their products but Tesla does not keep inventory or purchase non Tesla products for warranty repair, they only warranty what they manufacture.
A vehicle’s comprehensive warranty as a whole may not be voided due to use of aftermarket parts. However, a manufacturer may require a customer to pay for parts and labor for a repair if there is direct causation between a customer’s alteration and the product or service repair being requested. It is in both manufacturer and customer’s interest to follow logic and reason so that the system of good faith is not abused. If this topic interests you please read the law as well as your warranty documentation. Ultimately we are Tesla owners and enthusiasts, we are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice.
WILL THE LIFE OF MY DAMPERS BE AFFECTED BY LOWERING THE CAR?
Damper life on a vehicle depends on many variables such as driving prolonged periods of time on rough surfaces in rural routes, high performance driving on winding roads, motorsports use, and/or other high impact situations.
It has been reported at times that extreme lowering of a vehicle can in instances shorten the life cycle of shocks for example. If you research online you may see examples of extreme cases in which a car was lowered well outside of the safe operating range of the shock valving, and doing so can lead to excessive wear.
In those extreme cases, when driving a vehicle that is too low and operating outside of the damper’s range, it can be typically felt with noticeable degradation of ride quality resulting in rough and bouncy driving.
Our springs have been very carefully developed to avoid such an extreme. There is ultimately no definitive formula in determining how much or how little wear a shock will incur over time because shock wear encompasses many use factors, height being one of them.
Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage that precaution is taken with regards to the possibility of more frequent purchasing or rebuilding of shocks or related components in correlation with driving style and lowering. This topic is largely similar to the understanding that when driving aggressively tires will wear faster and tire costs may increase as a result of more aggressive driving. Ultimately if this is of concern then lowering your car may not be the right choice for you.
WHAT HAPPENS TO ALIGNMENT WHEN A CAR IS LOWERED?
We recommend very strongly that you get your wheel alignment corrected after fitment of any lowering springs.
Every vehicle’s alignment correlates to ride height and adjusts freely as height changes. For example, if you ask any Model S or Model X owner with air suspension, they will tell you that they love how the car looks and performs when driving on the lower range of settings. They will also often advise that they experience some additional tire wear from negative camber. What they are experiencing is that the car is aligned at a fixed height, and when air suspension lowers the car lowers and the alignment changes relative to height.
A lower height typically results in more negative camber which can both increase handling and decrease tyre lifespan. Getting a car re-aligned allows each owner options for setting an adjustable alignment characteristics.
This enables you to to inform your alignment shop as to whether you would like alignment to be more aggressive (trading tyre wear for handling) or more economical (trading off maximum grip for better tyre wear).
Please note that while alignment shops can adjust these settings to your tastes, there is a limitation on the ranges of adjustment.
WILL LOWERING MY CAR REDUCE MY GROUND CLEARANCE AND WHAT HAPPENS IF I SCRAPE MY CAR?
Yes, your ground clearance will be adjusted by equivalent lowering value of the lowering spring you select.
Cars of factory height and of all shapes and sizes unfortunately sometimes encounter situations in which they scrape and/or incur damage. In such cases the cost of that damage is the responsibility of the driver and not of the vehicle or aftermarket part manufacturer.
When choosing to lower your vehicle, we encourage you to be aware that you are reducing ground clearance and therefore increasing your chances of impact. Drivers of previously low cars tend to understand this inherently, however if this topic is new to you please take consideration of all facts before making your decision.
I’M THINKING OF UPGRADING MY WHEELS/TYRES IN ADDITION TO SPRINGS, IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW?
For any car, tyre sizing is a very important topic; specifically, maintaining the correct ratio of width and diameter when replacing / upgrading tires.
All Teslas are available from the factory with several wheel options, typically in three different diameters. Despite the different sizes, the overall tyre size ratio is almost identical, and as it can affect the height of the car, this ratio plays a role in how your car will look post-spring installation.
We’ve seen several owners install tyres which have significantly different overall diameters than suggested, which causes the vehicle to either sit higher or lower than the height for which our springs are intended.
So, when choosing tyres, we strongly recommend keeping within the very precise margin for overall diameter as spec’d from Tesla.
UNPLUGGED PERFORMANCE UK
GALLERY
