Is Modifying Suspension Considered Illegal Modification?
3 Answers
Modifying a car with air suspension is considered illegal modification. Any car modifications that have not been registered and approved by the vehicle management department are deemed illegal. Vehicles with illegal modifications will fail the annual inspection and must be rectified before retesting. Below is some information about air suspension: 1. Principle: It changes the vehicle's height by controlling air pressure, consisting of elastic rubber airbag shock absorbers, an air pressure control system, and an electronic control system. 2. Precautions: Air suspension is a relatively precise automotive component, differing from the factory-installed shock absorbers. It features an elastic rubber airbag that can be filled with inert gas or an oil-gas mixture in a sealed pressure cylinder to increase internal pressure, allowing piston movement. However, air suspension is unsuitable for driving on complex roads, as it may lead to unstable air pressure or slow air leaks.
I think we need to first look at the regulations. Our country's 'Road Traffic Safety Law' requires that vehicles should not be modified in ways that affect safety, and suspension systems like shock absorbers fall under this category. If you replace them with ones of different specifications or lower the vehicle height, the police may consider it illegal modification if caught. It depends on whether the modification can be registered. Many cities require maintaining the original factory specifications. If you really want to modify, you need to report it to the vehicle management office, otherwise, it won't pass the annual inspection. I've seen many people get fined after modifications, mainly because the changes were too extreme or they used uncertified brands. A word of caution: random modifications can easily affect driving stability, especially when cornering, which poses greater risks.
Legality depends on the situation. Some places enforce strict regulations where even installing slightly stiffer suspension could result in fines—major cities' traffic police may issue tickets on the spot. Smaller cities tend to be more lenient. With over a decade of car modding experience, I believe the key is not altering OEM parameters—for example, changing shock absorber height by more than 10% is risky. As for practical impact, modifications do enhance road feedback, but in case of accidents, insurance may deny claims. If genuinely interested, first check local policies or consider OEM upgrade parts.
