Does lifting or lowering a vehicle affect ADAS sensors?
Short answer: Yes. Suspension lifts, leveling kits and lowering springs change sensor height and pitch, and many vehicle makers require recalibration or say the modification may prevent calibration altogether.
Cameras and radar are calibrated for a factory ride height. A leveling kit that raises the front, or lowering springs that drop the body, tilts sensors relative to the road. A forward camera may then look too far ahead or too close, and radar may aim above or below the vehicles it should track.
Some calibrations allow a measured ride height to be entered, and the software compensates within limits. Other systems simply fail calibration when the vehicle is outside the specified range, and some makers state that modified suspension is not supported. Check the procedure for the exact vehicle, and measure ride height at the points service information specifies.
Explain to customers before the modification that driver assistance features may need calibration and could have reduced function. Record the measurements and the results. Never release a vehicle with a failed calibration and active warning lights without making sure the customer understands that safety systems are not working as designed.
Tools used for this job
General guidance only. Follow the vehicle and tool manufacturer's procedures, and confirm vehicle coverage on the tool maker's list before buying.