What is a coilover?

[e240]

I think this thread will benefit everyone.


If that is the case, then every spring that ever sits on a shock is a coilover (no matter what application or vehicle)! I think most people will agree that the spring and shocks are usually matched to each other and as such putting a pedders spring on a koni shock is not a coilover.

What people agree on is irrelevant especially when the definition is incorrect.

A coil over is simply:
The term coilover describes a suspension design where a coil spring is placed around the shock absorber. In fact, your Honda probably already has coilovers as stock! Coilover design is used as opposed to leaf springs on trucks, torsion bars (like 1st gen CRX and Integra), and torsion beams (like VW rear axles where the coil spring is placed separately from the shock to allow more interior space). Kits from Ground Control and Skunk2 are often loosely called "coilovers" and is wrong. They are more appropriately called "adjustable spring" kits, and can be used to convert originally non-coilover suspension to coilover suspension (trucks do this all the time). These kits are mainly for those who wish to customize their suspension because of the adjustability that these kits offer.

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/coilover.html

Spring rates are irrelevant because one can change springs with different rates to suit the style of driving. I have a set of Ohlin Coilovers on my bike and I would change springs to suit different track conditions and then adjust rebound and damping to suit.

Finally...don't just take my word for it, here's another site...
http://www.superhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5732

[bennjamin]

its always word of mouth ( or of keyboard stroke) That is how the internet works.
But - since normal "shocks" and "coilovers" are quite different in design / label its apparent what is a "Coilover" and what isnt.
Those kits are refered as "coilover sleeves" ~ where it is fairly accurate description.

[Slow96GSR]

It does depend on who you ask. Here, I think mostly, if you ask for a coil-over you will get the springs, adjusting plates and the screw that goes over the strut. But that's just what we call them around here!

[BlitZ]

people also classify the above setup as a "Strut" setup... and the other as a "Shock setup"..

a spring is a spring..
and a leaf is a left..


This should be in STICKY!! heheheeh

I get so many question from friends asking what a coilover is.. and can they adjsut the height of their car........... I'd refer them to this post.

[tRipitaka]

a spring is a spring..
and a leaf is a left..

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[kyle]

coilover means exactly what it says.

coil over shock

[BlitZ]

coilover means exactly what it says.

coil over shock

sorry its.. heehehe

coil over strut

[Domokun SPL]

The term "coilover" is used to describe a suspension system that utilized a spring, coiled around a shock absorber to make a single unit, a strut.

http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/images/coilspring1.gif

This system is required in cars with independent suspension, where cars with solid axles can utilize seperate shock/spring areas. This is commonly seen in older cars or 4wd's. Also, i dont know why, but the new 05' Ford Mustang has a solid rear axle......

http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/images/solidaxlecoilspring.jpg

The confusion in what "coilover" actually refers to is due to our good friends the japanese. Several decades ago, they started to produce units that look like this

http://www.justjap.com/parts/new/G4/g4suspensionkitbig.jpg

As is clear, they are "coilovers". They are single unit, not really seperable into parts (aka cant use just the shock + stock spring or vice versa) designed to fully replace the stock suspension strut. Generally, they are quite adjustable in height, damper and in some cars camber. This has made these type of units very popular as you dont need to remove the whole strut to make adjustments. Just jack the car up and you can adjust height or camber, and damper is adjustable even on the ground.

The next type of "coilover" that is used is as below

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5329/shock32ig.jpg

Above is a stock strut, with replaced shocks and springs. There are still parts of the stock unit in there, just with new shocks and springs. These types of things can also be adjusted, the circlip grooves visible adjust height, the damber is also adjustable on some shocks via a knob and also as far as i know, you CAN put camber tops on these types of set ups. However, these are not a "replacement unit" as the single unit coilovers above. Rather they just replace worn parts with new and you go from there. This is what in Australia we call "struts"

Unlike the Japanese style "coilover", struts are not as easy to adjust height. You need to remove the whole unit and reset the lower spring seat. This hasnt made them any less popular, but due to the japanese coilovers easy adjustability has made it very popular.






All in all, i prefer a shock/spring combo on a strut as there is so many variations you can choose before buying the whole thing. Often a coilover will only come in predefined spring and damper rates, which might be good for japanese roads, but in Aus handle like balls and wont do you any good.

Also, as tends to happend, when a coilover wears out, because they are single units, you cant just buy replacement shocks, you either get them rebuilt (sometimes almost the cost of the unit new) or buy a whole new set. For this reason, in a car that will do 100,000km+ and may require new shocks twice or so, coilovers are not as prefereable. This is why you see people asking where to get coilovers rebuilt. You wont ever see me asking where to get my shocks rebuilt, as I can just buy new ones and replace them in :)

On the other hand, coilovers are a favorite for track goes and drifters as they are so easy to adjust. Do a lap, adjust, do a lap, adjust etc. Not, tear down the entire strut just to reset the height.



So every strut with a coil over a shock is a coilover, but a traditional "coilover" is the japanese style replacement unit as is commonly called coilover.


I hope that cleared up a few things for people

[superR]

i am very interestd in the topic has i have little to no understanding of what is what within the suspension market.i have soem questions about the sussy in te following link.
http://creativecompacts.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/omnisleevecoiloverkit.jpg
so what exactly are these classed as?
and what is the main difference in performance between these and the blue ones pictured above? are they any good or i just shouldnt waist my time???
james

[turtleEK1]

Beautiful! couldn't have put it out better! the world would be a better place if all hondas came with them!!

[Domokun SPL]

Ok, superR, what you appear to have there is a spring with a lower spring seat for a coilover like the blues ones above.

What you would be buying you would "slip" over the shock in the coilover (blue) above, putting on the new lower spring seat and spring. You would be better off just buying the spring alone and using the lower spring seat already provided with the set of coilovers you buy.

It is pretty standard across the board that a coilover spring is X diameter. I havnt really seen springs of different diameters.


PS - The above 1st and 2nd photos work if you open them in new windows....they worked when i posted it.

[superR]

ok so there is nothing dogdey or bad about this form of "coilovers", because i was think of geting these ominman ones and installing them on mystock shocks. Anh i dont wanna do it to the detriment of safety ro performance.

[Zdster]

I would personally stay away from that sort of spring setup. Do some research on "coilover sleeves" and make up your own mind :thumbsup:.

[e240]

ok so there is nothing dogdey or bad about this form of "coilovers", because i was think of geting these ominman ones and installing them on mystock shocks. Anh i dont wanna do it to the detriment of safety ro performance.

These are not coilovers at all, they're just sleeves that you use to make a non-height adjustable coilover into a height adjustable coilover.

Frankly, I seriously don't think you should control ride height by compressing a spring like this kit does. You're better off buying a shorter spring.

You compress springs to control pre-load, so unless you know what you're doing....

[kuso]

So how about changing springs only? For eg. King springs? Are they unsafe?

[Domokun SPL]

superR - that sleeve goes over a shock for a coilover... soooooo in others words, you will need a "coilover" (will come in a kit) shock to start with, so you are better of just getting a good spring for that particluar coilover.

God terminology makes it confusing



e240 - You dont lower the car by compressing the spring, you lower the car by lowering the spring seat which puts less preload on the spring from the orginal.

In the end, a spring only compresses a certain amount per unit distance, so preload i would say has minimal effect in set up.

What ive found preload effects most is ride comfort, to me, its never effected performance.

[superR]

suspension is one of the hardest parts of a car to get right! it soooo confusing! :confused:

james

[e240]

e240 - You dont lower the car by compressing the spring, you lower the car by lowering the spring seat which puts less preload on the spring from the orginal. .

Yeah...thereabouts..I've only played around with suspensions that already come with seperate height adjusters. So i reckon you're probably right here.



What ive found preload effects most is ride comfort, to me, its never effected performance.

I used to track bikes and preload plays a big part in setting up the suspensions. It ensures that the suspension stays within its working zone and not top or bottom out.

In fact, on a bike, the first thing you setup is preload without and with rider weight.

[e240]

suspension is one of the hardest parts of a car to get right! it soooo confusing! :confused:

james

I guess the general rule is that suspensions are needed to keep the tyre on the road. So you go just that little bit hard but not enough not to bounce.

[Domokun SPL]

I agree, on bikes, preload makes a difference. Though, on a car that has more traction through a corner and more curb weight, preload makes a pretty unnoticable difference to cornering as a car (unless its suspension is too stiff) is quick to get into its "working area" anyway.

Hence, my preload only effects ride comfort comment

[bennjamin]

What springs to mind when I think of a coilover...

"coilover" = a spring and shock combo that is (usually) correctly mated together in rates , and is sitting on a 100% adjustable screw seat. (within its range that is). Also , "coilovers" are pretty much always stiffer rates than any other spring types and come from the circuit needs in japan.

Anything else is a normal shock plus a lowered spring or perches or a sleeve ontop !