Hi everyone!
This is a guide for newcomers and others with little understanding of coilovers.
Suspension is a fundamental way of improving the looks and/or performance of your car. Although coilovers are usually seen as an instant suspension mod, incorrect selection can lead to disappointment. To help members understand and find the right one for them, this thread will go through coilover basics, technical details, buyer guide and a list of brands.
Disclaimer: This is a basic guide that presents information in its simplest form possible and therefore may NOT be entirely accurate.
Coilovers: Basics
Coilover Definition
So what exactly are coilovers?
Coilovers in our context refer to a threaded shock absorber with matching springs. This means that even the most basic coilovers are free height adjustable within the allowed threaded body. They are not to be confused with coil-over which is a suspension layout (Macpherson).
Coilover Features
Let's go over what a basic coilover looks like and its typical features.
Here is a picture of a typical basic coilover:
Credits - Cusco/JSCspeed
Features:
- Pillowball Upper Mount - Most coilovers don't reuse the top hat of the stock shock absorber. Unlike the rubber top, the solid pillowball upper mount doesn't distort under force so the driver has more consistent driving feel at the cost of comfort; with metal on metal, it is not unusual to hear the tops banging when the car is going over rough road.
For cars with Macpherson strut, special pillowball upper mounts can be integrated with adjustable camber plate to allow camber adjustment.
N.B. The 'bearing' inside these tops also tend to wear out faster than the rubber top mount. So when you start hearing squeaks, a good place to start is the top mount and not the rest of the coilover.
- Lower Spring Seat - Basically where the spring is seated. On traditional/partial threaded coilovers, this is also used to determine ride height.
- Threaded Section [Screw adjustment section in picture] - This is where the lower spring seat and lock nut are screwed in to allow height adjustment.
- Lock Nut - Used for height adjustment on fully threaded coilovers.
- Lower Mounting Bracket - This bracket secures the coilovers to the suspension actuator(s).
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks