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Coilovers, aka the ultimate suspension upgrade.
If you already have coilovers on your car, or you've at least driven in a car with coilovers, you'll know the massive differences in ride quality and the overall driving experience they can make.
That tight, curvy road outside of town is much more exciting when you can adjust your suspension in favor of those cornersâ&#;&#;less body roll, lower center of gravity, and more steering response. It's an entirely different driving experience compared to bouncy, stock suspension.
Coilovers feel more like a go-kart, if you do it right.
Now, even if you feel confident in your understanding of coilovers, give this ultimate coilover guide a read!
This is guide covers practical information you should know before jumping into your first set of coilovers.
Everything You Need To Know About Coilovers:
- What Are Coilovers?
- How Are Coilovers Made?
- Compression and Rebound Damping Adjustments Explained
- How To Adjust Coilovers
- Adjusting Coilover Ride Height
- Adjusting Coilover Damping
- Installing Coilovers
- How Long Do Coilovers Last?
- How Much Are Coilovers?
Coilovers are designed for two primary reasonsâ&#;&#;one, to better a car's handling, and two, to adjust (lower) its ride height.
Coilovers completely replace the stock strut assembly and open the door to a completely new driving experience.
While there are some nonadjustable coilovers out there, most people choose to just spend the extra couple hundred benjamins to get the adjustability in both ride height, damping, and sometimes camber, which makes coilovers special.
Outside of the lowered aesthetic that we all drool over, coilovers are a highly functional modification that serves the biggest advantage on the track but are awesome on dailys and show cars too.
As you can probably guess, the first concept of coilovers originated on the track so drivers could fine-tune their suspension and adjust things quickly before heading out on their next run.
Fine-tuning suspension is a really technical topic but it's important to understand if you want to get the most out of your coilovers, and thus your car's performance.
So, what exactly is a coilover?
A coilover is a spring/coil over a shock absorber.
Did you catch that? Coil over a shock absorberâ&#;¦This is where the name "coilover" is derived from.
And as I mentioned before, a coilover completely replaces your stock spring and shock assembly.
Before we get into the juicy topic of adjusting coilovers, let's first break down the construction of a coilover.
For simplicity's sake, we're going to stick with standard, full-bodied coilovers.
Almost no one runs OEM strut and coil spring or slip fit coilovers anymore.
First, you have your shock absorber, which is the big dog.
This is a pressurized tube/damping case with a rod, piston, oil, and gas inside.
This piston has little holes/valves that allow the oil to slowly pass through when it experiences any sort of motion when you're cruising down the road. The bigger the bump, the quicker the fluid passes through.
You also have your coil spring, dust shield, bump stop, threaded shock, spring seats, your spring collar, mounting brackets, top hat, and your damping adjustments.
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Depending on the brand and series of coilover you go with, some will have some camber adjustments as well.
These adjustments will be on the top of the coilover and are ridiculously easy to use.
Now, if you're looking for some nasty camber, you're definitely going to need a more complex camber kit with some adjustable camber control arms and such, but this is a great place to start.
Camber Adjustment on Tein Coilovers | Photo from Tein Suspension
To adjust these bad boys, grab an Allen wrench, loosen the four Allen head bolts, and move them inwards towards the engine bay for a Lil negative camber, or move them towards the fender for positive camber.
The two main types of full-bodied coilover designs: mono-tube and twin-tube.
Mono-tube designs are a very straightforward design that uses one rod and piston housed inside the damping case.
Mono-tube coilover design | GIF from Tein Suspension
Mono-tubes also have a nitrogen-filled gas chamber separated by a floating piston that constantly puts pressure on the fluid inside the oil chamber preventing it from foaming up due to heat buildup.
Mono-tube vs. Twin-tube Coilover Diagram | Photo from Tein Suspension
A twin-tube design is very similar in its function, but the main difference is that the gas is not separated using a floating piston.
Despite its more complex design, twin-tube coilovers aren't necessarily superior. For some applications, mono-tubes are better for the track because they have a larger oil capacity, better damping adjustments, and run cooler fluid temps because there isn't a second insulator" (oil chamber).
Plus, mono-tubes are usually easier to install, are generally cheaper, and are more durable compared to twin-tubes.
Mono-tube vs. Twin-tube Coilover Diagram | Photo from Tein Suspension
However, this doesn't mean twin-tubes are disadvantaged by any means. Twin tubes are just known to be suited better for street cars with some light track days.
Mono-tubes are known to suit serious track cars much better. In this case, you'll also look at getting coilovers with external reservoirs to help with cooling.
Advantages to twin-tube coilovers include less stress/pressure on the seals and an extended piston stroke due to having no separation of the oil and gas chamber.
Twin-tube coilover design | GIF from Tein Suspension
I've mentioned compression, rebound, and damping several times now, but what do each of those adjustments actually do? What
Compression refers to how fast and how much a coilover "absorbs" an upward motion, thus how much pressure is applied into the tire.
This concept is similar to rebound. Rebound refers to how the coilover behaves after it moves upwards into the tire.
Essentially, rebound is how weight moves away from the tire.
When you drive over a bump, your coilover/shock will move upwards into the car, causing some of the high-pressured oil inside the damping case to pass through the tiny holes/valves in the piston.
The same thing happens during reboundâ&#;&#;the piston moves away from the damping case, and oil is compressed on the other end.
In other words, when you adjust compression, you're changing how fast the unsprung weight of your car moves, while rebound changes how quickly your car's sprung weight moves.
Together, these adjustments are "damping".
If you think of this term quite literally, every time you drive over a bump, your coilover, specifically the shock absorber, will dampen, or slow down, motionâ&#;&#;in this case, up and downwards motion from the road bumps.
For advanced 2, 3, and even 4 way adjustable coilovers like BC Racing's ER, HM, and ZR series and Kw Suspension's Competition 4A coilovers, the process of adjusting things like compression and rebound are going to be a little more involved and complex because you have high and low-speed adjustments.
This is where the suspension geeks start to get all bubbly inside...
Fine-tuning these adjustments is a lot of trial and error, but it's super rewarding once you've found the perfect settings for your application.
Low-speed damping adjusts how the chassis moves within the tires. This includes fancy terms like pitch, roll, heave, and warp.
High-speed damping relates more to how your car responds to road conditions.
These adjustments are not as crucial for cars outside the track unless you're a geek about suspension, as I mentioned before.
Beware, though, if you have these adjustments on your coilovers, it's essential to truly understand how to properly adjust them.
Poor adjustments can worsen your driving experience, especially if you're on the track.
If you think about it, manipulating the way your suspension handles your car's weight is affects everything from your steering response, tire traction, weight distribution, cornering, and the stress on other suspension components.
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When adjusting coilovers, there are two things to actually adjust: the ride height and damping.
Adjusting ride height is the most tedious part of owning coilovers. And many people go into it thinking they know what's up but realize quickly they don't.
Almost every suspension company nowadays includes spanner wrenches that you'll need to use to adjust your ride height.
READ: MISTAKES WHEN ADJUSTING COILOVERS
Photo from Raceland
If you have a fully threadable coilover, you're going to have two adjustments, your spring pre-load, and your actual ride height.
In this case, make sure you use your supplied wrench and adjust the second locking collar.
To lower your car, you'll want to turn that collar counter-clockwise. This will loosen the collar allowing you to essentially spin the entire coilover and shorten it, thus lowering your ride height.
Obviously, you'll want to do this before you install the coilovers. In fact, in a perfect world, you'll completely set up your coilovers prior to installation.
Your coilover's spring preload describes how much pressure is put on your springs to compress them. This is a super important concept when it comes to your suspension.
The more preload your springs have, the more stiff your ride will be, but it's more complex than this even.
There are plenty of full-bodied coilovers that don't feature lower adjustable mounts allowing you to adjust preload and ride height independently from each other. Most of the time, your ride height adjustment is based on the spring preload.
This is not ideal because your spring isn't going to be appropriately snug if you have your coilover lowered to the max.
Basically, make sure you get some coilovers with separate adjustments so you can lower it as much as you want while making sure your spring is snug too.
Before...
Here's the after...
The most common coilover damping adjustments will only require a twist of the knob that sits on the top of the coilover.
For example, BC Racing's BR series has 30-clicks of simultaneous compression/rebound adjustment, which is a super solid entry-level option.
30-clicks of adjustment is plenty for weekend track cars or even daily drivers who take those curvy roads seriously.
If you turn the damping control knob to the left, you'll "loosen" your ride quality for a more comfortable commute.
If you turn the control knob to the right, you'll stiffen up your ride for curvy roads or the track.
Now, there are mixed reviews out on the good ole internet, primarily FB groups and forums, which either say coilovers are a huge pain in the a** to install, or that they're a pretty simple install.
I'm here to settle the dust and confirm that traditional full-bodied coilovers are really not that difficult to install, even if you're a noob. Most car projects are usually just a few bolts anyways.
Just get your PB Blaster, a torch, a giant breaker bar, and some cold beer, and you'll be fine. Some good shop tunes are nice, too.
But, I would budget about 4 hours to install and adjust everything to your specifications.
If you run into ANY problems, which you inevitably will because...car projects...plan on spending the afternoon/night on this project.
The biggest gripe with coilovers is adjusting them, specifically adjusting the ride height.
Make sure you have your handy measuring tape around, but be prepared to install everything and then redo the ride height because you realize that it's too low or not slammed on its nutz enough.
The good thing with car projects in the 21st century is YouTube. I guaranteed that if you search for "how to install coilovers {YOUR CAR}", you'll find a detailed video that'll walk you through the process for your specific application.
Don't forget about Fb groups and forums.
Determining how long coilovers typically last is tricky because there are so many variables that play into coilover longevity. But I'll preface thisâ&#;&#;if you take care of your coilovers and do a proper install, they will take care of you too.
The general understanding is that coilovers last roughly 20-50K miles or so. They could last up to 150K miles even.
It depends on whether you have mono-tubes or twin-tubes (mono-tubes generally last a bit longer), what your application is, what brand you go with (aka the quality), and how you normally drive.
So, what's the best way to make coilovers last? Don't get all rowdy when installing them and actually following the directions.
This means when the instructions explain how to properly adjust the ride height using the threaded shock instead of the spring adjustment, listen. BC Racing, Tein, Silvers, ST suspension, and all those other big dogs in the industry might know a thing or two.
Also, it helps if you invest in a good set of coilovers. Don't cheap out on eBay.
Just wait another month or so, OR you can finance your coilovers with us, and get a good set from a reputable brand that you trust.
Like any other car part, a good set of coilovers will be a lil chunk of changeâ&#;&#;anywhere from $1K to $1.5K.
If your budget is <$1K, there's still plenty of great options on the market.
CHECK OUT COILOVERS UNDER $1K
- BC Racing BR Series | Starting at $930
- Tein Flex Z series | Starting at $817
- Tein Street Advance Z | Starting at $665
If you're building a car to see some serious track days, spend the extra cash and invest in a good set of coilovers.
The adjustability will make the most significant difference in your cornering and center of gravity.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FINACING YOUR COILOVERS
- BC Racing DS Series | Starting at $1,030
- ST Suspension ST XTA | Starting at $ 1,209
- Function and Form Type 2 | Starting at $833
READ: TOP 5 SUSPENSION BRANDS
CHECK OUT OUR COILOVER KITS
When you want to upgrade your car with aftermarket parts, you have to sit back and really think about what you want out of the vehicle. This might sound obvious to some seasoned drivers, but it&#;s those small details that you can easily overlook that will make or break your experience with any given part.
Do you want better handling around bends? Do you want the car to rock less on bumpy roads? Questions like these will help you identify the best aftermarket upgrade for you.
That said, in order to find the best options, you have to know what they bring to the table. For instance, which is best when comparing coilovers vs. lowering springs? If you can&#;t answer that question, we can help you learn how to do it below. That way, you&#;ll know exactly what you&#;re looking for when shopping aftermarket parts online.
If you&#;re looking for ample control over your car&#;s look and feel, coilovers are an excellent go-to. However, &#;feel&#; can refer to various aspects of the vehicle&#;s handling, so let&#;s break down exactly what we mean here. The term &#;coilover&#; stems from the phrase, &#;coil over shock.&#; Even the shorter title has many variations, including coil over and coil-over.
However you choose to say it, this phrase precisely describes what this component is: coil springs sitting over shock absorbers. This combination provides drivers a convenient way to adjust their ride height, ensuring they can lower it for a more aesthetically appealing look. That said, beyond the aesthetics, coilovers impact your ride&#;s performance, too.
When you lower a car, you do more than change its look&#;you lower its center of gravity. After lowering your vehicle&#;s center of gravity, you&#;ll notice behavioral changes on the road. More specifically, you&#;ll encounter less obtrusive weight transfer when accelerating, braking, and other sudden motions that can cause the car&#;s body to shake. This smooth performance is thanks to the components from which the titular term comes from&#;namely, the coil springs and shock absorbers. Let&#;s take a closer look at exactly what these components do on the road.
Despite not being very large parts, coil springs are strong enough to support the entire vehicle&#;s weight. As a result, quality coilovers minimize swaying during turns, minimizing bounce on the road. If you&#;re familiar with the excessive bounce your car experiences during sudden maneuvers, then you have a clue as to what these coil springs are combatting. This also comes in handy when you&#;re traversing over rough terrain because the springs will help your car handle the bumps and bounces like a champ.
The other main component of a coilover is the shock absorber. Coilovers must compress and extend to adapt to the road conditions, such as uneven terrain. To complete this task successfully, the coil springs and shock absorbers must tackle two parts of the previously mentioned equation.
The coil springs handle compression, allowing you to adjust ride height and adapt to road conditions beautifully. On the other hand, shock absorbers handle the extending, which is invaluable to managing rough patches in the road without experiencing excessive bouncing during your drive. Now that you know the ins and outs of coil springs, let&#;s talk lowering springs.
Aftermarket lowering springs are replacements for your standard factory springs. Simply put, a good set of lowering springs are ideal for drivers who want to adjust their ride&#;s height, but don&#;t need the same amount of control over the vehicle&#;s handling that you get from the coilover. For instance, although coilovers allow drivers to adjust their car&#;s damping, lowering springs do not.
That said, like the previous component, the function of lowering springs is right there in the name. This component gives drivers a way to lower their car conveniently. Since this will reduce the center of gravity, lowering springs still impact performance on the road, assisting with weight distribution during drives. With our discussion of lowering springs out of the way, let&#;s wrap back around to the titular question&#;coilovers vs. lowering springs, which is best?
So, how do you choose between our titular aftermarket parts? First, you have to think about the level of control you&#;re looking for on the road. For instance, coilovers are for drivers who want precise and convenient control over the car&#;s ride height, weight distribution, damping, and overall handling. If all you&#;re looking for is a way to adjust your ride height, consider a set of lowering springs. Plus, the second factor to consider is your budget.
If your budget is particularly tight and you&#;re struggling to find suitable coil springs, consider a set of lowering springs. The lowering springs don&#;t provide the widespread effects of coil springs, but they can still adjust performance in a cost-effective way. If you&#;re looking for more than what the lowering springs have to offer, then plan your budget accordingly.
Moreover, you should consider parts availability for your car because neither of these components is a one-size-fits-all design. For example, can you find coilovers that fit your specific car? Thankfully, the options available are extensive. As our library of aftermarket coilovers will show you, many luxury vehicles have aftermarket coilover counterparts ready to enhance performance.
Having to find a coilover for your specific vehicle might sound annoying, but it&#;s a relatively straightforward process, thanks to the many options online. Always make sure you know exactly what cars your aftermarket part is compatible with before making the purchase because, suffice it to say, that&#;ll save you a lot of disappointment and frustration down the line.
Speaking of which, to avoid additional frustration and disappointment, you should consider the brands you&#;re buying. If you&#;re unfamiliar with the brand behind an aftermarket part you&#;re looking at, hop online and dig around for reviews from other customers. This quick and easy task will give you great insight into the vehicle&#;s performance post-installation.
You should also take this same level of precaution with aftermarket vendors. When you buy from reputable and trustworthy services, you can have peace of mind knowing your parts will arrive as expected. Now that you&#;re more familiar with the differences between coilovers and lowering springs, you can jump online and track down the best option for your ride immediately.
POSTED BY Springrates Team
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