Best way to protect coilovers
- Thread starter shauncr91
- Start date
Soldato
Some complete misconceptions about coilovers in here and indeed another thread where Rilot was getting questioned for thinking about putting coilovers on a 650. For most 'serious' suspension options you can choose your spring rates and target ride experience. Mine are only marginally firmer than the OEM Springs and Bilstein's that the car came with. Anything more on these roads would wreck the car.
I can see that a lot of people slam their cars with track/cheap suspension with mental spring rates, but there is such a thing as doing your homework and finding an application that caters to your requirements. Several suspension manufacturers actually have specific product lines that target a more comfortable experience.
I can see that a lot of people slam their cars with track/cheap suspension with mental spring rates, but there is such a thing as doing your homework and finding an application that caters to your requirements. Several suspension manufacturers actually have specific product lines that target a more comfortable experience.
yes that's true, they have to be adjustable street coilovers, we'll soon find out !!!!
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Its because people stick a set of AVOs on their old fiesta, and wonder why the ride is rubbish.
When you deal with real suspension, and adjust it properly, no reason for it to be boneshaking.
For most little boy racers who indulge in el cheapo suspension, a decent setup would end up costing more than their cars.
Case in point:-
http://www.nitron.co.uk/catalogue_item.php?catID=12148&prodID=73643
Its like people "upgrading" their brakes using people like "HiSpec" and wondering why AP Racing, Performance Friction, and Brembo are more expensive.
When you deal with real suspension, and adjust it properly, no reason for it to be boneshaking.
For most little boy racers who indulge in el cheapo suspension, a decent setup would end up costing more than their cars.
Case in point:-
http://www.nitron.co.uk/catalogue_item.php?catID=12148&prodID=73643
Its like people "upgrading" their brakes using people like "HiSpec" and wondering why AP Racing, Performance Friction, and Brembo are more expensive.
Caporegime
Upgrading anti roll bars give a far better upgrade then just putting coilovers on. My Teins on my Celica are just rock hard on anything other than smooth tarmac and they are 2 grand for a set. Getting them rebuilt this year however as they are getting on. If the car is solely for the road a decent set of Billy's and some upgraded anti roll bars any day of the week.
My car never sees winter and I clean the arches quite often but the shocks are scabby as anything. Not used wax which might of helped but have always been cleaned.
My car never sees winter and I clean the arches quite often but the shocks are scabby as anything. Not used wax which might of helped but have always been cleaned.
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https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/kw-suspension-variant-3-coilover-kit-kwa35290033/
These are the ones I'll be putting on, plenty of adjustability and definitely not cheap **** like a lot of boy racers fit. My car has factory Cup suspension which is firm but has terrible dampening so it's crashy instead of the firm but smooth which can be attained with a decent setup.
Soldato
my s2000 on ohlins road and track coilovers is absolutely fine to drive on crappy b-roads.
Caporegime
Not sure why people are saying they are worse than stock suspension / dangerous etc...
When I put the Teins on the Corolla they were completely transformative. It made the car ride better, handle better in all conditions, greatly reduced body roll and understeer, made the drive much more reassuring and confidence inspiring.
The Koni's on the MX5 can be a bit dodgy on a country backroad or in the wet, but that is because they are wound down as far as I can get them without scraping, and there is a lot of camber dialled in (about 3 degrees) to stop the tyres hitting the arch lips. It is worse to drive than it would be on new stock suspension on bumpy country roads etc, but it is like a go-cart on nice smooth dry roads, or on track.
For reference...
When I put the Teins on the Corolla they were completely transformative. It made the car ride better, handle better in all conditions, greatly reduced body roll and understeer, made the drive much more reassuring and confidence inspiring.
The Koni's on the MX5 can be a bit dodgy on a country backroad or in the wet, but that is because they are wound down as far as I can get them without scraping, and there is a lot of camber dialled in (about 3 degrees) to stop the tyres hitting the arch lips. It is worse to drive than it would be on new stock suspension on bumpy country roads etc, but it is like a go-cart on nice smooth dry roads, or on track.
For reference...
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Caporegime
@Acme and how often do we have nice dry smooth roads in the UK?
Caporegime
At least 3% of the time.
KW are "ok", but the only way dual track and road use is ever achievable is with proper electronically controlled adjustable suspension, and even then there is compromise.
I think they are made in Germany...which is better than a lot of the UK and Chinese tat, that is for sure. At least a) they come with proper helpers, b) adjustable bump and rebound, but good luck fine tuning that for the roads, it is a pain in the **** settling on what feels right given all the varying quality of roads in the UK.
Take it from someone who ran a full race setup on the road with -2.5Deg Front camber, with an LSD and went through a set of tyres in 1700 miles. (hard driving though)
Also take it from me, if you want ANY electroplated shock finish (like most of them are) to last more than about 45 seconds in the wild, you need to coat the hell out of them during adverse UK seasons.
Fine if you are a dry day only person and you have a garage, crack on! Anything else, that finish wont last. Dont forget, shocks get stonechips, as soon as you get the first chip... corrosion.
I think they are made in Germany...which is better than a lot of the UK and Chinese tat, that is for sure. At least a) they come with proper helpers, b) adjustable bump and rebound, but good luck fine tuning that for the roads, it is a pain in the **** settling on what feels right given all the varying quality of roads in the UK.
Take it from someone who ran a full race setup on the road with -2.5Deg Front camber, with an LSD and went through a set of tyres in 1700 miles. (hard driving though)
Also take it from me, if you want ANY electroplated shock finish (like most of them are) to last more than about 45 seconds in the wild, you need to coat the hell out of them during adverse UK seasons.
Fine if you are a dry day only person and you have a garage, crack on! Anything else, that finish wont last. Dont forget, shocks get stonechips, as soon as you get the first chip... corrosion.
Soldato
It really depends how you set them up at the start. Sorry for causing this debaters I do agree they will make the car better at certain points.
Manufactures do obviously there best mixed roads and conditions across the world with one fixed setup and this can be improved dependent what you after
The thing is when you set your car low and stiff. If and when it rains it will snap a lot quicker and potentially dangerous to the unknown driver. Look at racing teams, as soon as it rains they soften the car, raise the car and sometimes change the roll bars etc. You need the roll for grip and the wrong setup is either slower or impossible to drive
I know we’re not talking race cars but the dynamics are the same, as well as that the roads are a very different place to a fairly smooth race track. Your talking about unsettling cars, losing grip so on so on. I am sure the op is more than capable of controlling his car but it’s the ones that do what others say in this thread.
Drop a set of Avos on, Slam it and stiffen it and then wonder why when it rained they found themselves in a hedge
Coilovers are adjustable which is good so as long as people don’t go mad with damping and height adjustment you should get a happy medium.
Manufactures do obviously there best mixed roads and conditions across the world with one fixed setup and this can be improved dependent what you after
The thing is when you set your car low and stiff. If and when it rains it will snap a lot quicker and potentially dangerous to the unknown driver. Look at racing teams, as soon as it rains they soften the car, raise the car and sometimes change the roll bars etc. You need the roll for grip and the wrong setup is either slower or impossible to drive
I know we’re not talking race cars but the dynamics are the same, as well as that the roads are a very different place to a fairly smooth race track. Your talking about unsettling cars, losing grip so on so on. I am sure the op is more than capable of controlling his car but it’s the ones that do what others say in this thread.
Drop a set of Avos on, Slam it and stiffen it and then wonder why when it rained they found themselves in a hedge
Coilovers are adjustable which is good so as long as people don’t go mad with damping and height adjustment you should get a happy medium.
Soldato
The coilovers on my MX5 were great. Granted they replaced tired old OEM stuff but they transformed the car.l in all conditions alongneith wider wheels. The key though was buying for road use and having them set up for a fast road use case which I had done by a Lotus specialist in Accrington.
On topic however, I never protected my Meister R coilovers and they did deteriorate quickly during their first winter especially as unloved rurally where a lot of gritting was done. I think anything would be better than nothing especially after seeing other used cars with seized yet not very old kits.
On topic however, I never protected my Meister R coilovers and they did deteriorate quickly during their first winter especially as unloved rurally where a lot of gritting was done. I think anything would be better than nothing especially after seeing other used cars with seized yet not very old kits.