Coil Overs
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Hillsborough NJ
Coil Overs
I'm shopping for a new front suspension, and I was wondering what the differences were between the VBP monoleaf and a coil-over kit (bolt on). They both have ride height adjustment and the monoleaf has an adjustable spring rate. What are the benifits to coil overs? Or is it all just hype?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Coil Overs (jamesx0)
I personally am not a fan of buggy springs. Harmonics are transferred from one side to the other.
Given the choice I would choose the coil overs or in this case semi coil overs. True coil overs require extensive fabrication and cutting.
Given the choice I would choose the coil overs or in this case semi coil overs. True coil overs require extensive fabrication and cutting.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Coil Overs (jamesx0)
I don't know how they affect handling, I am doing the true coil overs because everyone says they are the way to go. I also like to check the suspension regularly, also pump steer and the only way to check it is with the springs out. I hate working with the coil springs and have changed mine 8 or 9 times. I want to be able to quickly undo the top and bottom through bolts and pull the spring and coil out as a unit and check the suspension quickly.
It is something that only takes an evening to verify any settings.
Back to handling Twin Turbo knows more about this then I do. The part I know is how to install them, what has to be done to make it work.
I am a fabricator/designer/welder, not a thinker. :) :)
It is something that only takes an evening to verify any settings.
Back to handling Twin Turbo knows more about this then I do. The part I know is how to install them, what has to be done to make it work.
I am a fabricator/designer/welder, not a thinker. :) :)
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Fuengirola Spain
Re: Coil Overs (jamesx0)
I would also be interested in a detailed explanation, if someone has a link to a good article or discussion on the subject?
I can find general texts such as http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/tec...4/article.html on Google but it would be interesting to hear some real-world experiences.
Arto
I can find general texts such as http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/tec...4/article.html on Google but it would be interesting to hear some real-world experiences.
Arto
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 56
From: Shawano WI
Re: Coil Overs (norvalwilhelm)
The main advantages to coil-overs is:
(1) Reduction in unsprung weight - with the smaller diameter springs and mounting the shock with the body up
(2) Ease of service - with a coil over you can quickly remove the spring and shock to make changs in your set-up.
(3) Ease of mounting - with the smaller diameter springs you can mount the hook up points closer to the centerline of the tire. This gives you much better control over the suspension movement. You can also have multiple mounting points to change the effective rate of the spring and shock without changing the spring or shock.
(4) Weight jacking - with coil overs you can easily change the weight on each tire to effect the handling of the car. This is only useful for racing porposes.
(5) Spring selection - coil over springs come in a wide variety of rates and free lenghts so you have a much broader selection to choose from.
A semi-coil over looses all of these advantages except the ability of weight jacking. By mounting the semi-coil over in the same location as the conventional spring you have lost the biggest advantage to a coil over. By mounting the shock with the body down and using a large spring you loose the secoond biggest advantage of a coil over (unsprung weight).
A street car with the correct coil over set-up (spring/shock selection) will have no handling advantage over a conventional spring set-up with the correct spring/shock combination. It will just be easier to make changes to find the correct set-up.
For a race car they are great. For a street car it is just a WOW factor.
[Modified by Pete79L82, 9:56 PM 12/21/2003]
(1) Reduction in unsprung weight - with the smaller diameter springs and mounting the shock with the body up
(2) Ease of service - with a coil over you can quickly remove the spring and shock to make changs in your set-up.
(3) Ease of mounting - with the smaller diameter springs you can mount the hook up points closer to the centerline of the tire. This gives you much better control over the suspension movement. You can also have multiple mounting points to change the effective rate of the spring and shock without changing the spring or shock.
(4) Weight jacking - with coil overs you can easily change the weight on each tire to effect the handling of the car. This is only useful for racing porposes.
(5) Spring selection - coil over springs come in a wide variety of rates and free lenghts so you have a much broader selection to choose from.
A semi-coil over looses all of these advantages except the ability of weight jacking. By mounting the semi-coil over in the same location as the conventional spring you have lost the biggest advantage to a coil over. By mounting the shock with the body down and using a large spring you loose the secoond biggest advantage of a coil over (unsprung weight).
A street car with the correct coil over set-up (spring/shock selection) will have no handling advantage over a conventional spring set-up with the correct spring/shock combination. It will just be easier to make changes to find the correct set-up.
For a race car they are great. For a street car it is just a WOW factor.
[Modified by Pete79L82, 9:56 PM 12/21/2003]
