Can someone give me a good explination of what coil over springs supsension is, what it does.. benefits ?
Thanks - and sorry if its a dumb question
Chris

 

dont know too much about it but i know u can raise or lower your car with it, its adjustable hieght pretty cool

 

it's just as the name implies. The coil springs slide right over the strut and act as one unit together instead of a setperate strut and spring. Basically the advantage is a more compact unit.

 

Another advantage to that configuration is that they are almost always mounted as close to the wheel as possible. Having both the shock and spring closer to the wheel improves sensitivity and response to the road. An example of this is in the new F-150s - the new trucks have the shock mounted on the outside of the frame, to get it closer to the wheel - to improve handling response and ride quality. I know, it's a truck and a Ford at that - but I like Ford truck anyway, just not the cars. And regardless, the point is there.
With the setup 3-rd gens have, the loads on the wheel have to travel through the lower control arm before they reach the spring. But if the spring was located around the strut, theoretically it would be able to respond to inputs from the road better, quicker and more precisely.

K

 

Your opinion ? is a coil over system worth the money ?
thanks
Chris

 

i had a long post and it disappeared......anyhow it depends on what your looking to gain out of it. some of the cheaper systems don't ride so well and adjustment isn't much.

i have roughly 1500 into my front end with a 4" up or down raise.

 

IMO, for street, spirited daily driving - no. There are many other improvements that can be made that are proven to work to make your ride handle like it's on rails. For other apps, maybe - again, depending on the app. As far as I know, the only some-what proven coil-over system for 3rd gens is for the rear end only. There may me some setup for the front end that I haven't heard about yet - a definite possiblilty.

Just my 2 pennies!

K

 

that's interesting as the rear is really the only area that many have trouble without heavily modifying the rear end since the shock supports can't handle the current location with that sort of stress....what kit do you know about for the rear?

 

Autofab, I've got the kit.

 

and your opinion?

 

Hey there-
I thought you or someone would ask. I feel like a fool because I can't tell you the name - but I definetly remember seeing a short write up or add about it within the last few months. I peruse a fair number of magazines at the book store and may have seen it there. I'm not pulling any legs here though - I'm pretty dang sure I saw a kit for rear-end coil overs for thire-gens. Sorry about the details......

Hey - noticed you're from MI - grew up in Bloomfield Hills and now my parents live in Howell - out near Lansing, east about 1/2 hour. I've been moving around a lot since '02 - school etc - Indiana last year, Virginia this year, up state New York next year. Just curious about where your stopming grounds are. I hope to move back once I am through with school etc. Maybe I'll pm ya.

K

 

It's a damn nice kit. Basically QA1 components made to work as rear coilovers for our cars.

 

Here is a link of pic and link to more pics of my conversion with Tokico coilovers.

http://community.webshots.com/album/131030856upsxvS/4



If the pic doesn't show, right click on the red x and click show pic.

Other wise click link Below:

Click here for alternate pic

 

so your running a coilover converted shock in the rear stock location and you removed the stock spring?

what size spring and weight are you running on them?

 

The advantages of coilovers are less unsprung weight because it is a lighter assembly than the 5"roundheavy stock location type coil and frame can assembly- AND most importantly eliminatles movement bind of the coil in suspension travel. A stock spring will kink to the outside as it compresses, whereas a coilover remaims paralell with the shock and moves directly up and down as it compresses (the whole strut assembly pivots, not the spring) The suspension moves more freely and predictable.

 

Not all coil overs are adjustable though. 4th gen set-ups are non ride height adjustable. You can buy the right stuff to make them adjustable but most "stock" cars equiped with this from the factory are non adjustable.

 

Yes. I can't remember the rates of the springs, but they are pretty soft. It really is a nice unit though. Check out camaro performers magazine. I think there is an article in there about it.

 

just curious if you knew your spring rate that's all.

 

Got any pics?

 

Unfortunately my sister broke my digital camera and I haven't gotten around to buying another one. They look just like coilovers, but they have a special bracket at the top for mounting to the factory shock location.

 

How much $? And did you get them directly from autofab?

Also is it a kit or did your have to get them to custom build a kit?

thanks

 

It is a kit consisting of QA1 shocks and springs put together by autofab.

 

So I need to contact autofab and have them put the kit together and give me a price.

thanks.

 

Best thing about them is ride weight adj. and weight savings of
45 lbs on the nose. I want...