Coilovers or Spring&Shock combo?
 

Here's a newbie question for you suspension freaks:

What is more practical?

Coilovers of course are more versitile; capable of endless adjustment and settings but, if one goes out your car will have more down time when you send it off to be fixed or rebuilt.

Springs and shocks aren't as adjustable but, if you bust a shock you can simply pay 150$ and get a new one.

What are your experiences with coil-overs/springs&shock combinations? What has been best for you?

Thanks!

It depends on what your needs are.

If your car will NEVER see any "track" oriented activity (meaning street driving only), I would say that you are fine w/ a spring/shock combo.

If your car sees some "track" oriented activity, BUT you are not serious about the idea of competing,...you may be happy w/ "just" a spring/shock combo.

If your car sees some "track" oriented activity AND you are serious w/ the idea of competing,...you may want to look into coilovers (although some people are happy w/ just a spring/shock combo).

If you are an all out track nut,...then you may want to look into coilovers.

Then again, if you drive on the street and you want coilovers any way,...then the above doesn't apply whatsoever. haha.

Coilovers require some maintenance. With coilovers, due to the adjustable height,...you should check to ensure that the collars are in their proper positions...about once a week. This is just to make sure that the collars have not loosened, clean off dirt, etc. This is a recommendation that the guys from Endless USA will tell you.

And you're right in that coilovers can be rebuilt by the manufacturer. But shock replacements will tend to be quicker, unless you live close to the manufacturer/rebuild facility.

I forgot to list my needs for suspension sorry.

Well i'm not looking to compete or seriously push the car; i love taking corners on the street but, i'm not a idiot and don't over-do it. Coil-overs on the street does seem a little overboard. I could see me using a shock/spring combo in the future.

I still would like stories about coil-overs (problems, praise, complications, versitility, yada yada yada).

Also, keep in mind that Mani's Supra (the one that competed in the USCC challenge some time back "only" had a spring/shock combo at the time)

Here is his car...
http://www.drift-motorsports.com/

Thanks Dom.

Mani's Supra? That sounds familar but i'm not too sure if i'm thinking of the same supra; i'll look it up.

Edit: AH! That is the same one i was thinking of; i beilve i saw it in either a grip or mischeif video. I haven't seen the supra in action unfortunately.

Mani's Supra is now a metallic gray color. No longer red anymore.

I also think that the very first "unofficial" USCC challege w/ the Tri-Point Engineering sponsored RX-7....that car, had a Koni spring shock combo. (It won the event of course).

Just goes to show that a spring/shock combo can do very well. Coilovers are nice, but w/o the proper know how and suspension setup/tuning,...they really aren't going to help you all that much.

My advice for anyone who doesn't know if they want springs/shocks or true coilovers it to get springs/shocks.

If you don't know why you would want true coilover adjustable shocks then you have no need to spend the money on them.

(I apologize if this sounded rude; it's not meant to)

Damon

Your advice isn't rude. It is just straight and to the point.

Not rude at all.

I understand what you're saying. I guess my question should have been worded "what is practial on the street?". I would love the adjustability of a true coil-over system on my car (wouldn't we all?!) but if i bust one of them the whole car would be out of commision for longer in comparasion to the shock/spring combo.

From what i understand the coil-overs are pretty durable. I'd like to hear from people who busted a set and had them sent in (how long did it take, how hard was it to send it in, etc)

Wouldn't coilovers be cheaper than getting new springs/shocks and bushings. Rich was telling me that the coilover he has on his car are like 1600$ now, and that the full job can be done for 2k.

If you want coilover.....just buy it!!!!! Think about what you would 'feel' if you're not satisfied with your new set of shock and spring. You'll think you shoulda buy the damn coilover and regret your decision. I think you're considering coilover because the uses that it offers. That leads me to think you'll likely use that benefits. If so, just buy it.

There are so many coilovers that designed for many needs. Racing, Drag, street, circuit, etc.

POM HB

PS. I'm glad I got the coilover....my explaination is above.

Ugh! I'm constantly amazed by the amount of BS AND illogical replies I read here on the forum. This thread is a prime example:

One answer spoken from the "voice of reason".
One answer spoken from the "voice of ignorance".

Not going to point fingers but guess which is which. :D

I would definately use the coil-over suspension to it's fullest if i owned a set but the problem is the price :( The sets i'm looking at range from $1200-1600. For that about of money i could install springs&shocks, anti-roll bars, front and rear tower bars . . . . I think i'm going to go with the spring and shock.

Thanks !

Well,...I think a shock/spring install can be had for much cheaper than that. (Assume shocks = $500. Assume springs = 200.)

Assuming that you can install a set of shocks/springs on your car,...all you need is a set of spring compressors (available at most Kragen, Pep Boys, and other automotive stores), a jack, some jack stands, some basic tools and you should be good to go.

IF you do not know how to install a set of springs/shocks....do not do so w/o the supervision of someone who knows how. Consider asking a local RX-7 guy to help install the part for you...so that you can watch and learn how to do it.

Compressing the springs improperly can be really dangerous.

The spring compressors can be had from Pep Boys for roughly $40 if I remember correctly. So if you do the labor yourself,...you can see just how much money you can save.

But SpeedKing...

Impulse buying may indeed increase performance.

A lighter wallet = less weight. Less weight = better performance/faster car. :D ;)

I don't know DomFD3S, it looks about the same price if you do a CBA (Cost benefit analyses ). Those bushings are not cheap. Only good thing i can see about springs and shocks (as far as install) is that you can get half done at a time. How ever that makes the cost go up too.

I agree IF you were to add bushings to the spring/shock combo,...then the cost may be close to the install of just a set of coilovers.

But adding bushings to the shocks/springs while excluding them from coilovers would not be a fair comparison.

How much does a set of good bushings cost? I've been comparing prices for the coil-overs and springs/shocks . . . . are bushings a nessacary install or will they just make handling more crisp?

My understanding is that the bushing are included in that 2k price. I'm not saying which is better just some of the info I've found out from the boys at Gotham.

P.S. My CBA includes maybing taking off and finger or a hand trying to do the work myself. ha ha

:( expensive

I think bushings are only like 30-35$, but you have like 6 bushings per wheel as i recall. One wheel costs me like 250. I've only replaced 1 wheel set cause mine where so trashed it was unsafe at 90. I still own't go over 130 til i get the rest replaced. So my questions is Coilovers or Spring&Shock&bushings combo it would seem.

edit: Be ready to get a an alinement each time you replace your bushings.

AFAIK, the only bushings a coil-over might come with would be the upper mount pillow ball bushings. Big deal. Those are nothing compared to the cost of the rest of the bushings -- toe link, trailing arm, upper and lower control arms. Springs/shocks is much cheaper than any quality coil-over and will likely ride much better as well.