Coilovers 101: A Full Guide

Are you searching for a way to take your vehicle's performance to the next level? Look no further! Welcome to the ultimate guide on choosing the perfect coilovers for your vehicle.

Whether you're a passionate car enthusiast or someone who wants to enhance their driving experience, coilovers are an essential upgrade that can provide unrivalled handling, comfort, and customisation.

With an overwhelming amount of options available on the market, selecting the right coilovers can be a daunting task.

Fear not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to decide how to choose the best coilovers.

From understanding the different types of coilovers to considering factors such as adjustability, spring rates, and damping, we'll teach you how to choose the perfect coilovers for your vehicle and driving style.

Prepare to transform your car to hug the road and turn heads wherever you go!

Understanding Coilovers and Their Role in Vehicle Suspension

Coilovers, short for "coil spring over shock absorber," are a type of suspension system that combines a spring and a shock absorber into one handy unit.

Unlike traditional suspension setups, which consist of separate springs and shock absorbers, coilovers offer a more integrated and adjustable solution.

The coil spring provides the primary support and helps absorb the impact from road irregularities, while the shock absorber dampens the oscillations, ensuring a smooth and controlled ride.

Coilovers play a crucial role in vehicle suspension, directly influencing handling, comfort, and overall performance.

By allowing for precise height adjustment, damping, and spring rates, coilovers enable drivers to tailor their suspension setup to their needs.

This level of customisation can improve traction, reduce body roll, enhance cornering ability, and create a more responsive experience.

Whether you're a track enthusiast looking to shave seconds off your lap times or a daily driver seeking a more comfortable ride, coilovers can provide the solution you want.

In addition to their performance benefits, coilovers also offer aesthetic advantages. With the ability to adjust ride height, you can achieve the desired stance for your vehicle, giving it a more aggressive and visually appealing look.

Coilovers are a popular choice among car enthusiasts and can enhance the appearance of your car. Now that we understand the importance of coilovers, let's delve into the benefits of upgrading to coilovers.

Benefits of Upgrading to Coilovers

1. Improved Handling

One of the primary benefits of upgrading to coilovers is the significant improvement in handling. Adjusting the damping and spring rates allows you to fine-tune your suspension to match your driving style and road conditions.

This reduces body roll, increases stability, and enhances cornering ability. With coilovers, you'll experience tighter and more precise steering, making your car feel more responsive and agile.

2. Enhanced Comfort

Contrary to popular belief, coilovers can provide a more comfortable ride than stock suspension. Adjusting the damping settings can soften the ride and make it more compliant, absorbing bumps and imperfections in the road.

Coilovers also offer better control over weight transfer, reducing the jarring motion often associated with stiffer suspension setups. With the right coilovers, you can balance performance and comfort, ensuring an enjoyable driving experience on smooth highways and bumpy roads.

3. Customisation Options

One of the main advantages of coilovers is the ability to customise your suspension setup. This includes adjusting ride height, damping, and spring rates. Height adjustment allows you to lower or raise your vehicle to achieve the desired look.

Damping adjustment lets you fine-tune the shock absorber's response, providing optimal control and comfort. Spring rate adjustment allows you to fine-tune the stiffness of the coil springs, balancing comfort and performance.

These customisation options make coilovers a versatile suspension upgrade that can be tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

4. Durability and Longevity

Coilovers are generally built to withstand the demands of aggressive driving and provide long-lasting performance. They are designed with high-quality materials and undergo rigorous testing to ensure durability and reliability.

Compared to stock suspension, which may wear out over time due to age and use, coilovers offer improved longevity and require less maintenance. This makes them a cost-effective investment in the long run.

Now that we've explored the benefits of upgrading to coilovers let's review what you should consider when choosing the perfect coilovers for your vehicle.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Coilovers

When selecting coilovers for your vehicle, it's crucial to consider several factors to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Vehicle Make and Model

Coilovers are designed to fit specific makes and models of vehicles. Finding the correct coilovers compatible with your car is essential to ensure proper fitment and functionality.

There are sometimes many variations in make and model; for example, some of the older Honda Civics come with forked or loop eye shock bottoms, which is hugely important to get right.

Consider consulting a trusted source or vehicle manufacturer to determine the right coilovers for your specific make and model.

Driving Style and Intended Use

Different coilovers are designed for various driving styles and intended uses. Are you primarily using your vehicle for street driving, track racing, or off-roading?

For example, if you were only driving on the street, then something such as the yellow speed racing dynamic pro sport coilovers would be a good option, whereas if you're building a drift car, the pro drift series would be more suitable.

Understanding your driving style and intended use will help you select the perfect coilovers.

Coilover Adjustability

Coilovers offer various levels of adjustability, including ride height, damping, and spring rates. Consider how much adjustability you need and the level of customization you desire.

Remember that more adjustability often comes with a higher price tag, so it's essential to strike a balance between your budget and desired performance.

Spring Rates

Spring rates determine the stiffness of the coil springs and directly impact how your vehicle handles. Higher spring rates provide a stiffer suspension, ideal for aggressive driving and track use.

For example, if you were running a 10kg/mm front spring, you would need to exert 10kg of pressure for the spring to compress 1mm. Lower spring rates offer a more comfortable ride for daily driving and commuting.

Consider your driving style and comfort preferences when choosing the appropriate spring rates for your coilovers.

Damping Adjustments

Damping refers to the resistance of the shock absorber. Adjustable damping allows you to fine-tune the suspension's response to different road conditions and driving styles.

Consider the range of damping adjustments available with the coilovers you're considering and how it aligns with your desired performance characteristics.

Increasing damping results in higher resistance and makes it more difficult to compress or extend.

On the other hand, softer damping occurs when there is lower resistance, making it easier for the damper to compress or extend.

Height Adjustment

Vehicle height adjustment allows you to raise or lower your vehicle's suspension. Lowering the ride height improves aerodynamics, reduces body roll, and enhances stability.

However, extreme lowering can negatively impact ride quality and cause clearance issues with speed bumps and driveways. It's essential to balance aesthetics and practicality when adjusting the ride height.

If you plan on running a flush fitment, this may not apply to you, but in terms of performance, it will.

Build Quality and Brand Reputation

Coilovers are an investment, and it's crucial to choose a reliable brand known for producing high-quality products.

Research different brands, read customer reviews, and consider their warranties and customer support. Investing in a trusted brand will ensure you receive a reliable and durable suspension upgrade.

Keep these factors in mind as you explore different coilover options. Next, let's dive into the different types of coilovers and understand how they impact performance.

Different Types of Coilovers and Their Suitability for Various Driving Styles

Coilovers come in various types, each designed to suit different driving styles and performance requirements. Understanding the different types of coilovers will help you choose the best option for your needs.

Let's explore the primary types of coilovers, and for this example, we will use BC Racing as their range is vast when it comes to variations of coilovers.

Street Coilovers

Street coilovers are designed for daily driving and balance comfort and performance. They typically provide adjustable ride height and damping settings, allowing you to customize your suspension setup according to your preferences.

Street coilovers are ideal for enthusiasts who primarily use their vehicles for commuting and occasional spirited driving.

An excellent example of this would be the BC Racing BR series and BC Racing V1 series which are both the most cost-effective options they have whilst still offering a great deal of adjustability.

For example, they offer 30-way adjustable damping and camber adjustment (depending on the car model).

Track Coilovers

Track coilovers are optimised for high-performance driving and track use. They offer stiffer spring rates, more aggressive damping settings, and increased adjustability to handle the demands of aggressive cornering and high-speed driving.

Track coilovers are ideal for enthusiasts who participate in track days, autocross events, or competitive racing. BC Racing offer a few midrange options here dependent on your budget.

The BC Racing ER series, DS series and RM series are all strong contenders here, and will all differ slightly such as the ER series utilising external reservoirs to separate compression and rebound control.

Race Coilovers

Now onto the top race-level series of coilovers. These are designed only for race use, and although you could use them on the road, you wouldn't want to, mainly due to the aggressive spring rates.

BC Racing offer two lines here, depending on the features you need, the HM Series and top-of-the-line ZR Series coilovers.

The ZR Series features everything from the previous coilovers on the list but also includes remote mounting of the external reservoirs that can be boot mounted.

With an enormous amount of adjustment, such as low and high-speed compression adjustment, you should never need to upgrade from these.

Understanding the different types of coilovers will help you narrow down your options based on your driving style and intended use. Researching and comparing coilover brands is the next step in finding the perfect suspension upgrade.

If you want to go further down the BC Racing coilovers route, we have an entire BC Racing article outlining each series of coilovers they manufacture.

Comparing Coilover Brands

Before we go into which brands we suggest looking at, it's worth reading company reviews to ensure they have a good track record of producing high-quality coilovers.

Consider their experience in the industry, customer reviews, and the availability of customer support and warranty. Investing in a trusted brand will ensure a reliable and durable upgrade.

Compare the features, adjustability options, and pricing of different coilover brands. Consider the level of customisation they offer, the range of adjustment options, and the materials used in their construction.

It's important to balance performance, quality, and affordability. Remember that higher-priced coilovers often come with advanced features and superior build quality.

Tein

Tein is a well-known company specialising in suspension for Japanese models, with their Advance Z coilovers being the top range they manufacture.

These coilovers are designed to provide a sporty ride and aggressive stance, with wide-range damping force adjustment using their new Advance Needle technology.

The shortened shell case design ensures optimum damper stroke at lower vehicle ride height, while the ZT-coated threaded sleeve allows for adjustable vehicle ride height.

Additionally, they feature a 16-way damping adjustment with over 200% increase in damping force change. Tein are hugely popular mainly down to their performance vs cost rating.

BC Racing

BC Racing is undoubtedly a company that deserves recognition. We've previously discussed their impressive product line and even have an entire article devoted to them.

Their broad product line ranges from the street BR series to the race-level ZR series, catering to every preference or driving style.

Plus, they offer nearly every feature you need regarding damping, external reservoirs and multiple extra features.

Yellow Speed Racing

Yellow Speed Racing boasts an extensive product range of coilovers catering to thousands of vehicles. The brand has gained recognition for its exceptional quality, as evidenced by its presence on numerous champion race cars.

Ranging from road to race suspension, they have nearly every aspect covered. The dynamic pro sport range is perfect for street or entry-level track applications, whereas the top-level club performance coilovers are setup for race-only environments.

Maintenance Tips for Coilovers

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the lifespan and optimal performance of your coilovers. Here are some maintenance tips to keep in mind:

Keep Them Clean

Regularly clean the coilovers to remove any dirt, debris, or road grime that may accumulate. Use a mild detergent and a soft detailing brush to clean the coilovers gently. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that may damage the finish.

Inspect for Leaks

Periodically inspect the coilovers for any signs of oil leaks. If you notice any leaks, it's essential to address them promptly. Contact the manufacturer or a professional installer to diagnose and rectify the issue.

Check Adjustments

If necessary, check and adjust the ride height, damping settings, and spring rates. Over time, these adjustments may require fine-tuning to maintain optimal performance and comfort.

Replace Worn Components

If you notice any worn or damaged components, such as bushings or top mounts, it's crucial to replace them. Worn parts can affect the performance and longevity of your coilovers.

Coilover Socks

Coilover socks are a relatively new product but are always worth considering to keep road grime and dirt out of your coilover threads. By fitting a set, you will keep the coilovers cleaner for much longer and dramatically increase their lifespan.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your coilovers continue to perform at their best and provide a smooth and enjoyable driving experience.

Conclusion

To sum up, selecting the right coilovers requires careful consideration of various factors. This guide comprehensively covers all the crucial aspects to keep in mind.

If our article has been valuable to you, kindly leave a comment below. If you require further assistance, feel free to contact us to discover the ideal suspension for your needs.