What Are Coilovers?
These high-performance suspension components can make or break your car's handling performance.
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Coilovers are an adjustable version of the familiar spring-and-shock arrangement found in most cars. Unlike most cars, where the performance is set from the factory and is designed to accommodate a wide range of expected road conditions, coilovers allow drivers to fine-tune their car's response to the road. This means coilovers are uniquely helpful in situations outside of those expected conditions, especially when a driver takes a car on a race track or certain performance driving situations.
Though not everyone needs, or wants, to upgrade to a coilover suspension, if your aspirations include serious performance driving they may be worth investigating. The best way to get faster lap times from your car is to become a better driver. But who are we kidding? — If it were that easy, everyone would do it. The second best way to get faster lap times is to upgrade your car's suspension with a good set of coilovers.
Though few cars come equipped with coilovers from the factory, the now-discontinued Dodge Viper ACR was one such vehicle. The Viper ACR, with its track-ready mission, was offered with an adjustable coilover suspension setup that allowed drivers to fine-tune its handling depending on preference and track conditions.
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Coilovers Are a Major Suspension Component
Coilovers feature two components. There is a spring, which absorbs any shocks to the wheel, and a damper, which dissipates the motion of the springs. When the spring is placed over the shock and installed as one unit, it's called a coilover.
Don't confuse a coilover with a strut. A strut is an integral component of your car's suspension. If you remove it, you won't be able to drive or steer the vehicle. A coilover does not affect steering and is not a structural part of the car.
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What Are the Advantages of Coilovers?
Coilovers are usually found in performance cars thanks to their adjustability. Drivers can lower their vehicle with a shorter coilover. This drops the car's center of gravity, allowing for sportier handling and reducing the risk of a rollover.
Those in the off-road world can get a longer coilover for a raised ride height to clear obstacles and more suspension travel to keep larger tires on the ground in the rough stuff.
Depending on how much money you want to spend, the dampers in coilovers can be adjustable, like the ones fitted on the Dodge Viper ACR. Drivers can dial in their preferred compression and rebound rates using knobs at the top or bottom of the damper.
Coilovers will come with your choice of spring rates. A higher spring rate yields a stiff ride with less body roll — perfect for those who hope to improve their track times. Off-roaders will want a lower spring rate for a softer ride. A plush ride is much more comfortable over bumps and rocks. There are also variable-rate springs that have a softer rate initially but get stiffer as more force is exerted on them.
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What Are the Disadvantages of Coilovers?
Don't expect to install a set of coilovers and ride off into the sunset. If you lower your car, you'll have less suspension travel. That's not a huge deal in a pavement-going vehicle, but you still don't want your tires hitting the wheel wells. A stiffer spring also means a harsher ride. Be prepared to feel every single bump, dip, and change in the road surface.
If you've installed coilovers with a softer spring for off-road, you've inherited the opposite problem. You'll have body roll for days, and the car or truck might feel "tippy" with its higher center of gravity.
How Much Do Coilovers Cost?
A good set of coilovers is a costly undertaking. You can get non-name brands for less than $400 online, but they might not provide the same ride quality, handling, or adjustability as a more expensive set engineered by an established company. Some major brands include Bilstein, KW, and BC Racing. Off-road folks can turn to companies such as Fox or King for coilovers.
It's relatively easy to install coilovers yourself, but should you have any doubts, make an appointment with your local mechanic. Regardless, be sure to align the car after installation to mitigate uneven tire wear and ensure your new parts can work to their full potential.
Cost to install a coilover suspension will vary with your location and the specific make and model of your vehicle.
