coilovers
A good coilover setup has several advantages over lowering springs that fit in the stock struts.
The first, and really most important feature is adjustability. You can set the height of the car, within a range, without removing the suspension. Second, In a properly designed coilover system, the shock absorbers are designed and valved to operate optimally at whatever height setting the driver chooses. When a simple lowering spring is installed in the factory strut, it may cause the factory shock absorber to operate improperly, sometimes causing the suspension to smash the bump stops on rough roads. That can be bad for both your handling and your wallet. Third, because of the narrower wind of most coilover springs, the camber of the wheels can be adjusted, either using camber plates or hogging the mounting holes in the strut mounts (the budget racing solution).
The first, and really most important feature is adjustability. You can set the height of the car, within a range, without removing the suspension. Second, In a properly designed coilover system, the shock absorbers are designed and valved to operate optimally at whatever height setting the driver chooses. When a simple lowering spring is installed in the factory strut, it may cause the factory shock absorber to operate improperly, sometimes causing the suspension to smash the bump stops on rough roads. That can be bad for both your handling and your wallet. Third, because of the narrower wind of most coilover springs, the camber of the wheels can be adjusted, either using camber plates or hogging the mounting holes in the strut mounts (the budget racing solution).
1. Ultimate set-up: Ohlins fixed perch adjustable dampers with either Swift or our own GTWorx springs
2. Awesome: Bilstein HD dampers (or EVO MR Bilsteins) with Swift or GTWorx springs
3. Good: stock EVO dampers with Swift or GTWorx springs.
Both the Swifts and our GTWorx springs are great. The Swifts lower the car a little more then ours, but are a little softer. Pick which ride height you like better.
You can add a rear swaybar and some Whiteline bushings if you like, but for just a DD, you don't really need to.
- Andrew
just my opinion....
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If you are looking for coilovers with the best level of comfort for the street while giving you the ability to control height, Bilstein PSS-9s. Good quality lowering springs are also another cheap alternative.
Evolved Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 642
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From: IL, USA
So ask for a good and streetable coilover, and you'll get 10 different answers with each person swearing up and down that their choices are the best for you. How do they know that? Better yet, how do YOU know that? You don't, and you sure as heck won't find out by asking vague questions like this.
My pointer: Tell people what you plan on doing with the car, what your budget is, what you've used in the past for comparison and what is more important - ride comfort or actual performance.
Any time good and streetable are used with no mention of track use, its natural to assume comfort is the main priority. Ofcourse none of us are psychics ... I've been lucky enough to try out a few different coilovers to notice the differences, eg: Bilsteins, KW V3, Ohlins DFVs, stock EVO and stock MRs.