The Impact of Modifying Coilover Suspension
4 Answers
Modifying coilover suspension has several impacts: 1. Inconsistent height: One of the major advantages of coilover suspension is the ability to freely adjust the height and stiffness of the suspension. For professional racing teams, the height of each of the four shocks is repeatedly tested and calculated, and adjusted according to the characteristics of the track. However, for ordinary modification enthusiasts, arbitrarily altering the consistency of the four suspensions can backfire, not only affecting the vehicle's chassis but also posing safety hazards while driving. 2. Excessive lowering: Due to the excellent adjustability of coilover suspension, if car owners blindly pursue a lower stance and set the suspension height too low, the chassis is highly likely to scrape the ground during driving, causing damage. 3. Overly soft suspension: Some car owners, in pursuit of comfort, set the damping of the coilover suspension too low. This can lead to instability in the vehicle's center of gravity at high speeds and a significant risk of rollover during emergency maneuvers.
After installing coilovers, the car's ride height dropped, and the handling improved significantly! Cornering feels rock solid, and high-speed driving feels more planted, doubling the driving fun. However, comfort took a real hit—daily commutes over bumpy roads feel like a rollercoaster ride, leaving you sore after long trips. The lowered body also means frequent scrapes when entering garages, leading to hefty repair bills. Getting them installed by a professional shop is crucial; proper damping adjustment is key to balancing stiffness and comfort. Poor tuning can cause uneven tire wear, forcing you to replace them yearly at high costs. I also regularly inspect the shocks—maintenance is needed every year and a half, or they’ll wear out faster from leaks. Overall, it’s worth the hassle for car enthusiasts, but for daily commuting, it’s not worth the hassle—poor cost-performance.
Lowering springs make the car look cooler and slightly improve handling, making turns more responsive. But from a family car perspective, they're not very useful. Comfort takes a big hit – driving with kids on bumpy roads gets really rough, and my wife complains about the increased noise. The lowered body scrapes the undercarriage easily, leading to costly repairs. Tires wear out faster, requiring more frequent replacements. If installation isn't done right at a good shop, wiring issues may arise, making troubleshooting difficult. They're quite expensive too, costing thousands for a set, while stock suspension can last a decade without issues. Maintenance intervals shorten after modification, needing checks for leaks or wear every six months, which costs more. A friend who did it regrets it, saying daily driving becomes uncomfortable. It's really not worth the money – upgrading the sound system or AC would be more practical.
Adjustable coilover suspensions primarily allow for height and damping adjustments, enhancing handling responsiveness, which is favored by track enthusiasts for their precision. However, improper tuning can alter suspension angles, leading to geometric imbalance and abnormal wear, such as rapid inner tire wear or steering difficulties. Professional four-wheel alignment tools are essential during installation; otherwise, high-speed instability and drifting may occur. Their lifespan is generally shorter than OEM parts, with higher oil leakage rates requiring frequent maintenance. I've seen many cases of tuning errors causing premature shock absorber failure and costly frequent replacements. It's advisable to consult a trusted technician for calibration to ensure compatibility with your vehicle model and avoid driving discomfort issues.
