What Are the Consequences of Modifying Coilover Suspension?
2 Answers
After installing coilover suspension, there will be obvious abnormal noises, and oil leakage may also occur. Over time, this can have a significant impact on the vehicle. Reasons for abnormalities in modified coilover suspension: Inconsistent height: If the consistency of the four suspensions is altered without proper knowledge, it can backfire, not only affecting the vehicle's chassis but also posing safety hazards while driving; Excessively low height: Due to the excellent adjustability of coilover suspension, if the owner blindly pursues a lower stance and sets the suspension height too low, the chassis is highly likely to scrape the ground during driving, leading to damage; Overly soft suspension: Some owners may adjust the damping of the coilover suspension to a very low level in pursuit of comfort. This can lead to instability in the vehicle's center of gravity at high speeds and a significant risk of rollover during emergency maneuvers. Precautions for modifying coilover suspension: Adjusting the strut height can affect the vehicle's height. The spring stiffness is related to the K-value—the higher the K-value, the stiffer the spring, and vice versa. Adjusting the damping can slow down the compression and rebound speed of the spring, eliminating excess vibrations. Generally, there is a damping adjustment knob at the bottom of the spring, which can be adjusted in 8, 16, or 32 stages. The ultimate goal is to make the suspension stop moving as quickly as possible. When adjusting the spring length, it is essential to preload it first. A preload of 2mm-8mm is generally appropriate. Over-compressing the spring can make it too short and lose elasticity.
Having driven for over a decade, I've gained profound experience after installing coilover suspensions. The vehicle's height was indeed reduced, making cornering feel exceptionally stable with no floatiness during high-speed lane changes. However, the trade-off is significantly compromised comfort – going over speed bumps sends vibrations throughout the cabin, and rear passengers constantly complain about the bumpy ride. The reduced ground clearance has caused multiple underbody shield scrapes in parking garages, and rough roads require extra caution. Most frustrating is the increased maintenance cost; after two years, severe bushing wear was discovered, and replacement parts are far more expensive than OEM. If you frequently drive on poor roads, I genuinely don't recommend this modification – for daily drivers, comfort outweighs those marginal handling improvements.
