What is the optimal finger gap for coilover suspension front and rear?
2 Answers
Coilover suspension adjustment to a two-finger gap is most suitable. The differences between coilover suspension and regular suspension are as follows: 1. Number of adaptive functions: Compared to regular suspension, coilover suspension adds the ability to adjust height and damping, allowing it to adapt to more road conditions. Coilover shocks have threads on the shock body, which allow setting the vehicle's sag (preload) according to personal needs. The threads on the shock are used to adjust spring stiffness, thereby setting the vehicle's preload by adjusting the spring stiffness. 2. Practicality: Coilover suspensions typically have basic functions such as height adjustment (vehicle ride height), compression and rebound damping of the shock absorber, and adjustable spring preload. In contrast, regular suspensions cannot change the compression and rebound damping of the shock absorber or the preset pressure value of the spring. Vehicle height can only be adjusted by replacing shorter shock springs and cannot be adjusted on the original basis using adjustment tools.
Personally, I think the height of coilover suspension really depends on the specific situation. If you mainly drive in the city, around two fingers of gap front and rear is more appropriate, so it won't be too bumpy when going over speed bumps or potholes. If you enjoy mountain roads or occasional track days, two and a half fingers in the front and two fingers in the rear can balance handling and ground clearance. However, the most important thing is to consider your actual driving conditions. I've seen people set it to one and a half fingers and end up scraping the undercarriage all the time, having to be extra cautious over every bump, completely losing the fun of modification. The preload of the suspension springs should also be adjusted to match the height, otherwise, the support will be insufficient, and the body will sway badly during cornering. If you're really unsure, you can start with a conservative height for testing and then gradually lower it.
