Dumb question timeL wtf do we mean by "coilover" ?

[Earendil]

First off, I've been on these boards for years upon years. I've read many a coilover discussion, but all of them on this board. I've never owned anything with an aftermarket "coilover" suspension installed, and I've read this description.

So with that out of the way, wtf does it mean for your suspension to be of type "coilover" ? It seems to me that nothing generic is really a coilover solution for the rear end of our cars, correct? And by the wikipedia definition our fronts aren't really coilovers as stock, because they don't come as "one unit".

But so what if it comes as one unit or not? I suppose what I want to know is why do people act like a coilover suspension kit is obviously of better quality than independently choosing a matched set of springs and shocks? Is the ability to adjust ride height the only difference? Yet even this feature can be added to a stock suspension. So what are we talking about here?

Help a confused person out :(

[blefevre]

1. Ride height adjustment.
2. The company that makes the coilover unit can actually engineering the dampers and springs to work together. This is much better then someone picking an H&R spring and a Bilstein damper and assuming they are perfectly matched together.

[Earendil]

1. Ride height adjustment.
2. The company that makes the coilover unit can actually engineering the dampers and springs to work together. This is much better then someone picking an H&R spring and a Bilstein damper and assuming they are perfectly matched together.

#2 would be nullified by any kit where the shocks have been re-valved to match the spring rate though, correct?

Thanks for the answer :up:

[future rs]

By the true deffinition, no the rear end of our cars are not "coilovers"

There are coilover options for our cars. And the only reason to buy a complete setup ie ground control is that they do have some R&D into what strut/dampener and spring combo works best together. Cheaper companies do not have the same R&D, they use a generic dampener at a set valving with a generic spring. Cheaper sets are often valved way to harsh and use a much higher than needed spring rate. They generally have a set of springs that will "work" with several different cars along with dampeners. Now you can do your own calculations and find a dampener and spring from separate companies to compliment each other as well.


Edit:
And yes there are companies that offer a true coilover design for the rear of our cars. They are not your cheapest option though.

[jlevie]

Technically a coil over is a suspension design where the spring surrounds the shock. In that regard all MacPherson struts, like the front suspension, are coil overs. But the rear suspension on an E30 (and other BMW's) is not as the spring and shock are separated.

Common usage of the term has come to mean a design that includes adjusters for ride height. Whether it is a true coil over or not.

[Ant_e30]

^ This man nailed it. Coilover is a defined term abbreviating Coil (spring) Over (shock).

so the front is, the rear isn't. however people will say 'i'm getting coilovers for the front' in meaning it will be height and possibly damper adjustable.

[travish325]

^ This man nailed it. Coilover is a defined term abbreviating Coil (spring) Over (shock).
.

Whuuuuu!?!?!?!?!?!? No way

[Earendil]

Technically a coil over is a suspension design where the spring surrounds the shock. In that regard all MacPherson struts, like the front suspension, are coil overs. But the rear suspension on an E30 (and other BMW's) is not as the spring and shock are separated.

Common usage of the term has come to mean a design that includes adjusters for ride height. Whether it is a true coil over or not.

Great, thanks. So there is no design feature inherent in a coil over that is better than "not coilover". But, it seems like with some "coilover" kits that features are added and the spring-shock matchup is better engineered, but not always.

[nrubenstein]

Great, thanks. So there is no design feature inherent in a coil over that is better than "not coilover". But, it seems like with some "coilover" kits that features are added and the spring-shock matchup is better engineered, but not always.

The only thing inherently better about "coilovers" is that the narrow diameter spring type that is generally used is small enough to run next to the wheel/tire. This allows you to cut down the strut body and add a lot more suspension travel.