Re: Coilovers

["Benjamin Beacock" <Benjamin_Beacock@wcb.on.ca>]

Hey there it's me..the kid with the Rabbit..well my good mechanic told me
to
get coilovers...Made by the brand Carrera...First of all..what do coil
overs
do???ANd what are they???I do like the way it looks with like 15" wheels on
 my
car actually fitting under the wheel wells...plus...the are adjustable
right???Anyways Shoulod I get some???What kind and how much???
Thanx,
Greyson
76 Rabbit

In pure definition, our stock springs are coilovers by design because the
shock is located inside the spring housing.  But "coilovers" are more
generally known now as a strut with an adjustable spring perch height.  The
lower section of the strut has threads on it and the lower spring perch can
thread up and down the strut.  This changes the ride height of the car
without affecting the spring rate at all if it is done equally on either
side.  Setting one side higher than the other increases the portion of the
car's weight transferred to that wheel.  With a single driver in the car
and a stock suspension, there may be more weight on the left front wheel
than the right front.  Raising the spring perch on the right front
compresses the spring a little and puts more weight on the right front.
For proper setup, electronic racing scales are needed.

In the aftermarket world, they have become popular because the ride height
can be customized to whatever situation desired.  The  car is jacked up and
with the springs almost uncompressed this way, the perches can be moved up
and down.
In my opinion, coilovers should only be used for racing because with
extended road use, the threads may get corroded.  Moreover, the springs
available are usually high rates and linear, not progressive (although I
have seen double spring progressive kits) which kills on any bumps.  I'm
not sure about rallying as they use coilovers with bumps but I'm pretty
sure they're useless for the street as well.

Oh and because the perch height changes up and down, you won't necessarily
be able to use 15" wheels any more on a rabbit.   And coilovers cost more
than almost any other suspension part as well.  Other people will probably
tell you different(especially someone trying to sell you some) but these
are just my opinions and I bet can be argued by anyone.
I had money to burn, it would just be cool to have them..
Ben Beacock
bbeacock@uoguelph.ca


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