Re: 5th grade questions on coilover kits & whose to use?

["Josh[deady]Able" <mkii@nycap.rr.com>]

1> you don't need to do alignment after each adjustment, though if you
change it in a major way, it is recommended, but for small changes it isn't
needed.
2> the adjustability is a must have if you ever change wheel size. If I
didn't have coilovers, I would have had to buy a completely different
suspension when I got new wheels.
3> If you are going to lower your car, the best way is coilovers, lowering
springs basically suck in comparison.


Josh Able

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott F. Williams" <sfwilliams@home.com>
To: "Cheapass Ron" <rapieper@yahoo.com>; <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 9:17 AM
Subject: RE: 5th grade questions on coilover kits & whose to use?


> > Is there a difference?  Whose do you use, and why?  Whose got the best
> > bang for the buck (remember who I am, after all)?
>
> Okay, here's some more animated opinion from the Scott man. Is anybody
sick
> of me yet? (Just tell me!): Adjustable coilover kits are great for
> race/autox cars but they are superfluous and silly for the street! Why
> invest in expensive hotrod parts that will offer you little or no
advantage
> over more conventional bits?
>
> True, adjustable coilover kits will allow you to raise and lower the car.
> But, are you aware that you'll need to reset the alignment every time that
> you do it? Yes, they will allow for corner balancing (a wonderful thing).
> But, once you adjust the ride height again, you've just blown out your
> critical settings anyway. Coilover springs come in multiple spring rates
and
> lengths -all great for optimizing handling on a track. However, unless you
> are a really special type of hotrod fiend, coming up with multiple
> configurations for every street-driving scenario is kind of obsessive, no?
> Get a life! ;^) Furthermore, coilover springs typically come in linear
rates
> only. A progressive rate is better for "real" streets.
>
> Again, what's the point in a streetcar? -especially when you are a
cheapass!
>
> > Is there any downside to a particular brand?  They all seem like
> > variations on the same theme to me...
>
> Coilover kits run the gambit from true race/rally stuff, to wretched ricer
> crap that will "self-destruct in 15 seconds". There are definitely quality
> kits for the street, however. When properly set up, these kits will
deliver
> excellent performance similar to what you'll get with a well-sorted
> conventional spring and shock/strut combo. Do it wrong, and you'll have a
> worse experience. Again, the significant difference is in the ride height
> adjustability and basically nothing else. (Well, you may also be able to
get
> away with larger offset wheels (more spring to wheel clearance), but big
> whoop.)
>
> > I'd like to maintain my Bilstien HD inserts until I can upgrade to
> > adjustables some year.  Any fitment issues?
>
> A good coilover kit should fit as well as OEM-type parts.
>
> > Also, I can maintain my dome-top strut bearings with a coilover kit,
> > right?
>
> You *should* be able to.
>
> P.S. If I were on a hardcore suspension-tuning mission, I'd have my
> Bilsteins re-engineered to be fully adjustable just like the Konis.
> <http://www.hotshox.com/products/products.html>This way, they'd have the
> superior inverted monotube construction and self-adjusting feature that
all
> Bilsteins are blessed with from the factory. However, you could manually
> adjust the rebound and compression damping ranges, too. Thus, you'd "tell"
> the Bilstein the range that you want it to work in, and then it'd fine
tune
> itself within those parameters. (Whereas the Konis are "dumb" and can not
> self-adjust, are less sturdy, and are more prone to overheat when pounded
> continuously.)
>
> This would be much more practical than a coilover conversion. It is a
> helluva lot more exclusive modification, too! Who's done it? -hardly
anyone!
> On the other hand, there are coilover poseurs everywhere!
> --
> Scott F. Williams
> NJ Scirocco nut
> Golf GTI 16v rallycar
> Mazda 323 GTX turbo assault vehicle
>
> Check out our rally team's website!
> http://www.usrallyteam.com
>
>
> --
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>


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