anybody know, really know about coilovers?

[tmoble]

I have a 57 I'm working on, ready to do some major work. I was going to put a 4 link with panhard bar and coilovers on a 9 inch rear. I have a long time buddy that a fabricator, works on old trucks and cars, makes a living at it. He's usually not critical of anything unless he has direct knowledge of it's shortcomings. Anyway, he tells me to forget the coilovers, sez he's built several and they all bang (bottom out, I think he means?) when going over bumps or hitting dips at speed. He claims they're all like that unless a guy ponies up for Bilstein based setup. Big bux, apparently. Anybody with experience care to comment? Yea, nay or STFU?

[AceX]

Just like anything, you get what you pay for and design plays a big role. My uncle built a '32 Ford on a TCI frame with coilovers and it rides like a cadillac and takes roads like a production car, being just inches from the ground. He runs QA1's which are fairly expensive compared to some others. A buddy of mine runs coilovers on his high performance Camaro known as 'Jackass' and runs it on the PowerTour. Acts like a production car and handles well.

RideTech just released their own line of coilovers which are soon to be available with electronically controlled dampening.

I'll show this to Nathan Porter and maybe he can shed some better light on the subject.

[tmoble]

AceX, thanks for responding. Wonder what others will say?

I found some Bilstein coilovers, $250 a crack!

[PBFAB.COM]

As mentioned... it's going to be ALL about the mixture of parts quality and design. Quality parts and proper suspension design will give you the ride quality and feel that you are looking for. Getting the proper spring rate and shock length will also be essential. Despite your friend's experience, it CAN be achieved.

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

As mentioned... it's going to be ALL about the mixture of parts quality and design. Quality parts and proper suspension design will give you the ride quality and feel that you are looking for. Getting the proper spring rate and shock length will also be essential. Despite your friend's experience, it CAN be achieved.

Exactly! Thousands of Street Rods are running around with coil overs and zero issues. You could buy million dollar coil overs and still have issues without the correct suspension geometry and travel clearance.

[MrDude_1]

Coil over is ONLY a method of mounting the spring and shock.
how it rides, handles, etc... has little to do with the spring being mounted on the shock or next to it. (on street vehicles at least)
the main reasons coilovers are so popular is easy packaging, and ride height adjustability.

[tmoble]

perzackly.