CSG and RCE tag-team suspension Q&A thread! Ask us anything!

[BA9092]

Originally Posted by finch1750

The toe is fine imo.

There is no reason they shouldn't have gotten the camber where you wanted seeing this. It's OK for now as a DD imo, but I would find a new place next time you get an alignment. Should wear bad but just rotate your tires like you should and it won't be any worry at all.

Thank you again! Appreciate it.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by BA9092

Thank you again! Appreciate it.

No prob. Also wanted to edit that should have said "shouldn't wear bad" lol.

[BA9092]

Originally Posted by finch1750

No prob. Also wanted to edit that should have said "shouldn't wear bad" lol.

Oh, that's even better. Lol. Thanks!

[Code Monkey]

Originally Posted by BA9092

Any recommendations?

GSpeed or Doghouse at MSR Cresson, but they may be too far to be worth a drive. I would find an old fashioned alignment shop, locally I go to a 'brake and alignment' shop whose clientele is probably 70 percent pickup trucks. I get exactly what I want for $75 and it takes the guy 30 minutes tops to perform all the work.

Oh, your shop is 'formerly known as COBB Tuning Plano', that explains a lot.

[BA9092]

Originally Posted by Code Monkey

GSpeed or Doghouse at MSR Cresson, but they may be too far to be worth a drive. I would find an old fashioned alignment shop, locally I go to a 'brake and alignment' shop whose clientele is probably 70 percent pickup trucks. I get exactly what I want for $75 and it takes the guy 30 minutes tops to perform all the work.

Oh, your shop is 'formerly known as COBB Tuning Plano', that explains a lot.

Well, Cresson isn't too far from Texas Track Works where I went before. But I just didn't have the time to drive down this time around and they were busy during the only time I had off. Thanks!

[tintumz22]

I’m sending a set of coilovers for rebuild. For AST 5100. It has the option of Double Digressive Pistons. What are the benefits of this option? I have not used this set of coilovers before. I got them from a friend but needs rebuilding since one shocks is leaking. It is an opportunity that I see that can help me learn more about suspension when I move on from the stocks. Car is a daily, occasional canyon drives, 1-2 track at this time and soon will see more track days (4-5 annually and slowly going for more). Suggestions and information will be appreciated!

Choice of tires will be a GTRadial SX2 in stock wheels then move to a 17x9 size of wheel but same tires.


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[MaverickMonk]

I'm fighting the age old question: Springs and Struts, or Coilovers?

When I do a search and read through old threads, I see a ton of consensus that "coils will never be as comfortable as springs and struts". In some of the newer threads though, I'm seeing claims that good modern coilovers can simultaneously handle better than stock, and be more forgiving in daily driver situations.

I'm building up my car to be both comfortable and forgiving as a daily car, but also hopefully handle a little tighter than stock for canyon runs and AutoX (STX class, driven by a potato in a helmet). I assume that means enough dampening to not be underdamped at high Hz for road bumps, but stiff enough to hold the road at lower Hz for cornering? (Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm an electrical guy, I slept through Mechanics 1)

So are the newer mid-range coilovers capable of providing both when properly adjusted? (Tein Flex A's, Ohlins Road and Track, KW V3s, etc). Or is the answer still Eibachs and Konis for handling without rattling teeth out?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by MaverickMonk

I'm fighting the age old question: Springs and Struts, or Coilovers?

When I do a search and read through old threads, I see a ton of consensus that "coils will never be as comfortable as springs and struts". In some of the newer threads though, I'm seeing claims that good modern coilovers can simultaneously handle better than stock, and be more forgiving in daily driver situations.

I'm building up my car to be both comfortable and forgiving as a daily car, but also hopefully handle a little tighter than stock for canyon runs and AutoX (STX class, driven by a potato in a helmet).

So are the newer mid-range coilovers capable of providing both when properly adjusted? (Tein Flex A's, Ohlins Road and Track, KW V3s, etc). Or is the answer still Eibachs and Konis for handling without rattling teeth out?

coilovers. Remember, a coilover is literally, a spring and a strut, but usually at least somewhat paired up better than a haphazard combination.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by MaverickMonk

I'm fighting the age old question: Springs and Struts, or Coilovers?

When I do a search and read through old threads, I see a ton of consensus that "coils will never be as comfortable as springs and struts". In some of the newer threads though, I'm seeing claims that good modern coilovers can simultaneously handle better than stock, and be more forgiving in daily driver situations.

I'm building up my car to be both comfortable and forgiving as a daily car, but also hopefully handle a little tighter than stock for canyon runs and AutoX (STX class, driven by a potato in a helmet). I assume that means enough dampening to not be underdamped at high Hz for road bumps, but stiff enough to hold the road at lower Hz for cornering? (Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm an electrical guy, I slept through Mechanics 1)

So are the newer mid-range coilovers capable of providing both when properly adjusted? (Tein Flex A's, Ohlins Road and Track, KW V3s, etc). Or is the answer still Eibachs and Konis for handling without rattling teeth out?

If you're willing to make the trip up near BWI airport, you could go for a ride in my BRZ with coilovers and see what a good quality set up at a reasonable cost can feel like

- Andrew

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

coilovers. Remember, a coilover is literally, a spring and a strut, but usually at least somewhat paired up better than a haphazard combination.

Mike, maybe you and Andrew can clarify something for me. My understanding of the difference between coilovers and struts is that a strut literally and actively controls the path along which the wheel moves. All a coil over does is keep the car off the ground and control the actions of the spring. The path of the wheel is dependent on the linkage between the hub and the chassis. So if a car has a lower control arm and perhaps a sway bar or something for longitudinal locating, but no upper control arm we're looking at a strut.

If your wheel motion is controlled by upper and lower control arms and the "suspending" part of the suspension (spring and damper) consists of a single assembly it's a coilover.

If you have upper and lower control arms and separate springs and shock absorbers you have a 1970 Chevelle.

Thus, on our cars the front unit is a strut. What makes it a coilover is the adjustable spring perch and the fact that we call it a "coilover." ?????

Our rear units are coil overs from the factory. What makes them "coilovers" from a marketing perspective is the fact that we call them "coilovers."

My mid-oughts F-150 uses a coilover on the front.

My '70 Chevelle SS used a conventional/archaic upper/lower control arm
with separate springs and shocks (at the front) like most other domestic iron of the period.

???????

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Mike, maybe you and Andrew can clarify something for me. My understanding of the difference between coilovers and struts is that a strut literally and actively controls the path along which the wheel moves. All a coil over does is keep the car off the ground and control the actions of the spring. The path of the wheel is dependent on the linkage between the hub and the chassis. So if a car has a lower control arm and perhaps a sway bar or something for longitudinal locating, but no upper control arm we're looking at a strut.

If your wheel motion is controlled by upper and lower control arms and the "suspending" part of the suspension (spring and damper) consists of a single assembly it's a coilover.

If you have upper and lower control arms and separate springs and shock absorbers you have a 1970 Chevelle.

Thus, on our cars the front unit is a strut. What makes it a coilover is the adjustable spring perch and the fact that we call it a "coilover." ?????

Our rear units are coil overs from the factory. What makes them "coilovers" from a marketing perspective is the fact that we call them "coilovers."

My mid-oughts F-150 uses a coilover on the front.

My '70 Chevelle SS used a conventional/archaic upper/lower control arm
with separate springs and shocks (at the front) like most other domestic iron of the period.

???????

Misnomers.

Coilover "type" suspension is literally a coil spring over a damper. There are many types and configurations of coilovers. A mcpherson strut is a specific type of suspension setup.

A porpoise is a dolphin, but a dolphin doesn't have to be a porpoise.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Yeah Mike got it. Our cars come with coilovers, meaning the coil (spring) is over the shock. That's it.

We have struts in the front, which means the shock body is a suspension arm. We have conventional shocks in the rear.

In the aftermarket suspension world, coilovers has come to mean height adjustable.

IMO there are crap coilovers and good shock and spring combos (and vice versa). Impossible to say "coilovers are better" because you sure can screw that up too.

- Andrew

[Capt Spaulding]

Thanks guys.

[MaverickMonk]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

If you're willing to make the trip up near BWI airport, you could go for a ride in my BRZ with coilovers and see what a good quality set up at a reasonable cost can feel like

- Andrew

Thanks Andrew, I'll have to take you up on that, even if it means crossing the DC Area Supercollider / Capital Beltway. I'm doing my best to get in deep as far as understanding all this stuff, but reading books is no substitute for experience.

Cheers