[Racecomp Engineering]

Read this thread:
https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45542

Originally Posted by ME

There are advantages to coilovers but one of the most important parts of the system is the damper itself. The quality of the valving can simply make or break the system. Whether it's height adjustable or not takes a backseat to the actual valving of the damper. It can suck in a coilover and it can suck for a fixed perch strut. If you have a crappy height adjustable shock, you still have a crappy shock, you just get to set the ride height low and look pretty. There are some really awful springs out there and there are some really awful coilovers out there, too. Both can be worse than stock in ride and handling terms.

Coilovers have gotten a reputation for riding rough in some part because more people buy cheaper (usually poorly damped) coilovers than more expensive coilovers that have excellent valving. A coilover with proper valving can be ride well even with stiff springs.

Stock is an okay option for many people depending on their goals...AS LONG AS they're in good condition. There are other options now that are valved better than a few coilovers. You don't get the advantages listed above, but again, the damper itself is a huge part of the equation and it doesn't care if it's in a height adjustable coilover body or not.

The damper itself is the most important part of the system. Coilover sometimes have really crappy dampers that are worse than stock and certainly worse than a Koni Yellow or Bilstein B6.

- Andrew