Which is best for your daily driver? Coilovers or lowering springs?
You can see the full breakdown of the video below but fundamentally it comes down to this.
Coilovers were designed for the track not the road and this means two huge problems if you use coilovers on the street.
Race drivers do not care about ride comfort. No matter how tough you are, ride comfort is better than no ride comfort
Race tracks are smooth. And this is the point that sinks the argument. If you want the best performance on the road, you need a suspension that can deal with bumps and dips and generally unsmooth surfaces. If you are running a suspension for the track you will have to back off for those bumps and dips because the car will be getting knocked off line. A race circuit suspension will not be absorb uneven road surfaces, it will fight it.
CONTENTS (Short version)
0:20 What is the difference?
1:12 Better (= you are NOT prepared to sacrifice performance for looks)
1:40 Ride height
2:30 Traction
3:40 Why do coilovers exist?
5:56 Exceptions to the rule
7:20 20 seconds of perfection, 40 hours compromised
Full Contents
0:11 Coilover suspension vs lowering springs
0:20 What is the difference?
0:30 Springs
0:46 Adjustment
1:12 Better (= you are NOT prepared to sacrifice performance for looks)
1:22 99% of the time
1:40 Ride height
1:57 You have to do the R&D
2:11 Ready to go
2:30 Traction is probably going to be better with….
2:49 Left wheel I meant, not “bump”
3:05 Less traction with……
3:20 Stability
3:40 Why do coilovers exist?
4:20 One situation where coilover superior
4:40 The price
4:50 Best in the world quality
5:00 In reality, no point
5:10 I was one of the biggest advocates
5:30 Pointless exercise
5:40 Lower than lowering springs?
5:53 Compromising comfort and performance
5:56 Exceptions to the rule
6:08 Uncomfortable factory suspension
6:19 Farah
6:21 Harris
6:36 Their solutions
6:46 I do like to take corners
7:20 20 seconds of perfection, 40 hours compromised
7:30 Missing out
7:44 Ultimate road
7:51 Make compromises everywhere else
8:01 Everywhere at speed I want
8:14 Biggest, biggest, biggest, biggest…..
8:30 Testing
8:40 OK, for the track..
8:50 Lose more than I gain
8:55 Faster more of the time
9:05 This is my answer at least, coilovers vs springs for the daily
9:18 Lose in the looks but getting performance back everywhere else
9:29 Thank you for watching
9:32 Subscribe, vote
[…] with such different rates front and rear. I can run front dampers a little softer on the front with coilovers and that can help front end grip. But I think the difference in firmness between stock shocks and […]
[…] the only other option if you want more stability is going for a set of coilovers but coilovers come with massive downsides. (I have done a separate video and article detailing why […]