Coilover weight saving

[shaun_89]

Hi, does anyone know how much weight is saved by choosing coilovers over a strut and shock setup?
Im looking to buy a gaz kit if it makes any difference.

thanks

[DanThe]

The gaz built front struts ive handled before were at least 50% heavier than a standard fully built front strut!

[shaun_89]

The gaz built front struts ive handled before were at least 50% heavier than a standard fully built front strut!

Wasnt expecting that! The look so much lighter in pictures, guess there is no point in choosing coilovers then.

[rix313]

Don't take this the wrong way but I think if you're choosing them for weight saving you're looking at them for the wrong thing and maybe are a tad confused? What is it you're doing with the car?

[shaun_89]

Don't take this the wrong way but I think if you're choosing them for weight saving you're looking at them for the wrong thing and maybe are a tad confused? What is it you're doing with the car?

Thats ok, i can see why you would say that.
Im not choosing them for a weight saving, that was just one of very few positives for me justifying coilies over a normal setup.

Its primarily a road car but will be taken on the track.

[rix313]

If you were to go for a budget spec coil over kit then they're normaly a damper and bolt on adjustable spring platform type system which will weigh a similar amount to the standard system. The point of proper coil overs is the ability to choose the spring stiffness, balance of the car, weight distribution and set ride heights; which when done correctly, the advantages will far outweigh the extra couple of kilos of weight added by the coil overs them selves.

[shaun_89]

If you were to go for a budget spec coil over kit then they're normaly a damper and bolt on adjustable spring platform type system which will weigh a similar amount to the standard system. The point of proper coil overs is the ability to choose the spring stiffness, balance of the car, weight distribution and set ride heights; which when done correctly, the advantages will far outweigh the extra couple of kilos of weight added by the coil overs them selves.

I wouldnt be buying no budget crap! Ive been there before and learnt my lesson.
Ive had coilovers on cars before and found them impressive. however people on this forum seem to hate them for anything other than pure track use.

[Demlotcrew]

It really does depend on the coilover manufacturer.

All expensive kits are lighter than stock (which does help).

Andrew

[DasChin]

If you are spending most of your time on road then don't go coilovers. They are more for dedicated track and race applications.

Plus coilovers are more money so you will end up buying so cheapo ones and they will be shite witha poor ride and crashing everywhere.

You would be better off with a decent fast road / track shock and spring set up from the likes of KW or H&R depending on your budget. I have always liked the bilstein kits as very well made and will be ideal.

[shaun_89]

Why would you presume i would buy cheap ones? I understand they will cost more than a shock and spring setup but im happy to pay the extra if they perform better.

Has anyone had any experience of a good set of coilovers on the road? And would they reccomend them?

[ross_jsy]

How much you looking to spend?

Few proper coilover kits out there for the e30. Also going to have to strengthen the rear shock tower when you go this route.

[Demlotcrew]

Also going to have to strengthen the rear shock tower when you go this route.

Why

[ross_jsy]

Because it is not designed for the forces imposed on it by a coilover?

Going from nothing but a dampening action to taking the weight of the car.

[Demlotcrew]

Its more than capable of handling the compression forces of a true outboard coil-over. The problem is rebound. But the Z3 spreader plates will eliminate any problems.

[ross_jsy]

What I meant by strengthening. Although saw a thread (not sure if it was on here) where someone had problems despite the spreader plates

[Jhonno]

Why would you presume i would buy cheap ones? I understand they will cost more than a shock and spring setup but im happy to pay the extra if they perform better.

Has anyone had any experience of a good set of coilovers on the road? And would they reccomend them?

Yes, but you are looking at 3 or 4 times the cost of decent dampers and springs.

Gaz are not great on the road.

[Demlotcrew]

Its a possibility, but the same goes for the front turrets, the sheet metal under the fuse box buckles under rebound forces and oscillations. I would not worry about it.

[ross_jsy]

I won't, cage mounts to the rear turrets so hope it doesn't bend

[Demlotcrew]

I had Leda (Gaz) twin tube oil dampers on a road car and i thought they were perfectly good! Even if they were not that consistent, I did a few ring trips with them, they were ok!

[Jhonno]

What I meant by strengthening. Although saw a thread (not sure if it was on here) where someone had problems despite the spreader plates

I had no issues with my coilovers..

Could be down to the shell they are being fitted to.. Or even just pure spring rates in extreme cases.

[DasChin]

Why would you presume i would buy cheap ones??

I just did. some of the top end coilovers can be 2 to 3 grand - Intax, AST, KW etc.

planning to spend that on the road car are we?? probably teice the value of the car.

just go for a decent road, occasional spring and shock set up. with decent spring rates too and maybe height adjustable.

[DanThe]

I have H&R coilovers on mine and they are ok on the road, basic coilover with no damping adjustment. Springs are 450lb so not overly stiff, might go up 100lb or so depending how I get on once ive changed the front end about a bit

[miniblob]

H&R Coilovers on my touring - don't really know much about the tech spec, but I'm fine with them on the road!!! Was using it daily for a while and was nowhere near as harsh as i expected!!! And I have a bad back!!!
In fact, I reckon i noticed more change from swapping 15" to 16" wheels than from changing standard suspension to coil's!!!! (thought it was in my mind but even a regular passenger noticed the difference when i swapped to 16's!!!)
And it sticks to the road way better than with standard stuff.

That said, I did have a touring with H&R cup kit briefly and that was a slightly more comfy ride and did handle very well, though I didn't drive it as hard as my 2.7 touring!!!!

[shaun_89]

Ive seen some kw variant 1 or 2 and some bc racing coilovers that are under budget. I know alot of jap boys use them and would reccommend them, has anyone had any experience with bc?
My choice is probably between the kw variant 2's and the bc's.

[DasChin]

BC is pants. its made in china or korea. not exactly know for its suspension prowess.

they are cheap for a reason!

save some more pennies and go for German or UK.

[Jhonno]

BC is shite.. As above.

[DasChin]

i went for Gaz Gold pro kit. mainly due to budget.

if I had more $$ I would have gone AST or Intrax like Andrew and Johnno.

my car is track dedicated so I know it wont do too many miles so weighed this up against costs.. hard miles though

[Demlotcrew]

Why are BC so bad?

[Demlotcrew]

Bump, why are BC so bad?

[steve_k]

I had FK koeniggsport coilovers on my E30 for nearly 5yr's & had no prob's with them except for a broken spring.

also they are based on Koni's so they are fairly easy to get rebuilt (bout £50 - £100 a side without springs IIRC).

it's all down to budget though.

nearly forgot to add that they were only coilovers on the front with spring's/dampers on the rear & they cost me nearly £1K at the time.

[DasChin]

quality issues andrew. cheap parts and finish it seems.

like all things you get what you pay for really.

[Demlotcrew]

Thanks Nick,

On the face of it, they seem really good value for money! Never heard anyone use them of course.

Andrew

[e21Jason]

I got BC's after a set of gaz, cheaper and came with decent top mounts. Look more like Tien items as they use a universal coilver which is threaded in to specific bottom mount section I think that's how they keep the cost down, as the coil-over unit is mass produced.

Also the finish on my BC's have lasted longer than the finish on GAZ.

Tien
HSD
BC

All seem to use the same bits, and given I went from a set of GAZ Golds to BC's no noticeable difference in handling and cost 3/5's the price. And if you order from the UK web site you can spec what ever spring rate you want.

[rix313]

Who is it on here running Intrax?

[Jhonno]

Me.