The Coilover Suspension: Lowering Made Easy
It is certainly no surprise that threads also play an important role in motorsport and tuning. But not only as fasteners! Today, we are focusing on a component on vehicles that has a moving thread: The coilover suspension.
Coilover suspensions were originally developed for the race track, but have long since arrived on the road for everyday use. Their main purpose is to lower the vehicle, but this is achieved more flexibly and with more comfort than with a normal sports suspension. In today's blog post, we explain why this is the case, how the coilover suspension works, and what the TÜV actually says about it.
What is a coilover suspension?
With a coilover suspension, you can flexibly adjust the ground clearance on your vehicle. With a little skill and expertise, you can even do this easily at home and by hand. Depending on the type and variant, there are also other adjustment options on the suspension. The coilover suspension therefore allows a higher degree of customization than conventional sports suspensions.
What role does the thread play?
The decisive feature of a coilover suspension is the thread. Of course, otherwise we wouldn't be so interested in it. It ensures that you can adjust the lowering of your vehicle practically "in the blink of an eye". Well, admittedly, it is a little more complicated. But first things first.
The thread ensures flexibility
The thread allows the rider to adjust the ride height individually. In most cases, this works via a ring that can be turned with a special tool supplied and thus set to the exact height required. Either a lock nut or a locking screw is used to ensure that it stays there and you do not have to reckon with a completely unexpected lowering while driving. Nevertheless, it is possible that the suspension will lower slightly after many years of use. Therefore, you should check the ground clearance from time to time to avoid being taken off the road.
Trapezoidal thread is the shape of choice
Incidentally, the trapezoidal thread is particularly suitable for a coilover suspension. Not only is it a classic movement thread that can boast a high load-bearing capacity thanks to its large cross-sectional area. It is also easy to adjust and is relatively insensitive to dirt. This last property in particular pays off if you want to readjust the coilover suspension after a long period of use!
How lowering with coilover suspension works
Of course, the coilover suspension must first be installed. If you do not have a lot of experience, it is best to have this first step carried out by a specialist. It must also always be clear which vehicles the suspension is suitable for - otherwise there will be trouble with the TÜV later on.
Once the suspension has been installed, you can actually carry out the lowering at home. However, it is not quite as quick and easy as it initially sounds. So if you were already looking forward to spontaneously adjusting the ground clearance of your car to your current mood every morning before you set off for work, then we have to temper your enthusiasm somewhat. At least with the manually adjustable coilovers, you won't want to carry out this complex procedure every day. However, the coilover suspension is ideal for adjusting the ride height when changing tires or for a tuning event.
First, you need to remove the wheel to gain access to the coilover suspension. You can now set the desired height using the two lock nuts. However, make absolutely sure that you stay within the permissible range here! Then screw the wheel back on and test the setting you have made. Make sure you do a test ride - the suspension needs a little time to settle. The distance is not right? Then take the wheel off again and readjust!
What types of coilover suspension are there?
Of course, there are now many different types of suspension on the market, from inexpensive entry-level models to real professional products. Which model is right for you depends primarily on what you use your vehicle for most.
Are you interested in looks and driving feel, but your vehicle is mostly used for everyday driving? Then a standard screw-in suspension that you can adjust by hand will suffice. Higher-priced models, on the other hand, offer even more adjustment options and increase performance and ride comfort by allowing you to flexibly change the rebound, for example.
And of course, there is also a luxury segment for coilovers, but it is really worthwhile, especially for professionals. You no longer have to do it yourself. Sensors measure factors such as road conditions and speed and then make the perfect settings electronically. All you have to do is press a button.
Does your vehicle need a coilover suspension?
If you are not interested in tuning your car anyway, then you can confidently do without the coilover suspension. For pure lowering, sports springs and sports suspensions often lead to the desired result.
The coilover suspension shows its strengths if you like to flexibly adjust everything on your car to your personal preferences. However, you should have a certain amount of experience in working on your own car. Because even if the coilover suspension can be adjusted by hand, there is a lot you can do wrong and then you will have to deal with unsatisfactory results.
Do you find threads just as fascinating as we do? Then take a look at the BAER online store. Although we don't have any coilovers on offer, we do have threading tools of every type, size, and quality. On our clearly laid out website, you will immediately find the categories you are looking for, and with just a few clicks, the tool you want will be in your shopping cart. Try it out - we look forward to seeing you!