Honda Car Forum

difference between.....? I need to know the difference between coilover springs and just regular lowering springs because I want to drop this Ac because it is severely in need of some cosmetics what is the difference between coilovers and regular lowering springs? Does my car need both or just one? Which is better?

coil over has the shocks inside the springs...it comes with both shocks and springs...regular springs come only with springs....get the coil over...thats all you need

coilovers are adjustable without switching springs. while lowering springs are set to lower to only a certain amount

Actually the first guy is part way correct. There are 2 types of coilovers. 1. the FULL coilover which is by far superior than any other option out there. You can take out the whole factory strut/spring assembly and just replace the whole unit. while it is the most costly it will give you just as good if not better ride quality than your factory suspension (no bouncing). This unit is also height adjustable to your liking without compressing the strut so if your car is 8" off the ground or 1" off the ground the ride will be the same 2. the "sleeve" kit. these are simply sleeves you put over your factory struts and can raise up and down using wrenches. while it is more cost effective, if you lower your car more than 1" your struts will pay the price in a few weeks. it compresses it beyond it's dampning capabilities and will eventually bust. Not to mention that when you are driving it will feel like you are in a horse and buggy from all the bouncing. Now onto the springs. The lowering spring is the cheapest way to go, again unless you replace the factory struts with lowering struts you will be buying struts in a few weeks due to compressing the strut to its limits. The ride is just as bad with MOST springs as the coilover sleeves due to the compression thing again. Now lets look at prices. A full coilover set will run anywhere from $500-$1,400 depending on brand. A sleeve kit will be anywhere from $50-$100 plus you will be buying struts every few months($90 each) Springs from $30-$100 again with the buying new struts every few months. then the lowered struts are around $300. The BEST is a full coilover suspension for ease of install, take the whole factory unit out and replace with new. and ride comfort, you wouldnt be able to tell you are cruising 1" above the ground.

A coilover is an automobile suspension device, short for "coil (spring) over strut". It consists of a shock absorber (British: damper) with a coil spring (British: helical spring) encircling it. The shock absorber and spring are preassembled as a unit prior to installation, and are replaced as a unit when the shock absorber has leaked. This provides for optimal damping without torsional loads. Some coilovers are adjustable for ride height and hardness as well using a simple threaded spring perch similar to a nut.The coilover is a basic component of the MacPherson strut suspension system, which is distinguished from other arrangements by employing a particular design of anti-roll bar as a longitudinal constraint. This was the first widespread use of the coilover in automobile suspensions. But there are other designs; the word coilover should not be considered a synonym for the MacPherson strut arrangement.Coilovers should not be confused with struts or independently mounted shock absorbers.Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilover"