Whether you're daily driving, tracking your car, or dialing in a drift build, the word coilovers probably comes up in every suspension conversation. But what are coilovers really offering over stock suspension? Let’s dig deep into the pros, cons, and design logic behind coilover systems — and why they’re often the first serious upgrade in any performance build.
What Are Coilovers?
Coilovers — short for "coil spring over shock" — combine a spring and shock absorber into one compact, adjustable unit. Compared to traditional struts and springs, coilovers allow much finer control of ride height, damping, rebound, and preload.
Benefits of Coilovers Over Stock Suspension
- Height Adjustability: Easily lower or raise your car with threaded body or perch adjustments.
- Improved Handling: Stiffer spring rates and tuned dampers reduce body roll and increase grip in corners.
- Track Readiness: Coilovers allow corner balancing and dialing in weight distribution for drift or circuit use.
- More Predictable Feel: Especially important in drifting, where weight transfer and balance are everything.
- Camber/Caster Plates: Many coilover kits include adjustable top mounts to correct geometry.
Coilover Construction Breakdown
Most performance coilovers consist of these main parts:
- Spring: Controls ride stiffness. Can be linear or progressive.
- Shock Body: Gas or oil-filled, controls compression/rebound speed.
- Adjuster Collars: Let you tune height and preload.
- Top Hat: Sometimes comes with spherical bearing mounts or camber plates.
Common Coilover Myths Debunked
“Coilovers ruin ride quality.”
This depends on spring rate and damping. High-quality coilovers actually improve comfort by reducing bounce and correcting geometry. Cheap ones, on the other hand, can feel harsh or inconsistent.
“You only need them if you're slamming your car.”
False. Even at OEM ride height, coilovers give more control and allow alignment corrections critical for both drift and grip builds.
“They’re hard to maintain.”
Most modern coilovers are designed to last and can be rebuilt. Periodic cleaning and correct preload settings go a long way.
Who Should Buy Coilovers?
- Drifters: Maximize side-to-side control, reduce weight shift lag, and maintain consistent transitions.
- Circuit Racers: Fine-tune rebound and compression for corner entry stability and traction out of turns.
- Daily Drivers: Better road feel and longevity than lowering springs — with a more serious aesthetic.
How to Choose the Right Coilovers
Key things to look for in a quality coilover setup:
- Spring rate match to vehicle weight and use case
- Adjustable damping (at least 12–30 levels)
- Camber-adjustable top mounts
- Rebuildable shocks with available replacement parts
- Brand reputation (avoid eBay knockoffs)
Want to Learn More?
If you’re still trying to understand how coilovers work in real-world applications, our main article walks you through the full system design and real driver feedback:
Read: What Are Coilovers? The Ultimate Guide to Coilover Suspension →
Conclusion
Whether you're chasing better lap times, faster transitions, or just want your ride to feel planted and sharp — coilovers are the key. But not all coilovers are equal. Do your research, choose smart, and set them up correctly to unlock the full potential of your chassis.
