Suspension Types and Aftermarket Solutions

Coilovers are another type of suspension spring. The difference is that coilovers fit over shocks. The advantage ofcoilovers is that some are adjustable, meaning you can change the ride height of your car. The exact method of adjustment for coilovers varies from brand to brand.

Full bodied coilovers come already fitted over shocks, meaning you install the whole unit on your car. If you want to keep your car’s stock shocks, you can opt for sleeve type coilovers that are springs that literally just fit over the car’s existing shocks. There are a number of coilover models on the market, each with their own set of advantages. They include Skunk 2 Pro S, Blackworks, Drop Engineering, BLOX, Megan Racing, TEIN, Yonaka, etc.

Dampeners are the shock absorbers on a car’s suspension. Without shock absorbers the springs on your car’s suspension would bounce up and down at an uncontrolled rate, making for a bump and highly unpredictable ride. Dampening technology transfers the energy from the car suspension’s springs and transfers it into heat energy that goes into the shock absorbers’ fluid.

Different shock absorbers come with their own rebound rates, or how much they allow the vehicle’s wheels and body to travel up and down. Some aftermarket shock absorbers are adjustable, meaning you can set the rebound rate.

The advantage of modern shock absorbers is that they are sensitive to velocity. This means instead of always providing the same rebound rate, resistance from the shock absorbers actually increase the faster the car’s suspension moves. This is especially helpful on extremely rough terrain like washed-out roads, allowing the car’s suspension to adjust accordingly.

Older shock absorbers perform poorly in such scenarios, which is why cars outfitted with them hop and start to lose control if they attempt driving on too rough of surfaces.

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