What is the difference between a threaded spring kit and shock combo vs. and actual coilover set? Advantages, disadvantages?

The reason I ask is buying ground control and koni will be cheaper compared to buying the full coil over....so what advantages does it have over the other?

Tried searching, but cannot find a similar topic.


[Modified by ExAcc, 11:28 AM 10/2/2002]

 

it's all preference....i'm having a similar dilemma as yourself, can't decide if I want to go with teins, or a custom koni/GC set-up.

 

i'm going with the H&R full coilovers..

the good thing about a full coilover/threaded shock body is that the spring is matched with the shock in stiff-ness and height..

the good thing about a coilover sleeve is that you can swap springs to your preference and can change the spring rates when you want. but the shock you may have may not be able to work well with the spring you choose, plus more than likely, unless you specify, the shock will most of the time work also with OEM springs.. this means it won't work as well as a shock that was designed with a shorter-shaft..

 

Well, technically they are both full coilovers and both height adjustable. It basically boils down to $$$. Generally a shock/strut with threads cut in the shock body will generally be more expensive than taking an off the shelf Tokico/Koni/whatever and adding an adjustable height adapter kit with springs.

My humble oppinion is that the teins/etc are not worth the extra money for street or AX use and are not legal in several road racing classes.

The GC/Koni kit will be an excellent system and pretty cost effective.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

I was a bit confused when this guy told me that he adjusts the spring rate of his coil overs. I said you mean the damping? He said no, the spring rate, which is why he opted for the full coil over vs a custom GC/Koni set up.

Also, do you know why some coil overs have 2 springs, a small one and a big one? What are those for?

 

the small ones are the "helper" springs.. they should really only apply pressure and help to keep the main, Large spring, on the perches.. when the shock is fully lengthened when racing, like when you get a little "air" or something, the shock extends and without the helper spring the main spring can rattle around and get outta shape..

 

The true advantage of the "full coilover" like the Tien over the ground control sleeves is that the shock body itself is threaded rather than a sleeve that fits around the body. This does amazing things for improved shock cooling. If you look at true racing shock ads they make a big deal out of fully threaded shock bodies (the threading goes the whole length of the body) The threads seriously increase the surface area of the shock body and increase heat dissapation.

Now for street driving I would say that the extra cooling is unimportant. I would also say that its unimportant in an autocross situation where the shocks only get heated for 60 seconds at a time. But for road racing and especially off road the extra cooling is critical for good long-term shock performance.

If I were buying for the street I or autocross I would go with the GC Koni combo and invest the extra money in driving schools.

Regards,
Alan