Any modification to a car's suspension setup is a serious decision. Changing the stock suspension can change the way your car behaves. A bolt-on solution is an aftermarket set of adjustable shocks that replace the standard shock and spring system. This more advanced suspension system allows adjustment of ride height and damping, among other fine-tuning; this results in less body roll, a better ride and smoother corner transitions.
The first part of choosing a set of suspension is figuring out how and where you're going to drive. Are you looking for a system for street use, or for a high-performance driving experience and track days? Time trials, drifts, and drag racing all benefit from different components. Manufacturers may offer unique systems for several of the areas listed, or they may offer a single product for one of the driving modes mentioned.
As always, when you're considering making any changes to your suspension, the first thing to consider is the tires, as they are the vehicle's only direct connection to the road. In fact, the suspension package you choose should be tuned for the type of tires you will be using. For example, the street suspension takes full advantage of ultra-high-performance summer tires. High-performance suspension designed for track use is better suited to slick or DOT-R tires, and tends to ride a little tighter than most people will feel comfortable riding on the street.
For track days, a set of moderately priced shocks combined with a large-diameter anti-roll bar with adjustable linkage is a good place to start. As you learn the characteristics of the car lap after lap on the track, you can start making adjustments - one at a time - to optimize the settings for your car, tires and driving style.
Why Coilovers Are an Improvement on Springs and Shock Absorbers
The separate springs and dampers or struts used in building a vehicle are a compromise of several factors, primarily responsiveness and ride comfort. The more luxurious the car, the better the springs and dampers can be adapted for ride comfort. On vehicles with a performance suspension package, the opposite is true.
With the exception of a few cases where a complete track kit is an available OEM option, the stock suspension components are not suitable for circuit driving or even canyon carving. While the simple upgrade of replacing struts and lowering springs provides a significant upgrade over stock and in many cases is a good starting point for everyday drivers to start performance driving, they lack some important features inherent in aftermarket shock setups.
Metaauto offers a wide range of high quality shock springs, shock dampers and complete shock suspension packages, offering the widest online selection of suspension components for your car, truck or SUV. It may take a while to make a decision, but always remember that the "best suspension" is the one that fits your specific driving plans.
