Coilovers vs Shocks: comfort?

[tasty_kebab]

I have searched the forums but cant get a definitive answer for this. Do coilovers offer a more comfortable ride than shocks? Now I realize that different shocks will give different ride qualities; the shocks/springs I was considering was Eibach. Any opinions on ride quality compared to coilovers? (whichever ones you have fitted?)

 

[Poverty]

I thought coilovers made the ride more harsh but drastically improved handling?

 

[rashcupra]

mine does both i think my standard suspension was a lot worse handling a comfort wise im dead happy with my coilovers! set of spacers is a must on the rear

 

[tasty_kebab]

Rash, when u said that spacers on the rear were a must, did u mean looks-wise or techinical-wise?

Im gonna phone a few places for quotes on coilovers and shocks today at some point.

 

[EdButler]

Rash, when u said that spacers on the rear were a must, did u mean looks-wise or techinical-wise?

Im gonna phone a few places for quotes on coilovers and shocks today at some point.

He meant both mate - trust me theyre worth every penny!

 

[Poverty]

Can anyone explain what the spacers are required for?

 

[andycupra]

dont think they are 'needed' like with some aplications, eg to clear brakes etc.
its simpy to widen the track. the rear end on an ibiza is slightly too narrow compared to the front for nice handling.

 

[air121005]

the rear track width on an ibiza is 10mm narrower than the front.

add the spacers = increasing the rear track = better stability, handling etc etc etc

i believe badger5 are the most competitive for price and only supply quality kits!

not your cheap as chips kack of ebay

 

[Ad Lav]

Coilovers and spacers on mine, FK supplied both

 

[Poverty]

So I should stick some 10mm spacers on my ibiza then even though its at the moment on stock suspension and alloys for better handling?

 

[Ad Lav]

I have 20mm on the rear, you won't really notice 10mm that much

 

[Poverty]

Is the handling difference really noticeable then? How do the characteristics change?

 

[tasty_kebab]

Eibach do 16mm spacers, would that be effective enough do you think? Funny you should mention the dodgy rear handling, My 1.2 has been doing that alot recently, the only time it dosnt fidget above 70mph is when the boot is filled to the brim!

Breaks my heart when a Chav edition Nova zips past me without wallowing around!

 

[rashcupra]

get the full 20mm each side gives it a wide stance look wise from behind & it fills the arches out! as when slammed the rear wheel is lost in the deep arches!!! but the spacers bring the wheels right to the egde and also make it look lower! and what a diffrence handling wise it made definatly worth the £80 make sure you get hubcentric 1's as the floating 1's are dodgey!! longer wheel bolts are needed too remember!

 

[bizzaboy]

@ tasty kebab...
A decent set of Coilovers will be fully adjustable...
This means you can adjust the Ride height (Lowering), and Rebound (Softness/Bounce over bumps etc).

Therefore you can customize the suspension setup to your exact preferences.

Regarding Spacers...
I was told that Spacers are not a good idea, as they will never be perfectly mated to the rear of your Alloy wheels.
Therefore, when/if you hit a pot-hole hard for example, you can knock the Spacer off centre to the wheel, which can actually make the wheel not run true!

Am also tempted by Spacers, but still looking into the options out there.
Is it really true that the Front wheels (as factory), are set wider than the rear!?

 

[rashcupra]

yes i belive they are set 10mm narrower at the rear than the front iirc

and for your question on spacers you buy hubcentric ones they smack onto your wheel hub and are dead central all the time and will keep the wheel evenly ballanced always! the floating ones your thinking of are a bad idea!

 

[bizzaboy]

Hi Rash, thankyou for that info - wonder why they configured the rear with 10mm less track than the front!? Interesting.

Will look into the Hubcentric spacers - sound like the perfect answer to combat this problem with the old skool spacers! Sure I've seen a few Threads recently discussing these Hubcentric's.

Cheers again mate.

 

[davels]

yup a good set of hubcentrics from badger5 or similar will be fine the build in flange keeps it compleately central at all times

 

[Poverty]

wonder why they configured the rear with 10mm less track than the front!? Interesting.

Its because VAG are not as good as people would like to think when it comes to chassies. Its only recently with their newest models that VAG have started making near class leading chassies, namely audi.

Still love my VAG cars to bits though

 

[Kev@K-Sport]

@ tasty kebab...
A decent set of Coilovers will be fully adjustable...
This means you can adjust the Ride height (Lowering), and Rebound (Softness/Bounce over bumps etc).

Therefore you can customize the suspension setup to your exact preferences.

You should also be able to specify them with spring rates to suit your needs, road/comfort or track/handling.