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When people say that coilovers are soft...



Daz.

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio 200 RS EDC
Like say k-tecs for example are reported to be soft, are we talking softer than standard shocks springs? softer than sportlines? or just soft compared to harder coilovers?

Just curious!

I'd go a little harder than sportlines but not by much, mind you I really couldn't tell the difference between standard and sportlines if I'm honest!
 
Just had my FK Silverlines fitted to my non-sport today. Had the sportlines on before on standard dampers. I found them to be quite crashy and were unpleasent to live with at times. The coilies have more of a bounce and run pretty smooth. Im yet to had a play with my front dampers as these are adjustable softer/firmer.
 

DrR

ClioSport Club Member
  VW Golf GTD
I've heard people say V-maxx are soft, i found them rock hardc ompared to standard, if thats any help
 
I've had two sets of coilovers, my second second set weren't as hard (fk highsports) and more comfortable, my others ultimate coilies were rock hard. Also noticed my tires make a huge difference, stretched tires destroy ride comfort. ;)

And tbh I can't imagine any coilover setup to be softer than the standard shocks and springs.
 
  tiTTy & SV650
Its the quality of the dampers which defines the ride quality, H&R's were always reknowned to have a better ride quality than standard suspension. If you get coilovers which don't have adjustable damping then you're prob not bothered about ride comfort it's just about going low.

I have koni adjustables and sportlines and tbh it's transformed the car!
 
  ITB'd MK1
Its the quality of the dampers which defines the ride quality

THIS!!!!!

I've always been a big advocate of getting the damping right. Matching the correct damping to springs is a HUGE deal. I think the reason people find Apex springs so bad is that they're completely wrong for the standard dampers
 
  RS 182 CUP
I've got h and r's on my cup, it handles like a dream, not too rough or too soft, set at a decent ride height too. I really can't pick any fault with them if I tried
 
  ITB'd MK1
I quite like the ride on H&R's for the road (not right for track IMO) but i really dont like what i've seen happen several times with the dampers, which is a LOT of lateral wear in the pistons causing knocking
 

Daz.

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio 200 RS EDC
I keep seeing those AP and weitec ones doing the rounds, i'm guessing they won't be the same rated springs/dampers..

Too many choices! ap, weitec, fk's x2, H&R's to name a few!
 

Daz.

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio 200 RS EDC
I bought a rock hard car once and hated it, it lasted a couple of weeks till I could put it back to standard, was sooooo much better.
 
  Lionel Richie
But Fred, F1 cars don't roll much. Surely the same logic applies to my shopping trolley designed for housewives??

right, next time watch the slow mo's and tell me what part has the largest movement on the car, yes its the tyres, that's the main part of the suspension (in terms of F1 anyway)

speak to Ian, Abu Duabi, F1 finale, we're going
 
  TRACK CAR BREAKING
I have k-tec coiles on my 182 cup at the moment and they seem to be excepty what I like. Not to hard or soft but one side always seems to rub :-s.
I have had gas golds on my previous cars and there just way to hard for road use. Litterly you would be bumping up and down hitting your head on the roof!
 
Depends on the height of the Ktec's

I had mine silly low and it was alot stiffer than it is now raised up 10mm.

And today a few months on its stiffer than 172 cup standard setup, but not a great deal.
 
  Mk2 172
The dont roll due to the very low centre of gravity just like a porsche. The suspension on an F1 car is no rock hard as the car wouldnt beable to put the power on the road. Like fred sed alot is down to the tyres (my mate works for mercedes F1) Curtis was building coilovers for a caterham 7 R500 a few weeks back and was removing the bilsteins that were on it as the guy sed he couldnt get the power down properly and the car just felt too hard. He used a very soft spring rate on the AST's and the guy was absolutely amazed by how much better the car was. The guy owns AJEC racing
 
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Daz.

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio 200 RS EDC
See for me I'm not looking for anything 'better' than what I have, as I've always preffered the way a clio tips and rolls into a corner so to speak - so if I can get what I have now (ish) but with be able to adjust the height to suit what I need then i'll be happy.

If a set of k-tec or similar priced coilovers are just the same as what I have that will do for me, Theres no need for me to spend £800-1000 on some amazing setup for track work that will be wasted on me - although I wouldn't rule it out in the future... :)
 
  ITB'd MK1
See for me I'm not looking for anything 'better' than what I have, as I've always preffered the way a clio tips and rolls into a corner so to speak - so if I can get what I have now (ish) but with be able to adjust the height to suit what I need then i'll be happy.

If a set of k-tec or similar priced coilovers are just the same as what I have that will do for me, Theres no need for me to spend £800-1000 on some amazing setup for track work that will be wasted on me - although I wouldn't rule it out in the future... :)


In that case I think a set of Vmaxx coilovers would probably suit you really well. They're really quite compliant for the road
 


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