Coilovers for Monaro
Discussion
Hi all,
My front shocks (along with the top mounts) are pretty tired, and I'm considering overhauling the full suspension. Coilovers seem to be a popular upgrade, but I'm unsure of their suitability for me - I've never had a car with coilover suspension, so it would be a first for me.
So, my questions are:
1) Is the ride on Pedders Supercar Coilovers a lot firmer than the Pedders Springs/dampers (that I currently have fitted).
2) Will I lose suspension travel/compliancy? I tend to drive at a decent lick on bumpy, undulating A and B roads, so need a set up that isn't too stiff. For reference, an example would be the type of driving on the national meets, on similar roads to what we covered in Scotland.
3) Is the damping superior on coilovers?
4) Are there any other suitable options open to me?
Essentially, I may be asking for the moon on a stick by wanting reasonable ride comfort, compliancy and good damping!
I hope what I'm asking is clear
Cheers
Mike
My front shocks (along with the top mounts) are pretty tired, and I'm considering overhauling the full suspension. Coilovers seem to be a popular upgrade, but I'm unsure of their suitability for me - I've never had a car with coilover suspension, so it would be a first for me.
So, my questions are:
1) Is the ride on Pedders Supercar Coilovers a lot firmer than the Pedders Springs/dampers (that I currently have fitted).
2) Will I lose suspension travel/compliancy? I tend to drive at a decent lick on bumpy, undulating A and B roads, so need a set up that isn't too stiff. For reference, an example would be the type of driving on the national meets, on similar roads to what we covered in Scotland.
3) Is the damping superior on coilovers?
4) Are there any other suitable options open to me?
Essentially, I may be asking for the moon on a stick by wanting reasonable ride comfort, compliancy and good damping!
I hope what I'm asking is clear
Cheers
Mike
Edited by mikeyb1987 on Friday 1st January 20:25
mikeyb1987 said:
Hi all,
My front shocks (along with the top mounts) are pretty tired, and I'm considering overhauling the full suspension. Coilovers seem to be a popular upgrade, but I'm unsure of their suitability for me - I've never had a car with coilover suspension, so it would be a first for me.
So, my questions are:
1) Is the ride on Pedders Supercar Coilovers a lot firmer than the Pedders Springs/dampers (that I currently have fitted).
2) Will I lose suspension travel/compliancy? I tend to drive at a decent lick on bumpy, undulating A and B roads, so need a set up that isn't too stiff. For reference, an example would be the type of driving on the national meets, on similar roads to what we covered in Scotland.
3) Is the damping superior on coilovers?
4) Are there any other suitable options open to me?
Essentially, I may be asking for the moon on a stick by wanting reasonable ride comfort, compliancy and good damping!
I hope what I'm asking is clear
Cheers
Mik
Here's an idea.My front shocks (along with the top mounts) are pretty tired, and I'm considering overhauling the full suspension. Coilovers seem to be a popular upgrade, but I'm unsure of their suitability for me - I've never had a car with coilover suspension, so it would be a first for me.
So, my questions are:
1) Is the ride on Pedders Supercar Coilovers a lot firmer than the Pedders Springs/dampers (that I currently have fitted).
2) Will I lose suspension travel/compliancy? I tend to drive at a decent lick on bumpy, undulating A and B roads, so need a set up that isn't too stiff. For reference, an example would be the type of driving on the national meets, on similar roads to what we covered in Scotland.
3) Is the damping superior on coilovers?
4) Are there any other suitable options open to me?
Essentially, I may be asking for the moon on a stick by wanting reasonable ride comfort, compliancy and good damping!
I hope what I'm asking is clear
Cheers
Mik
If your current setup works well, then why change to something else? Why not replace like, with like?
1/ Coilovers can be soft or firm. How many times have you thought it would be a good idea to change your settings? How many times would you of stopped, and changed the settings?
2/ No, you can always change the settings. How many times would you stop and change them though?
3/ The damping is on the shock absorber, not the spring. All can be built to how you want them.
4/ Yes. A new version of what you already have.
Over the years, I've found that coilovers are fine for the track (and pub talk) but I never did play with the settings, and they need more attention than conventional suspension. Three times I've spent money, and three times I wished I hadn't bothered. They creak when cold, and seem to wear out quicker.
Stick with the best conventional setup you can afford.
ARAF said:
mikeyb1987 said:
Hi all,
My front shocks (along with the top mounts) are pretty tired, and I'm considering overhauling the full suspension. Coilovers seem to be a popular upgrade, but I'm unsure of their suitability for me - I've never had a car with coilover suspension, so it would be a first for me.
So, my questions are:
1) Is the ride on Pedders Supercar Coilovers a lot firmer than the Pedders Springs/dampers (that I currently have fitted).
2) Will I lose suspension travel/compliancy? I tend to drive at a decent lick on bumpy, undulating A and B roads, so need a set up that isn't too stiff. For reference, an example would be the type of driving on the national meets, on similar roads to what we covered in Scotland.
3) Is the damping superior on coilovers?
4) Are there any other suitable options open to me?
Essentially, I may be asking for the moon on a stick by wanting reasonable ride comfort, compliancy and good damping!
I hope what I'm asking is clear
Cheers
Mik
Here's an idea.My front shocks (along with the top mounts) are pretty tired, and I'm considering overhauling the full suspension. Coilovers seem to be a popular upgrade, but I'm unsure of their suitability for me - I've never had a car with coilover suspension, so it would be a first for me.
So, my questions are:
1) Is the ride on Pedders Supercar Coilovers a lot firmer than the Pedders Springs/dampers (that I currently have fitted).
2) Will I lose suspension travel/compliancy? I tend to drive at a decent lick on bumpy, undulating A and B roads, so need a set up that isn't too stiff. For reference, an example would be the type of driving on the national meets, on similar roads to what we covered in Scotland.
3) Is the damping superior on coilovers?
4) Are there any other suitable options open to me?
Essentially, I may be asking for the moon on a stick by wanting reasonable ride comfort, compliancy and good damping!
I hope what I'm asking is clear
Cheers
Mik
If your current setup works well, then why change to something else? Why not replace like, with like?
1/ Coilovers can be soft or firm. How many times have you thought it would be a good idea to change your settings? How many times would you of stopped, and changed the settings?
2/ No, you can always change the settings. How many times would you stop and change them though?
3/ The damping is on the shock absorber, not the spring. All can be built to how you want them.
4/ Yes. A new version of what you already have.
Over the years, I've found that coilovers are fine for the track (and pub talk) but I never did play with the settings, and they need more attention than conventional suspension. Three times I've spent money, and three times I wished I hadn't bothered. They creak when cold, and seem to wear out quicker.
Stick with the best conventional setup you can afford.
tty roads, I eventually came to realise that they are awesome 3% of the time but are just annoying the rest of the time.The lesson I learned was that for a track/weekend car it's awesome, but for one car that I go everywhere and do everything in it was a step too far.
I have a set of Pedders Xtreme A Coilovers on my Monaro which I bought from Monkfish, they really improved the car handling with 30 settings from soft to hard. Worth every penny in getting the car to turn like she is on rails. I'd also recommend the road response pack from Monkfish too.
Yanayaya said:
I have a set of Pedders Xtreme A Coilovers on my Monaro which I bought from Monkfish, they really improved the car handling with 30 settings from soft to hard. Worth every penny in getting the car to turn like she is on rails. I'd also recommend the road response pack from Monkfish too.
How many of the 30 settings have you used?Yanayaya said:
ARAF said:
How many of the 30 settings have you used?
Most of them tbh, it depends what I'm doing. Heading out for a hoon and they are turned to hard, day to day I just run them about 10 clicks from soft. Interesting that you set to hard for a fun run. I would have thought that would only be any good on tracks or motorways - or maybe that's where you hoon? And I guess that clicks 1-9 are also redundant?Interesting thoughts guys, cheers
It sounds like a refresh of my current set up would be the best plan. Ie: not go down the coilover route.
Gary, I couldn't find a Bilstein kit that fits the VZ Monaro. Same for Penske kits too. I did see mention of KYB and Koni dampers, so will have a look at them.
It sounds like a refresh of my current set up would be the best plan. Ie: not go down the coilover route.
Gary, I couldn't find a Bilstein kit that fits the VZ Monaro. Same for Penske kits too. I did see mention of KYB and Koni dampers, so will have a look at them.
mikeyb1987 said:
Interesting thoughts guys, cheers
It sounds like a refresh of my current set up would be the best plan. Ie: not go down the coilover route.
Gary, I couldn't find a Bilstein kit that fits the VZ Monaro. Same for Penske kits too. I did see mention of KYB and Koni dampers, so will have a look at them.
KW are a well thought of supplier, and make suspension for Monaros, but Monkfish think that the springs are too hard.It sounds like a refresh of my current set up would be the best plan. Ie: not go down the coilover route.
Gary, I couldn't find a Bilstein kit that fits the VZ Monaro. Same for Penske kits too. I did see mention of KYB and Koni dampers, so will have a look at them.
I had the Pedders Xtreme coilovers on my last Monaro VZ CV8 and loved the set up, handled really well. Did I play with the settings not really once I had it set how I liked it I left it alone.
The reason I went with coilovers was I could set the ride height where I wanted it as I wanted slightly lower the pedders shocks and springs but the ultra low was to low, also price difference there was not a lot between them when you factor in top mounts which come with the coilovers.
The reason I went with coilovers was I could set the ride height where I wanted it as I wanted slightly lower the pedders shocks and springs but the ultra low was to low, also price difference there was not a lot between them when you factor in top mounts which come with the coilovers.
Edited by BlueDevil on Saturday 2nd January 17:03
BlueDevil said:
I had the Pedders Xtreme coilovers on my last Monaro VZ CV8 and loved the set up, handled really well. Did I play with the settings not really once I had it set how I liked it I left it alone.
The reason I went with coilovers was I could set the ride height where I wanted it as I wanted slightly lower the pedders shocks and springs but the ultra low was to low, also price difference there was not a lot between them when you factor in top mounts which come with the coilovers.
That's a good point actually- MF noted there was some play in the top mounts....The reason I went with coilovers was I could set the ride height where I wanted it as I wanted slightly lower the pedders shocks and springs but the ultra low was to low, also price difference there was not a lot between them when you factor in top mounts which come with the coilovers.
Edited by BlueDevil on Saturday 2nd January 17:03
Ian- I stumbled across the KW V3 kit, so it's a shame the spring rate is high on them (I've read excellent things about KW suspension).
mikeyb1987 said:
That's a good point actually- MF noted there was some play in the top mounts....
Ian- I stumbled across the KW V3 kit, so it's a shame the spring rate is high on them (I've read excellent things about KW suspension).
Yes, by the time you factor in new springs, it's a lot more money.Ian- I stumbled across the KW V3 kit, so it's a shame the spring rate is high on them (I've read excellent things about KW suspension).
I had them on one of my BMWs and they always suffered from the coils binding. Not a nice noise, every time your turning. I sold the car to Liam, and a front shock blew (presumably due to taking to many kerbs between us, over a few years on track) and KW were happy just to sell him one replacement shock.
ARAF said:
Yes, by the time you factor in new springs, it's a lot more money.
I had them on one of my BMWs and they always suffered from the coils binding. Not a nice noise, every time your turning. I sold the car to Liam, and a front shock blew (presumably due to taking to many kerbs between us, over a few years on track) and KW were happy just to sell him one replacement shock.
kW are very good they use stainless bodies on the shocks which cures the corrosion issue other brands haveI had them on one of my BMWs and they always suffered from the coils binding. Not a nice noise, every time your turning. I sold the car to Liam, and a front shock blew (presumably due to taking to many kerbs between us, over a few years on track) and KW were happy just to sell him one replacement shock.
They will supply with softer springs on request & I have found them very helpful in the past
neiljohnson said:
ARAF said:
Yes, by the time you factor in new springs, it's a lot more money.
I had them on one of my BMWs and they always suffered from the coils binding. Not a nice noise, every time your turning. I sold the car to Liam, and a front shock blew (presumably due to taking to many kerbs between us, over a few years on track) and KW were happy just to sell him one replacement shock.
kW are very good they use stainless bodies on the shocks which cures the corrosion issue other brands haveI had them on one of my BMWs and they always suffered from the coils binding. Not a nice noise, every time your turning. I sold the car to Liam, and a front shock blew (presumably due to taking to many kerbs between us, over a few years on track) and KW were happy just to sell him one replacement shock.
They will supply with softer springs on request & I have found them very helpful in the past
mikeyb1987 said:
BlueDevil said:
I had the Pedders Xtreme coilovers on my last Monaro VZ CV8 and loved the set up, handled really well. Did I play with the settings not really once I had it set how I liked it I left it alone.
The reason I went with coilovers was I could set the ride height where I wanted it as I wanted slightly lower the pedders shocks and springs but the ultra low was to low, also price difference there was not a lot between them when you factor in top mounts which come with the coilovers.
That's a good point actually- MF noted there was some play in the top mounts....The reason I went with coilovers was I could set the ride height where I wanted it as I wanted slightly lower the pedders shocks and springs but the ultra low was to low, also price difference there was not a lot between them when you factor in top mounts which come with the coilovers.
Edited by BlueDevil on Saturday 2nd January 17:03
Ian- I stumbled across the KW V3 kit, so it's a shame the spring rate is high on them (I've read excellent things about KW suspension).
The KW had the best ride, even on mega low setting
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