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DIY coilovers?
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:08 pm
by v840
Ok, I saw this on another board and wondered if anyone has built their own coilovers on the cheap and dirty? With the increasing availability of coils to suit such as QA1 etc. it seems like a great way to get CO's under your rig.
Anyone know if there is a kit being offered anywhere, I checked the usual US sites but couldn't find anything? Doesn't look too hard to fab yourself either.
sorry to take so long but i broke my camera , excuse the poor quality these were taken off my video .
these are the components to the coilover.
close up of the sleeve , top cap and joint . on the first photo you can see the top of the shock has been cut off and a bolt welded in place to accept the joint .
here you can see the sleeve fitted to the shock , it slides over and has a stop fitted to the top to stop it dropping down any further .
once the sleeve is on the coil ( 65 mm ) slides on , a washer sits on top of the shock shaft , the cap sits down on this , then the joint screws on to secure the whole lot , with the 990012 shock i am using 150lb 350mm long coils , these are wired to the top cap , on full droop the bottom of the coil rides up the shock but doesn't past the end of the sleeve . hope this helps with cheap coilover construction . adjustable valving , adjustable ride height and coil weight .
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:13 pm
by nastytroll
I have seen shocks break ends off with out being load bearing. I would not like to put any faith in this set up. It could be done in a similar fasion but in a more structural way.
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:36 pm
by v840
How so?
Not being a dick, seriously interested in the tech behind this.
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:55 pm
by nastytroll
most shocks have a shit welded eye, some have only 3 tacks holding them on. Also consider the fact you will have all your weight on a small urethane bush. The bush will not last long and will probably split and fall out if the eye does not fail or break off first.
Have a look at King or Fox coil overs and it may make some more sense.
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:27 pm
by AFeral
Why would you want too ??? is the first question. FOA coil overs can be purchased reasonable cheaply would offer far better dampening, with the abbilty to valve to suit the 4by. Plus the are made for the job, not just a cheap bodge job. Would you trust a these shocks hitting a washout at speed. No thanks !
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:57 pm
by joeblow
nastytroll wrote:I have seen shocks break ends off with out being load bearing. I would not like to put any faith in this set up. It could be done in a similar fasion but in a more structural way.
X2.
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:09 pm
by berad
In my experience, these diy kits are designed for mcpherson strut kind of setups not shocks like that. where they retain the tophat & strength but with adj height and spring rate obviously.
No way would i trust that sh!ty eye or pin.
http://www.newtiburon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=594
And no that is not my car haha. Pimp my ride
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:16 pm
by berad
AFeral wrote:Why would you want too ??? is the first question. FOA coil overs can be purchased reasonable cheaply would offer far better dampening, with the abbilty to valve to suit the 4by. Plus the are made for the job, not just a cheap bodge job. Would you trust a these shocks hitting a washout at speed. No thanks !
Sure this may not be a good example, but if everyone just bought everything off the shelf and never thought outside the box to do something themselves, the world would be a pretty boring place.
Coilovers reasonably priced, yes for how they perform and the adjustability, but for the average person/weekend warrior or the person not willing to spend 5k and up no they are not.
^
$2500 (edit)
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:01 pm
by bazooked
you wont spend 5k and up for a good set of coil overs, like mentioned earlier u can have a set of foa coilovers for half that
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:12 pm
by berad
Well then, im off to the shop
.
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:09 pm
by Gutless
I have a set of 4 new fox 16" 2.0 coilovers with remote res' that I want gone.
$1600 and I'm in brisbane. PM me
Re: DIY coilovers?
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:11 pm
by shakes
v840 wrote:Ok, I saw this on another board and wondered if anyone has built their own coilovers on the cheap and dirty? With the increasing availability of coils to suit such as QA1 etc. it seems like a great way to get CO's under your rig.
Anyone know if there is a kit being offered anywhere, I checked the usual US sites but couldn't find anything? Doesn't look too hard to fab yourself either.
few company's do kits but mostly car specific. I'd only trust the machperson strut where the shock is an insert but not integral to the strut. Not super scientific but after alot of track days in 2 different cars we have no signs of failure