Coilover preloading...
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From: Virgnia
Coilover preloading...
I just installed a set of BC coilovers today, and was curious about the reasoning behind preloading. Before I installed them, I noticed that there wasn't much tension on the spring itself. I could(not easily) spin the spring around. I know if I were to raise the upper perch, it would put more tension on the spring.
Are there any benefits to putting more preload on the spring, or is that just asking for trouble? I've done plenty of reading through the forums and I can't seem to find the right answer. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Are there any benefits to putting more preload on the spring, or is that just asking for trouble? I've done plenty of reading through the forums and I can't seem to find the right answer. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
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From: orlando,fl
Originally Posted by way2low01,Jun 27 2009, 01:55 PM
I really think preload on a linear spring does nothing. I may be wrong. I just snug up the spring enough to where their is no play up and down and I can still spin it on the perch.
Thats what i did! If u preload the spring it should make the ride stiffer but i wouldnt mess with it. Just keep the spring snug.
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Preload is very important to have in coilover setups. On my coilovers, I previously had very little preload and the ride was not very pleasant. I found out later that it was because the damper was bottoming out and causing a jolting feeling when riding over bumps.
The dampers that come with the coilover setups have a limited amount of travel. Lets say for example it's got 2 inches.
If you DON'T preload the spring, when you drop the car down and load the springs, the car's weight will cause the damper to be compressed significantly. Lets say it moves up 1.5 inches. In most cases, it usually doesn't leave enough bound travel and will cause the car to ride rough because it will bottom out once in a while. In the example, it would only leave 0.5 inches for bound travel. That makes bottoming out the dampers a very likely occurrence.
If you DO preload the spring, when you drop the car down, the dampers will compress a smaller amount. Say if you preload the spring by 0.5", then when the weight of the car is put on the coilovers, the suspension will move up 1". That translates to it taking up less of your bound travel and preventing your car from bottoming out the damper. In the example, it would now leave 1" of bound travel.
Usually people like to setup the preload such that it as a bit more bound travel than rebound. So if the travel is 2 inches, then it might be split so that you have 1.2 inches bound and 0.8 inches rebound.
The dampers that come with the coilover setups have a limited amount of travel. Lets say for example it's got 2 inches.
If you DON'T preload the spring, when you drop the car down and load the springs, the car's weight will cause the damper to be compressed significantly. Lets say it moves up 1.5 inches. In most cases, it usually doesn't leave enough bound travel and will cause the car to ride rough because it will bottom out once in a while. In the example, it would only leave 0.5 inches for bound travel. That makes bottoming out the dampers a very likely occurrence.
If you DO preload the spring, when you drop the car down, the dampers will compress a smaller amount. Say if you preload the spring by 0.5", then when the weight of the car is put on the coilovers, the suspension will move up 1". That translates to it taking up less of your bound travel and preventing your car from bottoming out the damper. In the example, it would now leave 1" of bound travel.
Usually people like to setup the preload such that it as a bit more bound travel than rebound. So if the travel is 2 inches, then it might be split so that you have 1.2 inches bound and 0.8 inches rebound.
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Originally Posted by ronac,Jun 27 2009, 08:34 PM
Preload is very important to have in coilover setups. On my coilovers, I previously had very little preload and the ride was not very pleasant. I found out later that it was because the damper was bottoming out and causing a jolting feeling when riding over bumps.
The dampers that come with the coilover setups have a limited amount of travel. Lets say for example it's got 2 inches.
If you DON'T preload the spring, when you drop the car down and load the springs, the car's weight will cause the damper to be compressed significantly. Lets say it moves up 1.5 inches. In most cases, it usually doesn't leave enough bound travel and will cause the car to ride rough because it will bottom out once in a while. In the example, it would only leave 0.5 inches for bound travel. That makes bottoming out the dampers a very likely occurrence.
If you DO preload the spring, when you drop the car down, the dampers will compress a smaller amount. Say if you preload the spring by 0.5", then when the weight of the car is put on the coilovers, the suspension will move up 1". That translates to it taking up less of your bound travel and preventing your car from bottoming out the damper. In the example, it would now leave 1" of bound travel.
Usually people like to setup the preload such that it as a bit more bound travel than rebound. So if the travel is 2 inches, then it might be split so that you have 1.2 inches bound and 0.8 inches rebound.
The dampers that come with the coilover setups have a limited amount of travel. Lets say for example it's got 2 inches.
If you DON'T preload the spring, when you drop the car down and load the springs, the car's weight will cause the damper to be compressed significantly. Lets say it moves up 1.5 inches. In most cases, it usually doesn't leave enough bound travel and will cause the car to ride rough because it will bottom out once in a while. In the example, it would only leave 0.5 inches for bound travel. That makes bottoming out the dampers a very likely occurrence.
If you DO preload the spring, when you drop the car down, the dampers will compress a smaller amount. Say if you preload the spring by 0.5", then when the weight of the car is put on the coilovers, the suspension will move up 1". That translates to it taking up less of your bound travel and preventing your car from bottoming out the damper. In the example, it would now leave 1" of bound travel.
Usually people like to setup the preload such that it as a bit more bound travel than rebound. So if the travel is 2 inches, then it might be split so that you have 1.2 inches bound and 0.8 inches rebound.
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