Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

[Horse Power]

I was just wondering who makes the best coil over shocks and why you think so. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to them? I have seen RPM advertise a kit that includes all you need. Anybody tried them? Thank you.

 

[jwaller]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

the "best" coilover will depend on application, inteneded use, and valving installed. I would put money on the fact that most syty owners will never even come close to being able to test the limits of their shocks as most of us dont autocross or road race. drag racing and street driving are kind of a joke when it come to testing the limits of a shock. that being said you will prob get 10 different opinions on who thins what is best. prob depends on who's sellin it and or where they got it.

rpm's kit is nice and so is the one offered through turbotime(by JS). both kits come with all you need.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

As for shocks, you going to want one that incorporate 2 1/4" spring. I have had 3 of the 4 suspension in my hands and have installed two them, I like JS Manufacturing's best (and that is what is installed on my truck). I have the QA1's, I am sure it probably isn't the best shock, but right now the front suspension clearly is being held back the stock rear suspension.

 

[JSM]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

When I had to decide what shock to design the kit around the QA1 was picked not as I thought it was the BEST shock, but a good compromise for price, etc.

Sure you can get a Bilstein, etc for double the money. I didn't feel most would want to spend the extra for the little bit of additional performance gains. With that said Bilstein probably makes a shock that would bolt in if someone did want to go that route.

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

I went with penske remotes #1 weight they weigh nothing, # 2 they are completely rebuildable, I can buy any part of the shcok #3 performance ive neven been happier with a shock and ive had these on everything from dirt bikes to dune buggys. #4 They are custom valved and speced for me and the passanger sitting in the truck. if you search you can find them pretty resonable since they banned them from nascar you can get them from the teams used for a fraction of the new price and have them serviced

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

With that said Bilstein probably makes a shock that would bolt in if someone did want to go that route.

I wouldn't use the Bilsteins that PEP used, because they can't accomadate 2.25" springs (body too big) and they are 3" longer than QA1's. The additional lengh makes them hard to make adjustment (spring has to be de compressed every time) and they also tend to split the balljoint boots, because of that length. They also are a super real PIA to compress and decompress the springs because the thread portion in sleeve that slips over the body. I actually converted a PEP suspension from Bilstein to QA1's because of the above issues and the 2.5" spring made clearances too tight.

 

[DanenGraham]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

I have the RPM coil overs on my truck, they look great and im sure they will work even better. To bad the truck isnt moving...

On a side note, RPM now has spacers (on the web site) that say to make it more stockish ride height. I thought i spent 1500 for an adujustable to stock ride hieght. So its kind of got me wondering as my truck is slammed in the front, and there isnt a whole lot more room to rasie it up....

 

[JSM]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

I have not had to use any spacers of any kind on my design.

I am guessing it is either due to a change in spring rate or the lower mounting point.

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

The Bilstein/Hyperco setup have superior dampening properties compared to QA1, but it is true that the front kit is a PITA to work with.


I just ordered the matching rear kit for my custom 3 link road racing suspension which should be done by this Wednesday or so.

There are several high quality manufacturer's like Ohlins, ProFlex, JRZ, Moton, Penske, Bilstein, DMS, Koni, Zeal and a few others I forgot to mention.

I've been told to stay with a monotube design. Also, the larger the piston diameter in the shock, usually means more effective spring dampening.

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

I have the RPM coil overs on my truck, they look great and im sure they will work even better. To bad the truck isnt moving...

On a side note, RPM now has spacers (on the web site) that say to make it more stockish ride height. I thought i spent 1500 for an adujustable to stock ride hieght. So its kind of got me wondering as my truck is slammed in the front, and there isnt a whole lot more room to rasie it up....

I had the same issue, spacers are on the way and hopefully that gets the front up high enough so see how it handles. I have the QA1's but I may save up for the Bilsteins as everything I've read about the QA1's says they are a drag shock, not a race shock.

I know spring rate isn't the issue, when I spoke to Mike about it he specifically mentioned that plenty of people are using the same 600# spring on the JS kits and having no problems with ride height like those of us with the RPM kit are so it has to be either a lower mounting point or maybe the shock angle is slacker?

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

The Bilstein/Hyperco setup have superior dampening properties compared to QA1, but it is true that the front kit is a PITA to work with.


I just ordered the matching rear kit for my custom 3 link road racing suspension which should be done by this Wednesday or so.

There are several high quality manufacturer's like Ohlins, ProFlex, JRZ, Moton, Penske, Bilstein, DMS, Koni, Zeal and a few others I forgot to mention.

I've been told to stay with a monotube design. Also, the larger the piston diameter in the shock, usually means more effective spring dampening.

How much is that custom rear end setting you back? Will the company making it be able to make another one easily in the future now that they've done it? If it works out well for you I'd consider going that route over the winter.

 

[ghettosled]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

if anyone using the RPM kit is unhappy with the lowered ride height, let me know and we'll hook you up with a free set of the 1" billet spacers to lift the front end. Unfortunately nobody makes a 10" spring in 2.25 id" You'll definately need a spring compressor to install them due to the new longer overall length of the spring..

The shock mounting locations are obviously different b/t kits. We designed ours so the coil over could be installed properly which appears to lower the vehicle slightly more then the other kits.

But to answer the original question it all depends on what you are trying to do with the vehicle and what your knowledge of chassis suspension is. A double adjustable shock would be nice if you know how to make adjustments and set it up to benefit you at different venues.

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

That's one of the things that's disappointing me about the options I've seen recommended so far, the QA1's don't have separate rebound and compression adustability, and the Bilsteins come with no adjustability. While they can come from the factory set up well, anyone who thinks they can come from the factory ideally setup for all circumstances and tracks doesn't know much about suspension.

Any decent shocks out there with good damping AND good adjustability that don't cost a thousand bucks a corner?

 

[JSM]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

QA1 does have a double adjustable shock now. It is pricey but they do have one to adjust both bump and rebound.

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

QA1 does have a double adjustable shock now. It is pricey but they do have one to adjust both bump and rebound.

You beat me to it.....I visited thier booth at the PRI show last year, and saw those. Cool shiot for sure.

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

That's strange, I wonder why the hell they didn't tell me about it? I was just on the phone with their tech support two days go discussing shock options and they told me they had the single adjustable street shocks and then they had non adjustable race shocks which had higher quality damping but were only adjutable by them during a rebuild.

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

How much is that custom rear end setting you back? Will the company making it be able to make another one easily in the future now that they've done it? If it works out well for you I'd consider going that route over the winter.

The fabrication cost me around $2200 not including coilovers.

There was a lot of custom work especially getting everything packaged well. I won't be an easy installation as there was some intricate modification of brackets, bump stops, supports etc.

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

That's one of the things that's disappointing me about the options I've seen recommended so far, the QA1's don't have separate rebound and compression adustability, and the Bilsteins come with no adjustability. While they can come from the factory set up well, anyone who thinks they can come from the factory ideally setup for all circumstances and tracks doesn't know much about suspension.

Any decent shocks out there with good damping AND good adjustability that don't cost a thousand bucks a corner?

Actually, the Bilsteins are adjustable, just internally adjustable. Bilstein set my shocks to 70/30 compression/rebound.

The big disadvantage is the shocks can't be adjusted on the car at the track. Best case scenario is you have to pull the shocks and revalve them on work bench in the race trailer at the track.

Advantage is the cost is much less than externally 2/3/4 way quality shocks.

Since, I'm not going to be drastically changing the setup of my Sy from track, once I get the suspenson dialed in, I'm going to leave it alone.

 

[schavez]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

Mike,
what size of springs come with the RPM coil over kit
9"??
rate?

 

[ghettosled]

Re: Who makes the best Coil Over shocks? Why?

yes it is a 600 lb, 9" spring with a 1" spacer to make it 10" overall for closer to stock ride height.. Unfortunately hypercoil does not make a 10" spring with a 2.25" ID.