Shockworks Coilovers - Installation, Impressions & Pics

[k31th]

Of course anything to excess will cause problems for the relevant application. As you just pointed out, race cars have a massively stiff suspension in comparison to road cars, hence "too much stiffness" for a road car is almost never going to happen, as even reaching V8 supercar level of stiffness will not be compromising handling.

[ratter]

too stiff and too low all compromise suspension which affects traction, a smooth road surface can afford a stiffer suspension set up but will hurt straight line traction, anything with the possibility of bumps etc needs softer suspension to keep the tyres on the ground

[tburke]

The operative word was "too".

[Bomber]

They look like a good bit of gear. Thought I'd finished the car...maybe not

[Bomber]

The kings and Monroe GT sports are ok but ride is a little choppy. 30 series rear rubber probably not helping ride but the rear springs don't feel that tight actually.

Being the fussy *beep* I am, the fronts vary by about 5mm and am running at 345mm ish hub to guard. Was thinking of going the XYZ coil overs in the fronts and leave the rear but run like koni reds. That or maybe bite the bullet and do this kit.

[furiousgibbon]

Of course anything to excess will cause problems for the relevant application. As you just pointed out, race cars have a massively stiff suspension in comparison to road cars, hence "too much stiffness" for a road car is almost never going to happen, as even reaching V8 supercar level of stiffness will not be compromising handling.

I was having this discussion with a friend the other night, one of his mates in the UK works in the industry, so we asked for his advice. The question was: with coilovers + semi slicks would there be any improvement with ARBs, but the question is basically 'is there such a thing as too stiff' (ahem):

Road tyres depend on vertical load to generate grip, and stiffer bars / less roll means less weight transfer to the outer loaded wheel which means less vertical load and less grip.

Yes you'd see that at its worst in slow wet corners.

Increased head toss with stiffer bars isn't uncommon.

Optimum grip is balancing the grip from the tyre induced by the roll of the car, with the grip provided by the contact patch of the tyre being reduced due to roll induced loss of camber relative to the road surface such that overall grip reduces.

Simply, lots of roll means the tyre rolls onto the shoulder and reduces contact patch on the tarmac. Not much roll keeps a good contact patch but there's less vertical load generating grip at that contact patch.

Race tyres don't rely on vertical load so race cars run much stiffer.

Hence it depends on the tyre

A little hard to read but in his defense he replied to the question in about 20 seconds. My interpretation is yes there is such a thing as too stiff, as lateral force against the contact patch will increase but the tyre won't be forced into the ground by weight, so the tyre will slip.

Edited 04/08/14 10:55 AM by furiousgibbon

[ratter]

to cut that short, you need the weight to move where you want it to be.

[k31th]

practically all of his response can be counteracted with camber on the front tyres (like you see all of the time on v8 supercars); you don't need much grip on the front end in straight lines, only when weighted under breaking, therefore the large camber allows the contact patch to grab onto the road when going hard around corners on the weighted tyre.

[ratter]

and wear tyres out rather quickly, most road car owners would complain if their tyres lasted 200 klms or less

[k31th]

Agreed. Thought we were talking about race cars though...