Difference btwn coilovers and shock absorbers

[AusI]

i know this might be a pretty stupid question to alot of peole .. but i dont know alot and i know alot of people here have an immense amount of knowledge .. so ya .. can aneone explain the difference between normal shock absorbers and coilovers ... and wat are the advantages and disadvantages of coilovers over shock absorbers ..

[displacement_on_demand]

There is no difference... coilovers and shock absorber (damper) are both part of one suspension.

Its like asking what's the difference between an engine and trasmission?

both engine and transmission are components of car...

Hope this explains... if not I'll have to write a lot more.. which I tend to avoid...

[buddyspec2]

coil over has the shocks inside the springs...it comes with both shocks and springs...regular springs come only with springs....get the coil over...thats all you need

[trueno]

There are 2 types of coilovers. 1. the FULL coilover which is by far superior than any other option out there. You can take out the whole factory strut/spring assembly and just replace the whole unit. while it is the most costly it will give you just as good if not better ride quality than your factory suspension (no bouncing). This unit is also height adjustable to your liking without compressing the strut so if your car is 8" off the ground or 1" off the ground the ride will be the same 2. the "sleeve" kit. these are simply sleeves you put over your factory struts and can raise up and down using wrenches. while it is more cost effective, if you lower your car more than 1" your struts will pay the price in a few weeks. it compresses it beyond it's dampning capabilities and will eventually bust. Not to mention that when you are driving it will feel like you are in a horse and buggy from all the bouncing. Now onto the springs. The lowering spring is the cheapest way to go, again unless you replace the factory struts with lowering struts you will be buying struts in a few weeks due to compressing the strut to its limits. The ride is just as bad with MOST springs as the coilover sleeves due to the compression thing again. Now lets look at prices. A full coilover set will run anywhere from $500-$1,400 depending on brand. A sleeve kit will be anywhere from $50-$100 plus you will be buying struts every few months($90 each) Springs from $30-$100 again with the buying new struts every few months. then the lowered struts are around $300. The BEST is a full coilover suspension for ease of install, take the whole factory unit out and replace with new. and ride comfort, you wouldnt be able to tell you are cruising 1" above the ground.

[the_kid]

A coilover is an automobile suspension device, short for "coil (spring) over strut". It consists of a shock absorber (British: damper) with a coil spring (British: helical spring) encircling it. The shock absorber and spring are preassembled as a unit prior to installation, and are replaced as a unit when the shock absorber has leaked. This provides for optimal damping without torsional loads. Some coilovers are adjustable for ride height and hardness as well using a simple threaded spring perch similar to a nut.The coilover is a basic component of the MacPherson strut suspension system, which is distinguished from other arrangements by employing a particular design of anti-roll bar as a longitudinal constraint. This was the first widespread use of the coilover in automobile suspensions. But there are other designs; the word coilover should not be considered a synonym for the MacPherson strut arrangement.Coilovers should not be confused with struts or independently mounted shock absorbers.Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilover"

[AusI]

@displacement_on_demand

thank u ... bt if u could explain it in detail i would highly appreciate that ..

@ trueno

i think i gt abt the coilovers .. jus wonderin wat the dif is ... is it jus the shock absorber with the coil spring ... ?

@the_kid

i think that was frm wikipedia ... read tht bt was still a bit unclear .. thts why i asked ... bt thanks fr the effort .. appreciate it