Suspension Tuning: Coilovers

The basic rule of preload is don't get too caught up in it.

Here's some info tha I've found very helpful:

http://corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21140&highlight=spring+preload <---Excellent discussion

http://forums.corner-carvers.com/showthread.php?t=1993 <<---General suspension tunung

http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_9510_tech/ <--yes, its a bike, but physics is physics.


Icehawk from M.net seems to have done the most research on the Flexes.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/165576 <---Page 16

I'm not saying there is no such thing as preload. I'm just saying that there are soooo many mroe things that make a larger difference to worry about first.

damping curves
spring rate
bump vs rebound
tire choice
tire pressure
front end ride hieght
rear ride hieght
aligment
areo work
suspension travel
sway bar stiffness
diff settings

all of these matter more than preload. If you get all of these right, then maybe that is what is holding you back.

In my experience, tuning suspension isn't something you can learn from a book. Its about the feel of the car and understandign what changes effect how it behaves.

PreLoad is defintely not the main point I'm aiming at. It was merely an example, to get more depth than just the basics. I get what you guys mean, and on a level I want to learn everything suspension related, but I just don't have the time or resources

I've got the books coming soon, and I'll be reading up on those when not by a computer.

I purchased the Tein Flex on a review basis, much by what has been stated here (Also the good deal I got on them ) :mrgreen:

DRFT MX5: I'll definitely contact you for the information you mentioned.

Thank you all for your detailed replies, I have a much better scope of the things I need to look into.

Anthony

Dlad you got what you are looking for.

I know this wasn't your question, but here is a little more background on where all the JDM hype on preload comes from:

In japan, there is a "road legal law" which states that at full droop, the spring can not become unseated. There are 2 ways to address this: adding helper springs, or adding just a tad of preload. Most cheap(er) coilovers manufactures chose the more cost effective route and started to add preload. At time attack style events, there were a couple cars that inspite of the reduced travel from preload layed down some impressive numbers. Thus the hype was born.

If your springs are linear, which 99% of coilover springs are, preload does not effect spring rates at all. The only thing it does is reduce your droop travel and limit wheel motion. On an EXTREMELY smooth track, you can tune this to be very fast (but unforgiving). However, I haven't been on a track in the US that this would apply to, and it definately doesn't apply to street driven cars.

So there you go. A slightly longer explination than "its marketing hype". Now maybe you can see why the false concepts exist.

Matt