How to Choose Coilovers for Your Ride

High-quality coilovers could be the game-changer you need when upgrading your car’s suspension. After all, the right coilover setup can help you chase sharper cornering and achieve a sleeker, more race-appropriate stance. You can also get a more comfortable sprint to the checkered flag.

Professional tuners value coilovers on a car as precision tools that balance performance and aesthetics. Like everything else, not all kits are the same. Picking the wrong one can throw off your car’s suspension geometry and compromise track performance.

That’s why we’ve tapped into expert motorsport insights to break down critical suspension dynamics. Read our tips on how to choose coilovers. These will help you shave lap times, improve cornering precision, and deliver track-proven results for your motorsport build.

What Are Coilovers? The Basics You Need to Know

Coilovers are suspension upgrades deeply rooted in motorsports. They merge the spring and damper into a single, performance-focused assembly.

Traditional setups separate the damper and spring. Meanwhile, car coilover systems are recognized for their adjustability and precision dampening. This unique design makes coilovers the top choice for drivers who demand performance on the street and the track.

Coilovers allow you to control how your car behaves under pressure, whether you’re into timed attacks, autocross, or sprints.

So, how can you distinguish a coilover?

• They have an integrated design (the spring and shock are housed together to ensure a more responsive suspension setup).

• They have adjustable height. You can set your ideal ride height without undermining suspension geometry or control.

• They allow for damping adjustments. Many coilover kits allow you to tune them for compression and rebound. These adjustments are critical for managing grip and weight transfer during hard cornering or braking.

• Coilovers are ready for any track. They reduce body roll while improving feedback. They also support aggressive driving styles.

Learning how to choose coilovers starts with understanding your driving goals, including how each feature translates to real-world performance.

Why Upgrade? Coilovers vs. Stock Suspension

Factory suspension systems are built with comfort and mass production in mind, not performance. Stock setups are great for daily commuting. Unfortunately, they can’t match the precision and responsiveness needed for motorsport or spirited driving. That’s why professional race teams always upgrade to coilovers.

High-quality coilovers on a car can enhance its dynamic capabilities. You’ll instantly notice sharper cornering. Body roll might not bother you anymore. More importantly, coilovers can improve weight transfer.

These attributes allow your race car to maintain exceptional grip through high-speed turns or rapid braking zones. 

Stock suspension often aren’t adjustable (like a ‘one-size-fits-all’ component). On the other hand, coilovers let you customize the setup to your driving style and surface conditions.

Here’s why coilovers are a serious upgrade.

• Improved handling – These upgrades are ideal for autocross, track days, or high-performance road use.

• Custom ride height – You can lower your car to improve center of gravity and reduce drag.

• Adjustable damping – You can fine-tune coilovers to match how stiff or soft your ride feels. Everything depends on track layout or weather.

• Greater feedback – Get a better sense of road surface and vehicle response. This is crucial for advanced driving.

Understanding how to choose coilovers requires considering what your car needs to perform at its best. If precision control, speed, and adaptability matter to you, then coilovers are more than just an upgrade. They are essential.

Spring Rates – Find the Right Stiffness Level

Dialing in your car coilover setup for motorsport use requires getting the spring rates right. Ordinary individuals consider spring rate as the spring’s stiffness (how much force you must apply to compress the spring by a certain distance). 

Spring rate directly affects how your car handles bumps. It also influences cornering loads and weight transfer. 

Racers know that springs with the right stiffness reduce body roll while improving vehicle responsiveness. These characteristics help you stay planted through sharp turns and high-speed maneuvers. 

You risk losing traction on uneven surfaces if your springs are too stiff. Your suspension fails to absorb bumps effectively. If your springs are too soft, you might feel your car too unstable under load. You might even notice it being sluggish at the track.

Here’s how to think about spring rates in performance builds.

• High spring rates – Ideal for smooth track surfaces where maximum stability and fast transitions are vital.

• Moderate spring rates – Balances control with comfort. It’s suitable for track-day cars that also see street use.

• Matched damping – Your shock absorbers must be tuned to match the spring rate for optimal performance and ride quality.

The key to learning how to choose coilovers is to find the right combination of spring rate and damping. They must match your car’s weight and intended use. Moreover, they should be in tune with your driving style. 

The right spring rate is crucial in ensuring your car handles well even under extreme pressure. You’ll feel more confident and consistent when pushing your car across laps.

Upper Mounts – Pick Rubber or Pillow-Ball Type

The type of upper mount (also called strut mount or top mount) is crucial in how your suspension performs and feels. It’s a vital consideration when installing coilovers on a car, especially if you’re concerned about your car’s handling precision, noise, and driving comfort.

Upper mounts come in two types.

Rubber Mounts 

These mounts reduce road noise and absorb vibrations. Hence, they are suitable for street-driven builds or dual-purpose cars where comfort still matters. 

Please note that rubber introduces some flex. It can slightly reduce steering precision and feedback, making this upper mount type less ideal on the track.

Pillow-ball Mounts

These mounts are also known as spherical bearings. Pillow-ball mounts directly (and solidly) connect the car’s suspension dampers to the chassis. 

This setup eliminates play while delivering sharper response. More importantly, it ensures a more accurate alignment under load. 

Pillow-ball mounts transmit more noise and vibration into the cabin than rubber mounts. However, their performance benefits are undeniable for motorsport-focused builds.

Choosing the right upper mount requires considering your vehicle’s intended use. For track-dedicated machines, pillow-ball mounts offer the control and feedback required to push limits. If your car sees regular street use, rubber mounts might be the more livable choice, unless you’re ready to trade comfort for full precision.

Budget vs. Quality – Don’t Compromise Performance

Getting what you paid for holds true in the world of performance suspension. Although it’s tempting to cut costs with a budget car coilover kit, doing so can compromise more than just lap times. It can affect handling stability and component longevity. More importantly, it can undermine driver safety.

Budget coilovers often lack proper engineering. Many use lower-grade materials, while some offer limited or poorly tuned adjustability. 

These coilovers might be passable for everyday roads and ordinary driving. However, if you’re chasing a podium finish, budget-friendly options aren’t always reliable. They can perform miserably or even wear out prematurely. After all, your car’s suspension is constantly under stress in motorsport conditions.

On the other hand, reputable coilover brands invest in years-long R&D. They also adhere to precision manufacturing and race-proven technology. These kits are designed for repeatable performance while ensuring consistent damping. They guarantee proper alignment control. These are critical factors when you're pushing on technical and demanding tracks.

Here’s what you can get for using high-quality coilovers.

• Superior materials 

• Excellent corrosion resistance

• Properly matched spring and damper rates

• Reliable adjustability for ride height, rebound, and compression

• Better long-term value 

• More extensive component rebuild options

Learning how to choose coilovers often requires considering costs relative to your performance goals. If motorsport is on your agenda (even occasionally), investing in a high-quality kit is essential. After all, your suspension isn’t just about how your car looks. It’s also about how it handles under pressure.

Where to Buy – Trusted Coilovers in the UAE

Your suspension needs more than just adjustability if you’re after motorsport-grade handling. It needs proven performance. That’s why choosing the right supplier for your coilover kit is critical.

ATOMIC-SHOP offers a handpicked selection of coilovers built for motorsports (including circuit and track use, drift setups, time attack, and more). Our kits come from leading performance brands known for precision engineering, durability, and real-world motorsport results.

You can tune your car for grip, balance, or sharp cornering response. Our coilovers deliver the control and feedback that competitive driving demands. We don’t carry cheap imitations, only genuine, high-performance gear made to handle the pressure.

So, why should you choose ATOMIC-SHOP?

• Motorsport-ready coilovers from top brands

• Expert advice and product support

• Fast, secure shipping across the UAE

Install coilovers on a car the right way, with parts you can trust. Explore our full collection here. 

Make a Smart Suspension Choice

While most car owners consider coilovers a means for lowering their ride, passionate motorsport professionals view coilovers as a precision tool for unlocking their car’s full handling potential. 

These race-inspired upgrades are full adjustable. They also offer exceptional control for fine-tuning your suspension geometry. It improves cornering grip and maintains stability under high load. 

Good-quality coilovers deliver performance on every apex, braking zone, and straightaway, whether it’s for track days or competitive racing.

Investing in the right coilover setup means sharper response. You’ll get better weight transfer. More importantly, you’ll benefit from a suspension system built to handle the demands of motorsport. 

So, make the smart choice. Equip your car with coilovers designed to compete. Buy or order them at ATOMIC-SHOP today.