Coil-Over Comparisons
- Thread starter flyingwil
- Start date
mountainpete
Spamicus Eliminatus
Rumor has it that All-Pro will be letting customers select from a range of lb ratings on their coils to accomidate for heavier front ends... Not sure where I heard that but it may have been in 4WD Toyota Owner mag.
Bergger
Explorer
mountainpete said:
I ended up buying some SAWs (2.0) about 1 1/2 ago and prior to that had talked to All-Pro about thier coils. At that time they told me you could get it with a variety of spring rates so I imagine you still can. While I love my SAWs, they are a bit stiff on the slow rocky trails that I normally do and when driving around town at lower speeds, 675lbs springs. Since I don't do a lot of high speed stuff I'd like to get something closer to 600lbs. Heck I may even give up my coils and try an OME set up. I hear they do much better in slow applications. Downside is they do worse when blowing down those wash board roads. It's always a tough decision.
devinsixtyseven
Explorer
interesting to see this thread here.
there are several very good threads, all on other forums unfortunately, where donahoe and swayaway actually have a long, drawn out discussion on the pros and cons of their coilover designs.
the basic bottom line is as seth_js already put it...the d/r coilover is probably the best quality, but the saw is the best deal for your $$$.
also, when you get in to rebuildable, adjustable coilovers, they are all very similar inside...whether it's bilstein, king, donahoe, swayaway, fox, kuster, or someone building a coilover to fabtech, allpro, camburg, etc's specifications which is then badged by that reseller with credit given to the manufacturer, except possibly in the case of the fabtech dirt logic c/o which i think is made by fox but not labeled/advertised as such.
it's actually pretty interesting how related all those designs are, because the designers and machinists all worked for one or the other company at one time or another, and switched companies, started their own brand, split, merged, etc...
so really what you're getting now is customer service and minor design changes. saw and donahoe both have excellent customer service and are very, very involved in the forums frequented by the average joe...not necessarily so the other brands. any of the manufacturers could easily, accidentally or intentionally, duplicate the internal functionality of another's coilover, so what you're really discussing is the factory spring rating and valving on the most common offering. offhand i'd say it would be better to get a set of c/o from a reputable reseller who's chosen near-ideal valving than buy a standard c/o off the shelf, for instance the "standard" saw coilover vs the camburg spec. theyre both saw, but one is more closely spec'd to your vehicle. donahoe is the same way, and either manufacturer can build you whatever you need...bypasses, remote reservoirs, longer or shorter shafts, etc...
i have heard of good and bad customer service on king, never heard anything about bilstein's c/s, heard mixed stories about fabtech's quality, and only heard/experienced good customer service and quality with saw and donahoe.
-sean
there are several very good threads, all on other forums unfortunately, where donahoe and swayaway actually have a long, drawn out discussion on the pros and cons of their coilover designs.
the basic bottom line is as seth_js already put it...the d/r coilover is probably the best quality, but the saw is the best deal for your $$$.
also, when you get in to rebuildable, adjustable coilovers, they are all very similar inside...whether it's bilstein, king, donahoe, swayaway, fox, kuster, or someone building a coilover to fabtech, allpro, camburg, etc's specifications which is then badged by that reseller with credit given to the manufacturer, except possibly in the case of the fabtech dirt logic c/o which i think is made by fox but not labeled/advertised as such.
it's actually pretty interesting how related all those designs are, because the designers and machinists all worked for one or the other company at one time or another, and switched companies, started their own brand, split, merged, etc...
so really what you're getting now is customer service and minor design changes. saw and donahoe both have excellent customer service and are very, very involved in the forums frequented by the average joe...not necessarily so the other brands. any of the manufacturers could easily, accidentally or intentionally, duplicate the internal functionality of another's coilover, so what you're really discussing is the factory spring rating and valving on the most common offering. offhand i'd say it would be better to get a set of c/o from a reputable reseller who's chosen near-ideal valving than buy a standard c/o off the shelf, for instance the "standard" saw coilover vs the camburg spec. theyre both saw, but one is more closely spec'd to your vehicle. donahoe is the same way, and either manufacturer can build you whatever you need...bypasses, remote reservoirs, longer or shorter shafts, etc...
i have heard of good and bad customer service on king, never heard anything about bilstein's c/s, heard mixed stories about fabtech's quality, and only heard/experienced good customer service and quality with saw and donahoe.
-sean
Ric
Adventurer
heres another option http://www.toyteclifts.com/spacersoffroad.htm
Clutch
<---Pass
I have been running my Camburgs for 2 years now, without any problems. I thought the install was a snap too. :sombrero: The faster you go the better they are.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2560567870093498191AmFsze
The Taco now has Goodyear MTRs now on it too...soo much better than my old BFGs, smoother ride, less noise, way better traction! Night and day difference.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2560567870093498191AmFsze
The Taco now has Goodyear MTRs now on it too...soo much better than my old BFGs, smoother ride, less noise, way better traction! Night and day difference.
Dave Bennett
Adventurist
asteffes said:
They sure do! Hmmmm...
viter
Adventurer
light racing coilovers are built by donahoe racing, while the donahoe racing bump stops that are about to come out are built by light racing (who introduced these bump stops to the market). the donahoe bump stops will be physically just like jounce light racing bump stops, but valved specifically for donahoe coilovers. this info from is posted on TTORA by donahoe racing themselves.
devinsixtyseven
Explorer
poly bump stops are just chunks of bouncy stuff 
.
these bump stops are air bumps, sort of a second shock absorber set up to stop travel where you need to, but with a rising rate (air) spring so you dont get the harsh stop at full compression as you do with a rubber or poly bump stop. i could get close to 12" of ifs travel if i added an air bump instead of the low-profile poly bump stops i'm using now, and the full compression hit would be much, much softer.
-sean
.these bump stops are air bumps, sort of a second shock absorber set up to stop travel where you need to, but with a rising rate (air) spring so you dont get the harsh stop at full compression as you do with a rubber or poly bump stop. i could get close to 12" of ifs travel if i added an air bump instead of the low-profile poly bump stops i'm using now, and the full compression hit would be much, much softer.
-sean