Suspension Basics

Many customers ask about how suspension works and on what basis MeisterR chooses the design for each vehicle application. Below is some basic suspension information that MeisterR use when deciding the design for each application. If you cannot find what you are looking for below, please feel free to contact us

Many people install coilover suspension looking to enhance their vehicle’s looks and performance. While there are many different parts that make up a suspension system, the heart of the suspension is the springs and the dampers. So what exactly does a spring or a damper do? Well, at the most basic level springs control the amount the suspension moves up and down. The dampers control the speed at which the suspension moves. In driving terms, the springs control the amount of body roll, squat, and dive the vehicle has, and the dampers control the speed of those movements. The combination of spring rate and damping force are what determines the performance and ride quality of the suspension.

Springs and Dampers Functions

Many people install coilover suspension looking to enhance their vehicle’s looks and performance. While there are many different parts that make up a suspension system, the heart of the suspension is the springs and the dampers. So what exactly does a spring or a damper do? Well, at the most basic level springs control the amount the suspension moves up and down. The dampers control the speed at which the suspension moves. In driving terms, the springs control the amount of body roll, squat, and dive the vehicle has, and the dampers control the speed of those movements. The combination of spring rate and damping force are what determines the performance and ride quality of the suspension.

Type of Springs

There are two basic types of springs, linear and progressive. A linear spring is one which has a fixed spring rate. This means the amount of weight needed to compress the spring a certain amount does not change with the load. A progressive spring is one in which the spring rate changes depending on the amount of load placed on the spring, therefore the actual spring rate is not a fixed number.

Characteristics of Linear Springs

The main advantage of linear springs is consistency in the way that the weight transfer from one side of the car to the other side should be very smooth and consistent. This makes the car’s dynamics much easier to predict as the driver can anticipate weight transfer and body roll more accurately. When exiting a corner, a linear spring will settle the car’s body in a smooth manner because both sides of the car are compressing and rebounding at the same rate (1 mm of compression to 1 mm of rebound). This is a great advantage and allows for more confident use of weight transfer because the driver will not experience unpredictable weight shifts.

Characteristics of Progressive Springs

Progressive springs differ from linear springs in that the rate of compression is not constant. When exiting a corner, a progressive spring will send the compressed force from outside of the car to the inside. Since the spring rate is not constant from side to side, the spring on the inside of the car will compress from the force absorbed. It will then send the compressed force back to the outside. This happens back and forth as the car slowly settles down. This excessive body roll requires more attention to control effectively. In winding road driving, progressive springs make steering more complex and demanding when compared to what linear springs would produce.

MeisterR use linear springs on our coilovers to provide more consistent dynamic control and inspire greater driver confidence.

Type of Dampers

There are many types of damper designs. The most common two types that you will see are mono tube and twin tube gas filled dampers.

Characteristics of Mono Tube Dampers

Mono tube damper01Mono tube dampers use a single outer tube. The oil and nitrogen gas inside are separated by a free piston. Mono tube dampers use much higher gas pressure than twin tube dampers to better stabilise the oil inside under extreme usage. The advantages of the mono tube design are larger internal parts, which mean greater damping force, increased oil capacity, improved heat dissipation, and the ability to function when inverted. Mono tube dampers are found in some OEM vehicle applications, mainly higher end performance vehicles such as EVO MR, WRX STi, Porsche, etc.

 

Characteristics of Twin Tube Dampers

Twin tube damper01Twin tube damper use an inner and outer tube which separate the oil and gas inside the damper. The smaller inner tube houses the piston shaft assembly, base valve, and oil. The outer tube contains both nitrogen gas and the damper oil. Twin tube dampers are the most commonly used type of dampers by OEM and aftermarket manufacture as they are the cheapest damper to make. However, twin tube dampers do not perform as well as mono tube dampers as the oil heats up and destabilises under extreme usage.

 

MeisterR use mono tube dampers on all our coilovers to provide quality and stable performance whether you are looking for a sporty drive down winding roads or pushing for the limit on the tracks.