Coilover Question (Differences)

[NoHachi]

Apolan Wrote:When going combined at the rear, some reinforcments are required for the upper strut mount (possibly also the bottom), because now the load is not taken directly from the axle to the oem chassis spring mounting place, which is reinforced, but instead it is delivered on that litle perch of the axle to the quite weak shock upper mount. And besides that, i think because of the geometry change, the axle might get twist-back-force everytime its under load, putting more stress on the entire rear ensemble.

Ah, but the shock is there to dampen de movements of the body/suspension under influence of forces (inc spring). You are suggesting that externally mounted springs reduce the forces that the damper handles..I don't see how that could happen?
Actually, I think that the forces involved with and without coilovers are roughly the same.. You could even argue that a large part of the forces from the spring are absorbed directly by the shock and don't need to travel through the body to reach the shock. That would reduce the loads...hmm

The urban legend (it does sound plausible/logical after all) has been around for quite a while. But untill I see a torn shockmount (on a picture or the rear of my coilover equipped car) I wouldn't worry one second.

The part about the twistback force I don't understand.