When it comes to modifying a car, either for power gains, handling improvements, practical reasons or styling changes, there’s often two choices. Do it right. Or do it cheap. This article won’t tell you how to do it right. But it will tell you why you shouldn’t do it cheap. This week we’re exploring the dark world of suspension clamps.
When someone in a Mid-West auto parts store first explained to me many years ago what these were, I thought it was a joke. Surely nobody, no matter how desperate they were to achieve that oh-so-desired lowered stance, would resort to putting what amount to glorified u-bolts around their coil springs in order to crush them into submission.
But apparently there’s enough people out there willing to decimate their car’s ride quality and handling characteristics, to warrant turning what should have been a moron’s delusional idea, into an off-the-shelf product.
Now clearly the price of a full set of Eibach adjustable coilovers is vastly more expensive than a $9.99 set of suspension clamps. But perhaps there’s a reason for that. Properly set up coilovers can do wonders for a car’s handling. Suspension clamps – no matter what your buddy tells you – will do nothing to improve the driving experience. In fact quite the reverse. It’ll throw the damping and rebound rates into turmoil – giving you unpredictable handling at best, make you the joke of the day every time it’s in the shop, and also cause other suspension components to wear out prematurely.
If after that short ‘n sweet explanation you still want to fit them, go ahead, you’re beyond help. Otherwise leave your poor car alone, or save up and do it right.
In the States of Oregon and Washington in the USA, these are illegal.