Okay, so here‘s the issue. I bought a used car and I really loved. The thing is, the car is lowered. I guess the previous owner thought that was cool. But sadly it‘s not because every time I go over a speed bump, the parts underneath my car scrape against that speed bump. Anyways, so I wanna go about changing that problem. I was wondering what the difference between coilovers, shocks, springs, and struts are.
Hey man, it's alright. Riding a bike is nothing like driving a car. A bike makes you use your entire body while still having to focus on the road and everyone/everything around you. Some people catch on really quickly and others need more time. Those guys with experience on bikes are just there to get a break on their insurance or to get a motorcycle license without taking the riding test (and taking advantage of the insurance break). My advice to you is to keep at it. The more you practice, the better you'll get. Eventually it will all become natural.
I'm a motorcycle instructor; I've been teaching the course snce 2004, and riding since '74 or '75. I would suggest that you take the course a second time. If you don't succeed the second time, then you're probably not a good candidate for what is, after all, a risky hobby. Bear in mind that the standard for the test is VERY LOW. I often fear for the well-being of students who pass! Quite a few students pass, while I feel that their skill level is insufficient to keep them out of trouble on public roads. So if you can't cross that hurdle, you're better off staying away from motorcycles. IMHO
Dont let it get you down. theres a lot of good advice given on this story here. Ill add that the MSF course is not designed to teach you how to ride from scratch, so you were at a disadvantage and in all reality at a class you should not have been at yet. the parking lot idea is what you should do. once you learn the basics, then up the anty a little to some low traffic roads. get with another rider to help you learn. its just a new thing for you and you may just be a slower learner, but doesnt mean that riding is not for you. Riding is not for you if you decide that its not for you, and only then!!.
A strut is a combination of the coil spring, shock absorber, the upper control arm, all wrapped-up in one unit. A coil-over is a shock absorber with the coil spring wrapped around it, with both the shock the spring using the same top mounting point the same lower point. You can't really compare coil-overs with struts, because of the upper control arm function of the strut is not handled with just a coil-over. Suggest you visit a garage have them see what's what under the car, because SOME coil-overs are adjustable for ride height, so could be just an adjustment.
A shock and a strut serve the same basic function. They are designed to dampen the movement of the suspension up and down. Without shocks and struts, the car would continue to bounce up and down when you applied a vertical force to it. Springs are designed to support the weight of the car while also reducing the stress the body and the driver experiences. Springs and shocks/struts also control weight transfer under braking, acceleration, and cornering, and are often matched to each other to maximize comfort and performance in the average street car. A shock is designed solely to dampen down (bump) and up (rebound) motions in the suspension. A strut does this as well, but also allows side-ways loads around its axis of compression/expansion, like on the front wheels of most cars. A strut eliminates the need for an upper suspension arm, as well. More simply, a shock attaches at two points, an upper suspension point and a lower one. A strut attaches there, and also to the wheel of a car. A coil-over is a combination shock/strut and spring, designed to save space. Most people are referring to adjustable coil-overs when they say coil-over. Adjustable coil-overs have collars that move up and down to control the ride-height and spring pre-load. Often, a lower ride height comes with higher pre-load, and results in a harsher ride, but firmer control over the weight transfer in a car. Your best bet to return the car to its stock ride-height is to find someone who wants the parts to lower their car and trade with them for the stock parts.
