Coilovers Can Be Legal!

[n15m0]

Hi guys,

Something which I have been researching since I got my Teins installed. Got this from a thread on NS.com

http://www.nissansilvia.com/forums/index.p...83377&st=30

Posted it here because it was from QLD transport. Hope it gives u guys a bit of relief or a leg to stand on if some cop decides to defect you for coilovers. Please note this only applies to coilovers that are model specific to your car. I will be printing this and keeping a copy in my glove compartment

Here is a direct copy and paste of part of the written reply i received from Stuart Burns who is the assistant policy officer for the Department of Transport. It is his job to legally represent the Department when the public makes an inquiry. This reply should be considered gospel, and may be of assistance down the line.

"Thankyou for your email regarding vehicle modifications, i will answer each

of your questions individually.

1 & 2. Coil over suspension.

The fitment of coil over suspension is acceptable providing the units

fitted are straight replacement for the old struts, that is, no

modifications carried out to the vehicle in order to fit the coil over

suspension, no modification plate is required. If any modifications were

carried out in order to fit them an engineers report will be required and

submitted to the Vehicle Standards & Safety division to obtain a written

approval from Queensland Transport.

Additionally you must remain compliant with legislation requirements for

lowering your vehicle, please see the modification booklet attached at the

end of the email for these requirements.

The adjustable strut top camber adjusters are classed as accessories, and

therefore no approval is required, provided once again no modifications are

carried out to fit these. It is the responsibility of the owner and driver

of the vehicle to ensure the vehicle remains compliant with the relevant

Australian Design Rules for turning requirements etc. A professional

suspension technician should be consulted in order to ensure your vehicle

can safely operate and that all parts are correctly fitted.

[AzzurrA]

the other thing you will have to watch, that i noticed he didn't mention, is that the dept. of transport/police can 'apparently' fine you if the suspension does not remain within a certain compliance level compared to stock (i.e. the suspension is too stiff)

[n15m0]

correct, so here is the supplement from the mods booklet located on the Qld transport website:

Lowering or raising of vehicles

The road clearance of a fully laden vehicle must not be

less than 100mm measured at any part of the vehicle

other than the wheel rim or brake backing plates.

(This does not apply where a lesser clearance has been

specified by the manufacturer.)

When lowering or raising a vehicle body (front or rear),

the following additional restrictions are based on the

manufacturer's dimensions for the standard unmodified

vehicle while unladen:

• The ride height measured between the rubber bump

stop and the corresponding metal stop may be reduced

by no more than one third.

• The rebound travel measured between the rubber

rebound stop and the corresponding metal stop

(or the extension of the shock absorber for vehicles

without a rebound stop) may be reduced by no

more than one third.

• Coil springs are to remain in locating seats on full

suspension droop without forcibly being removed.

In addition, the normal relationship between the front

and rear suspension heights must not be unduly affected.

Replacement springs (shorter or taller) must have the

same or greater load capacity as the original springs.

Note that it says on the last line.."replacement springs must have same or greater load capacity as original"

I guess if they want to be picky they can still get you if ur car is rock solid and can't be pushed up and down???

[The Dan]

Note that it says on the last line.."replacement springs must have same or greater load capacity as original"

I guess if they want to be picky they can still get you if ur car is rock solid and can't be pushed up and down???

Not really as it states 'same or GREATER load capacity'

This would mean that a stiffer spring would be more likely to be GREATER load capacity.

[GTRgeoff]

Some points, a "coilover" is the spring coil "over" the shock as comes standard in most modern cars as it does in Skylines.

What you are concerned about is the adjustable platform height systems. All those points above are simply about the travel and height of the shock and the retention of the spring. Nowhere have I seen limits placed on suspension "compliance" in legislation or traffic authority rules so a defect for suspension being too hard is not allowed. An officer handing out such a defect has no means to test and compare the spring and damper rate in a suitable scientific method that will stand up to court scrutiny. If they do intend to apply such a defect ask (politely) for them to provide the relevant legislation/rules so that you may reference it when going to court. Be firm and carry a copy of the relevent rules but make them really stand behind their decision or be prepared to accept the conscequenses. Ask for them to record the conversation as well. I have nothing against defects on unsafe cars but they have to be based on fact, not some gut feeling or hearesay.

That said a really hard setup won't actually deliver good handling unless on a very smooth track, nor does lowering a Skyline too far as you probably know due to the compromised upper and lower whishbone relationship.

I intend to obtain approval to conduct vehicle safety and modification inspections once I move to Qld so will have access to full details in the coming months.

[mad082]

i agree with gtrgeoff on the handling issue. i put coilovers in the front of my old 180 (the front shocks were cactus) and didn't lower it, just leveled it with the back end. they were stiffer than the king lowered springs that where in there and i was going round a bumpy left hand corner and normal speed and they started to bounce me onto the wrong side of the road. i had them on there for 3 days before i had them taken back out and just got some replacement stock ones put in.

[MajorSick]

Not really as it states 'same or GREATER load capacity'

This would mean that a stiffer spring would be more likely to be GREATER load capacity.

In a load bearing truck your correct but in a car such as a skyline

The coil over springs are a much better and LEGAL if they do not

Require under body or modify any part there part of

i agree with gtrgeoff on the handling issue. i put coilovers in the front of my old 180 (the front shocks were cactus) and didn't lower it, just leveled it with the back end. they were stiffer than the king lowered springs that where in there and i was going round a bumpy left hand corner and normal speed and they started to bounce me onto the wrong side of the road. i had them on there for 3 days before i had them taken back out and just got some replacement stock ones put in.

Did you check to make sure the dick head that put them on didn’t put them on upside down?

Coil over springs are built for cornering and taking of them at high speeds.

Any coil over jumping around is either incorrectly installed or on the wrong softness setting for road use

[GTRgeoff]

Does no-one on here read??

Coilovers are stock on Skylines. Just because it has an adjustable height function doesn't change that so whether they are fixed, circlip or screw thread they are "COILOVERS".

Ben, if they are too firm, or the spring and damper (shock) are not matched then you can end up with uncontrolled oscillation, or the tyre loses contact with the road over bumps (aka jumping around on the road)

So adjustable height is what some plods think is illegal, but I have seen no evidence it is.

[Rekin]

Went to pedders today and asked them if adjustable coilovers are illegal, seeing as they sell them. The manager said coilovers are 100% legal, but he may have been looking for a sale .

However i doubt the word of a salesman would hold any ground.

Hope that helps

[n15m0]

We know all skylines come standard with coilovers. But for the purpose of this thread and the reply above from QLD transport, "Coilovers" are refered to the more commonly used aftermarket stuff that we normally replace stock suspension with which most come with height and damper adjustment.

The purpose of posting this is to let everyone know, if you have a set fitted on your car and comply with the above (legal height, meant to fit your make and model car without mods, spring rates are not too hard), then you should be fine.

[mad082]

sorry, i should add that the coil overs i put on were tein. and the spring rate and stiffness was higher than stock.

Did you check to make sure the dick head that put them on didn’t put them on upside down?

Coil over springs are built for cornering and taking of them at high speeds.

Any coil over jumping around is either incorrectly installed or on the wrong softness setting for road use

they were installed correctly. they were just too stiff. the reason the car was bouncing around was because they weren't soft enough. 180's are much stiffer in stock form (100% stock suspension) than a skyline. the 'low' springs for a s13 are considered 'super low' on an s14.