If you’re looking to improve your ride’s handling, but your budget constraints mean you have to buy coilovers on a second hand basis, it can be a bit of a minefield. The fact is that you never know what you’ve bought until they’re installed and you’re on the road. There are a wide variety of imported coilovers that have been replaced with standard shocks and springs, so some aren’t quite what they seem.

When you buy coilovers from an unknown source, you don’t know how long they’ve been sitting around in a garage, which means that their seals may have become degraded. Even though a coilover set might look great at first glance, its touched-up paintwork might be hiding some problems that can very much put your safety at risk.

Being Careful When You Buy Coilovers Privately

There’s no doubt that there are some bargains around when you buy coilovers on the private market, but you really do have to do your research before parting with your hard-earned cash. The first thing you need to do is make sure the coilover set is legal and that you have it serviced by a professional before you put it anywhere near your car.

There’s much more to installing coilovers properly than wheel alignment and ride height, so when you buy coilovers on a second hand basis, you should get someone who knows what they’re doing to set everything up. Essentially though, you’re looking for a fully-functioning coilover set before you hand over your money.

So, here are some signs of wear and tear you need to look for:

  • Excessive ‘play’ in the bearings
  • Obvious damage to the seal assembly
  • Deformation or cracks in the top plate
  • Broken studs
  • Signs of incorrect disassembly or tool damage
  • Shaft damage
  • Any signs of rust

Any of these signs (and there are more) are a real indication that you should buy coilovers somewhere else, as they could be downright unsafe, let alone a waste of money. If you’re buying second hand, it’s a really good idea to get a professional to come with you to make sure you’re making a sound investment.

Springrates, The Trusted Place to Buy Coilovers & More

If you know what you’re doing, you can buy coilovers second hand that can save you a lot of money, but if you don’t, you can end up wasting your cash completely. That’s why we’d always recommend buying your coilovers new, as you know precisely what you’re going to get and you’ll know that they’re safe to go out on the road with.

At Springrates, we supply a huge range of top quality coilovers at competitive prices and if you’d like to see what we mean, all you have to do is visit us online at www.springrates.com. There you’ll also find a massive range of suspension parts for your driving pleasure.