need info on springs and spring rates

1TITAN · July 8th, 2009, 06:05 PM

i am hoping that some of you could enlighten me about the srings for performance driving. i notice that when you go to most websites that sell springs for a car they more often then not have a variety of springs with what they call different spring rates (for instance a 150lb, or a 200lb spring) that are measured in lbs.

i want to know to what effect do the weights adjust the performance of a vehicle? its always bugged me and i would rather know the reasons behind a choice rather then going into a shop and rely on their recomendation if you know what i mean

thanks for your time

ModMustang97GT · July 10th, 2009, 12:27 PM

ok, well. This is actually really simple. The spring rate is the amount of force required to compress the spring an inch.

For example, the force to squeeze your stock front spring is about 450 lbs. This means that with 450 lbs of force the spring will compress 1 inch, resulting in the wheel of your car moving about a half inch up.

Of course the ultimate goal with handling is to have the car 100% flat and completely spread on all 4 tires at all times. This means curving to the road surface without giving up much body roll and there by moving the center of gravity from the center of the car.

On our cars, the spring is actually working on a lever, your A arm in front and your control arm in back. This means that instead of your wheel rate being exactly the same as your spring rate, it is actually less. For example, the spring rate on your stock mustang is about 450 lb/in. And the loss of force is about 50-60%. This means that with stock springs, your wheel rate is going to be about 225 lbs/in. Which is pretty terrible. And in the rear the loss is slightly higher.

That is the stock spring rates. Coil over spring rates are 90% and 110% as effective on the wheel rate in front and rear respectively. Meaning, the front coil overs springs make 90% of their lbs/in to the wheels.

Hope this makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't.

1TITAN · July 11th, 2009, 02:58 AM

that was quite helpful and you even covered coil overs before i could ask about em lol thanks

July 8th, 2009, 06:05 PM	#1
1TITAN Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 194	need info on springs and spring rates i am hoping that some of you could enlighten me about the srings for performance driving. i notice that when you go to most websites that sell springs for a car they more often then not have a variety of springs with what they call different spring rates (for instance a 150lb, or a 200lb spring) that are measured in lbs. i want to know to what effect do the weights adjust the performance of a vehicle? its always bugged me and i would rather know the reasons behind a choice rather then going into a shop and rely on their recomendation if you know what i mean thanks for your time __________________ destroy in the turns, then obliterate on the straightaway 01 GT 4.6/20 over cold air intake/70 mm throttle body mac longtube headers/custome H pipe/moroso spiral mufflers to side exhaust computer tune race seats / 5 point harness

July 10th, 2009, 12:27 PM	#2
ModMustang97GT Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Faster than an s4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,465	ok, well. This is actually really simple. The spring rate is the amount of force required to compress the spring an inch. For example, the force to squeeze your stock front spring is about 450 lbs. This means that with 450 lbs of force the spring will compress 1 inch, resulting in the wheel of your car moving about a half inch up. Of course the ultimate goal with handling is to have the car 100% flat and completely spread on all 4 tires at all times. This means curving to the road surface without giving up much body roll and there by moving the center of gravity from the center of the car. On our cars, the spring is actually working on a lever, your A arm in front and your control arm in back. This means that instead of your wheel rate being exactly the same as your spring rate, it is actually less. For example, the spring rate on your stock mustang is about 450 lb/in. And the loss of force is about 50-60%. This means that with stock springs, your wheel rate is going to be about 225 lbs/in. Which is pretty terrible. And in the rear the loss is slightly higher. That is the stock spring rates. Coil over spring rates are 90% and 110% as effective on the wheel rate in front and rear respectively. Meaning, the front coil overs springs make 90% of their lbs/in to the wheels. Hope this makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't. __________________ Aztec Gold 97GT. MM CC Plates, Panhard Bar, SFC's & Tower Brace Eibach Sway Bars H&R Race Springs/Bilstein Shocks MAC CAI, LT's, Catted H and Pro-Dumps KB Boost-a-Spark PI Swap Spun Main Bearing... Author of The Official Suspension Guide

July 11th, 2009, 02:58 AM	#3
1TITAN Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 194	that was quite helpful and you even covered coil overs before i could ask about em lol thanks __________________ destroy in the turns, then obliterate on the straightaway 01 GT 4.6/20 over cold air intake/70 mm throttle body mac longtube headers/custome H pipe/moroso spiral mufflers to side exhaust computer tune race seats / 5 point harness

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