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Spring rate question.. low coil vs coil over

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Old 09-02-2009, 09:48 PM
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Spring rate question.. low coil vs coil over

I want to know why all lowering spring have a bigger spring rate in rear and on the coil over, mostly brand have a bigger spring rate in front?

It weird to me.. Please explain!
Thanks!
 
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Old 09-03-2009, 03:17 PM
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most of these manufacturers for lowering springs have several reasons why they use higher spring rate for the rear.

1) people think higher spring rate in the back = better cornerability. (answer is wrong... depends on the application)

2) lowering springs are usually progressive coil... this emables the user to enjoy some comfort while going straightline using their stock dampers. so they use higher spring rate in the back to try to compensate the initial soft unsettling feel as kind of a swaybar substitute. well, we all know this doesn't work nearly as well as running lowering springs + rear swaybar.

3) people run more weight in the back with passengers and cargo...so to minimize customers complaining about full bump (full stroke) they use higher spring rate in the back.

basically you will never achieve the level of stock or coilovers by running just lowering springs. if you're just going straightline on even roads, sure, you might be able to get it to where you want it. as soon as you start doing some fast left/right manuvers the car will quickly tell you, you degraded your performance just because you wanted to have the lowered ride appearance.

do it right from the getgo. just leave it stock, or get coilovers (or minimum correct lowering springs + dampers)
 
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Old 09-04-2009, 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by kenchan
most of these manufacturers for lowering springs have several reasons why they use higher spring rate for the rear.

1) people think higher spring rate in the back = better cornerability. (answer is wrong... depends on the application)

2) lowering springs are usually progressive coil... this emables the user to enjoy some comfort while going straightline using their stock dampers. so they use higher spring rate in the back to try to compensate the initial soft unsettling feel as kind of a swaybar substitute. well, we all know this doesn't work nearly as well as running lowering springs + rear swaybar.

3) people run more weight in the back with passengers and cargo...so to minimize customers complaining about full bump (full stroke) they use higher spring rate in the back.

basically you will never achieve the level of stock or coilovers by running just lowering springs. if you're just going straightline on even roads, sure, you might be able to get it to where you want it. as soon as you start doing some fast left/right manuvers the car will quickly tell you, you degraded your performance just because you wanted to have the lowered ride appearance.

do it right from the getgo. just leave it stock, or get coilovers (or minimum correct lowering springs + dampers)
What he said!!!
 
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