Spring Rates

[BraindG]

Wont be to long before i put my TEINS on, before i do i need to get harder springs.

For those who were ever in Mauve might remember the stiffness of the car, was like a go-kart - I want to replicate this.

from this thread i found

Tein S-Tech 3.9kg F 2.7kg R
Tein Basic 5kg F 3kg R
Tein Flex 8kg F 5kg R

I'm looking for the car not to move when pushing down over the front arches, the Tein Flex 8kg F 5kg R should do this or?

Does anyone have the Tein Flex 8kg F 5kg R if so how much move ment is there when you push down on the car?

Cheers

[Gowf]

Barry, there comes a point where it becomes too stiff and is just a nightmare to drive. But with the 8 and 5 you will still get a wee bit of movement when you push down. I was running 650lb/in and 450lbin front and rear (11.6Kg/mm, 8Kg/mm) and even they to me were still a little soft. But then i wanted similar to what you are suggesting. I sold them to Mark4 and he changed the springs back to the 5-3 that the teins came with.

If you want springs best place to go is Faulkners. They are really good, keep a huge selection in stock and will make you what you want, and they're only around 25-30 per spring. Just remember though, if you are increasing your spring rate you will need to reduce the length of your spring (quite easy to calculate) to achieve the correct ride height. You may also then want helper springs in there, but there's no real point unless you plan on being in the air frequently!

[Mark 4]

For the roads around here the 5-3 are nice and comfortable. The harder ones were just crashing through all the road damage that we got last winter. I would have liked to have kept them on but my old back just couldn't take the pounding.

[bradc]

Does anyone know what spring rates Bilstein supply for our cars?

[BraindG]

Thanks for the responses, think it will go with the 8/5 after some further reading.

But like i say, i loved mauve as she was, how it drove and handled im looking to achieve similair to that again - was imo a dream to drive, its handling was just amazing.

[Gly]

you had tanabes in the mauve?

there front 10.8 and rear 8.6 very go cart like

i can tell you that 8 and 5 is to soft and not go cart like at all,
as thats whats on my cuscos
they wont move when you hand push them,
but go over a few rolly roads and speed bumps and you'll find your bottoming out.

[Mark 4]

Barry, you are welcome to borrow the 11/8 springs when I get back from the ring in a couple of weeks.

[BraindG]

you had tanabes in the mauve?

there front 10.8 and rear 8.6 very go cart like

i can tell you that 8 and 5 is to soft and not go cart like at all,
as thats whats on my cuscos
they wont move when you hand push them,
but go over a few rolly roads and speed bumps and you'll find your bottoming out.

Oh rly?

Thats interesting, yeah alot of bottoming out but you get to learn the roads, where to be etc - worth the pain just for the rewards.

Cool, i never knew the spring rate, cheers mate.

[BraindG]

Barry, you are welcome to borrow the 11/8 springs when I get back from the ring in a couple of weeks.

Nice one mate, appreciated! - But, think i know my ratings now so will be purchasing them rather than than taking the suspension off and on again

[Nutter_John]

On the coilovers on my Blue one they were 14kg front and 10 kg rear , quite firm but not back breaking . Loved the way it handled

[Gly]

you can prob go lighter in the rear in a G, (7kg)

but id be using no less than 10 in the front,

thats just my opinion

[VR457]

Just remember though, if you are increasing your spring rate you will need to reduce the length of your spring (quite easy to calculate) to achieve the correct ride height.

So, is it possible to have a spring that is standard height but with a higher spring rate?

[Gowf]

You achieve the same ride height by putting on a shorter spring. This is simply due the spring not compressing as much for the same load. Now idealy you do need to know corner weights for a true calculation, but if you assume as mass over the wheel that is supported by the spring, if you take it simply then you can calculate the displacement of that particular spring rate. From the difference in displacement between the two you then know how much shorter you want the spring. This is assuming same diameter and same wire diameter and angle of spring.

[Mark 4]

Barry, you may want to consider ARB's from Peter Tompson. I fitted my rear bar a couple of weeks ago and am very pleased with it. Fitted the front last night so will post up my findings on that either later today or tomorrow, depending on when I can be arsed to put all the front shafts back together.

[BraindG]

Cheers mate, yeah ive got some cusco ARB's, some poly bushes ready to go on along side the new suspensions, feel like a kiddie in a sweet shop.. gogo go-kart go!

[VR457]

You achieve the same ride height by putting on a shorter spring. This is simply due the spring not compressing as much for the same load. Now idealy you do need to know corner weights for a true calculation, but if you assume as mass over the wheel that is supported by the spring, if you take it simply then you can calculate the displacement of that particular spring rate. From the difference in displacement between the two you then know how much shorter you want the spring. This is assuming same diameter and same wire diameter and angle of spring.

A most detailed and excellent reply. Springs such as Teins and the like all seem to lower the height of the car which, given the state of our roads is not something i want. On the other hand, having say, a stiff rear spring, means i can load up the back with sound equipment and not worry so much about humps etc.

[Nube]

Out of interest, what are the standard rates? This is a dilemma I've been dithering with myself lately, want to lower and firm up the handling a bit without ruining the ride. The biggest problem I've got is the wonderfully corrugated roads of Hants/Surrey!!

[Gly]

Mitsubishi hasn't published there spring rates,
so without having them taken off and tested, who knows?

[bradc]

I have the standard spring rate at home but not here.

I dropped my Bilsteins into Autolign and they are going to build me up a custom set, will be interesting to see what they think is best. The Bilsteins were 4.5kg and 2kg which means they must have been designed for a 2wd 1.8 Galant!

[swinks]

What Bilsteins, Brad?