AnswerID: 269685 Submitted: Friday, Nov 02, 2007 at 10:00
splits
replied:
One thing that is often overlooked when fitting stiffer or pump up shocks is the strength of the mounting points. I will always remember a customer at work many years ago who bought a new Toyota station wagon then fitted stiffer shocks all round. He returned six months later with the top mounts at the rear ripped right out of the floor and expected the damage to be repaired under warranty. The mounts were not designed for the increased pressure applied by his aftermarket shocks so the floor surrounding them flexed excessively and eventually work hardened and cracked. There is no way in the world the standard shocks would have done that.
When thinking about different springs, many people don't realise they are measured in both "load" and "rate". Load concerns the height at which they will support a given weight. Rate is the amount a given weight will compress them one inch. For example 200 pounds may compress a spring one inch, 400 pounds will compress it two inches, 600 pounds three inches and so on.
A coil spring with many turns of thin wire can hold your car at the right height so you could say the "load" is correct but it could bottom out when you sit on the tailgate so the "rate" is too low. A spring with only a few turns of very heavy wire could also hold the car at the right height but may hardly deflect at all when you fill the car with bags of cement so the rate is too high.
All of this can be calculated mathmatically by spring makers when designing new springs providing they know the unsprung weight of each end of the car and what type of ride the owner wants.
This is just something to keep in mind when discussing replacement non original springs for your car.
Brian
Reply 6 of 7
FollowupID: 532572 Submitted:
Friday, Nov 02, 2007 at 11:41
Member - Oldplodder (QLD) posted:
Good description.
Reason I went for variable rate coil springs in the rear.
Standard load carrying capacity when car is empty, and same ride as standard springs.
As the car gets loaded up, spring goes stiffer (up to 30% stiffer than standard) and the rear end doesn't sag as much.
Variable rate spring achieved by different spacing of the coils over the length of the spring.
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| John C - aka Oldplodder
In touring mode, the way it should be. |
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