Need to know the best spring rate for my application
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Pearl City, HI, USA
Need to know the best spring rate for my application
Curb weight: 2230 pounds
OEM rate: Unknown
Howdy. I just bought some cheap coilovers from a Civic to put on my Rio (suspensions are very similar and they fit)
Anyway, what I am after is stock ride height, so I am going to buy a new set of 2.5" ID springs from summit for the kit.
What I don't know is what spring rate to look for. My car is a daily driver, with a few weekends at the AutoX, and I will be using KYB GR2 struts. Note that I have a solid rear axle with a seperate shock and spring, but am welding together a mount to use the "coilovers".
Once I have a good idea what rate to go with, I will be able to calculate what unstressed length to buy.
Thanky.
OEM rate: Unknown
Howdy. I just bought some cheap coilovers from a Civic to put on my Rio (suspensions are very similar and they fit)
Anyway, what I am after is stock ride height, so I am going to buy a new set of 2.5" ID springs from summit for the kit.
What I don't know is what spring rate to look for. My car is a daily driver, with a few weekends at the AutoX, and I will be using KYB GR2 struts. Note that I have a solid rear axle with a seperate shock and spring, but am welding together a mount to use the "coilovers".
Once I have a good idea what rate to go with, I will be able to calculate what unstressed length to buy.
Thanky.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 1
From: Pearl City, HI, USA
Re: Need to know the best spring rate for my application (beepy)
Well, I don't know the OEM spring rate.
Okay, assume I have those fancy 4-way adjustable KYB supers, which I may be getting in the future. If the strut does not limit what I should use, what spring rate should I use in a 2200 pound, front strut/rear coil car that is a daily driver with trips to the AutoX?
For the Kia Sephia, I have seen 450 front/350 rear suggested, but the Sephia is 400 pounds heavier than my car.
Okay, assume I have those fancy 4-way adjustable KYB supers, which I may be getting in the future. If the strut does not limit what I should use, what spring rate should I use in a 2200 pound, front strut/rear coil car that is a daily driver with trips to the AutoX?
For the Kia Sephia, I have seen 450 front/350 rear suggested, but the Sephia is 400 pounds heavier than my car.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 1
From: Pearl City, HI, USA
Re: Need to know the best spring rate for my application (beepy)
Did a ghetto test of the springs that came with the Civic kit. The springs are 7" long and probably 350 lb-in. (I weigh 175, and I had my GF measure the spring as I stood on it, compressed 1/2")
based on that the compressed length should be about 5.6" in the car, which is excellent, it means I can use those springs in the rear after welding the steel sleeve to my coil spring bracket, with up to 2" of drop still available.
Just to maintain balance, I decided on a 400 lb-in spring for the front. QA1 springs -$75 per pair on summit. Bought 10" springs so that the installed length is the same as OEM with up to 2" of drop.
BTW I plan on dropping the car 0.4" from stock. The reason for this is I want 1° more negative camber based on the wear pattern on my old Kumho Ecstas. The Rio has a panhard bar rear suspension, and I am also making a heim joint adjustable bar so that I can maintain proper side spacing in static loading.
based on that the compressed length should be about 5.6" in the car, which is excellent, it means I can use those springs in the rear after welding the steel sleeve to my coil spring bracket, with up to 2" of drop still available.
Just to maintain balance, I decided on a 400 lb-in spring for the front. QA1 springs -$75 per pair on summit. Bought 10" springs so that the installed length is the same as OEM with up to 2" of drop.
BTW I plan on dropping the car 0.4" from stock. The reason for this is I want 1° more negative camber based on the wear pattern on my old Kumho Ecstas. The Rio has a panhard bar rear suspension, and I am also making a heim joint adjustable bar so that I can maintain proper side spacing in static loading.
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