Backyard way to test springs?
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Backyard way to test springs?
I am putting stock springs back on my DD for winter and got a set FREE from a friend. Is there an easy way to test them to make sure its even worth the time putting them on? They came off a 150k mile car, but in my experience, the shocks usually take most of the abuse.....Any help is appreciated.....
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Backyard way to test springs? (Targa250R)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Easy way: If they have broken coils, don't put them on. If they are still in one piece, install them.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Is it really that easy? Springs don't get tired over 10yrs/150k miles?
Is it really that easy? Springs don't get tired over 10yrs/150k miles?
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From: strathcedar, nsw, australia
Re: Backyard way to test springs? (NirVTEC)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NirVTEC »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Is it really that easy? Springs don't get tired over 10yrs/150k miles? </TD></TR></TABLE>
As a spring ages it doesn't lose spring rate, but it may compress to some degree (i.e. sag). Rate may be lost but only if the metal is actually starting to crack up, in which case the spring will break very quickly (after failure starts to occur).
Honda springs are made very high quality material, and last a very very long time. Check each spring pair for equality of free length (i.e. uncompressed length), they should be equal (i.e. front pair equal with each other and rear pair equal with each other), but you will get away with a slight difference. The OE springs on my Accord are 17 years old, and the free lengths of each pair of springs are still within a couple of millimetres.
If you do find a significant free length difference between the springs of a pair, then it's posssible to shim the upper spring seat (of the shorter spring) with a spacer of equal thickness to the difference in free length.
If the springs (of a pair) have sagged appreciably then it's unlikely that they will both have sagged to the same degree, but even if they have the spring rate will be the same as new, though the ride height will be lower (reflecting the shorter spring length).
Modified by johnlear at 1:24 PM 11/4/2008
Is it really that easy? Springs don't get tired over 10yrs/150k miles? </TD></TR></TABLE>
As a spring ages it doesn't lose spring rate, but it may compress to some degree (i.e. sag). Rate may be lost but only if the metal is actually starting to crack up, in which case the spring will break very quickly (after failure starts to occur).
Honda springs are made very high quality material, and last a very very long time. Check each spring pair for equality of free length (i.e. uncompressed length), they should be equal (i.e. front pair equal with each other and rear pair equal with each other), but you will get away with a slight difference. The OE springs on my Accord are 17 years old, and the free lengths of each pair of springs are still within a couple of millimetres.
If you do find a significant free length difference between the springs of a pair, then it's posssible to shim the upper spring seat (of the shorter spring) with a spacer of equal thickness to the difference in free length.
If the springs (of a pair) have sagged appreciably then it's unlikely that they will both have sagged to the same degree, but even if they have the spring rate will be the same as new, though the ride height will be lower (reflecting the shorter spring length).
Modified by johnlear at 1:24 PM 11/4/2008
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