Here's what the guy wrote back:

Hi Ben,
The working spring rates that you requested are 250 lb/in up front while
the rear is 185 lb/in. These springs are progressively rated. For further
product information, ordering procedures, or a dealer near you, please feel
free to give our sales staff a call at (800)423-3623 or (805)388-7171 or you
may fax them at (805)388-0030. Thank you for your inquiry!

Seems like I can never get a straight forward answer about specifications. A little while ago, people were posting 276lb/in (F) and 220lb/in (R) for NS SofSports. Then, I start seeing 340lb/in (F) and 230lb/in (R) for GenII Integra's. I don't really know what to think b/c I keep seeing a different number every time.


[Modified by IN VTEC, 7:53 PM 2/13/2002]

 

Call them up and ask them what the rates are. The Neuspeed guys are really nice. Also, since it's progressively wound, I'm interested in what that specific spring rate they told you represents. Progressive springs change thru the working range of the spring, so one number doesn't cut it. Ask them what the range is. Weird...my friend's old neuspeed sports said it right on the box what his spring rates are and it gave the full range. wonder why they stopped doing that.

 

The documents that came w/ my H&R Sport Springs state that the end of the spring w/ the narrow coils acts like a helper spring, to keep it in place when the suspension is fully extended. Each end of the spring is pretty constant as far as spring rate, with the change occuring near the middle. When the guy said working spring rate, I assume he means the rate of the main end of the spring (the stiff part).

 

That's how progressive springs work. A portion of the spring (the end) will compress first, but not becuz that's the stiff portion, but becuz it's the soft portion. It's somewhat true that it acts like a secondary spring, but not a helper spring. On dual-spring systems, there's 2 types of secondary springs: helper and tender. A helper spring is also known as a zero-rate spring as it's spring is so low that it's nearly negligible. It's sole purpose is to keep the main spring tensioned at all times. A tender spring actually has a spring rate that is not negligible and adds to the performance characteristics of the system. the end of a progressive spring is more like a tender spring. However, that still doesn't describe the answer given as the working rate should be a range. for any spring, there is a working range for which it is spec'd. Within that range, for a progressive spring, is the working rate, which should be a range. some ranges are fairly small, about 25-50lbs/in, while others can be fairly high, about 300lbs/in difference. I'd call them to find out more. From what I remember, Neuspeed's usually had a range of about 50-75lbs/in.

 

My H&R documents state that the soft end acts like a "tender spring" for the purpose of "keeping the spring in place during full suspension extension".

 

yes, that sounds right. Tender and Helper springs work slightly differently. Tender's do a lil more than just hold the main spring in place tho.