Suspension & Brakes Theory, alignment, spring rates....

Stiffer spring rates

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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 08:49 AM
  #1  
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Default Stiffer spring rates

Im gonna be changing my coilovers on my 91 crx to Ground control.
I will be getting 550 lbs front and 600 lbs rear.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having stiffer rates ?

I see most people are using 450 lbs ... but my last suspension (TEIN SS)
had those rates and they were waaaay too soft for the street. It used to bottom out.

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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 10:12 AM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

If you're bottoming out, raise the suspension.
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 10:42 AM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

wait so you are uping your spring rates, but you don't know why?
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:16 AM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (slammed_93_hatch)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wait so you are uping your spring rates, but you don't know why?</TD></TR></TABLE>
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:55 AM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (slammed_93_hatch)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wait so you are uping your spring rates, but you don't know why?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Answer my question....
advantages + disadvantages.
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 12:22 PM
  #6  
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Answer my question....
advantages + disadvantages.</TD></TR></TABLE>

the answer is here or over in the RR-autoX forum, you should search.


i still don't understand why you want stiffer rates, but don't know why.
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 06:33 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (slammed_93_hatch)

If you're bottoming out, going stiffer won't fix the problem.

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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 06:50 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Tweakmeister)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tweakmeister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you're bottoming out, going stiffer won't fix the problem.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

the shock was bottoming out.. stiffer rates will prevent that.
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 07:34 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

Careful - if the shocks are bottoming out, that means you have run out of shock travel, and its not a problem with the springs. Even if the springs are compressed to bind, the shock piston should not be bottoming out inside the shock. That is a sign that you have insufficient travel on that corner of the car, and either way the spring will not be able to do its job properly.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 01:47 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (PIC Performance)

Where did you come up with 550 and 600lbs? Experience or someone else's opinion?
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 02:24 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It used to bottom out.</TD></TR></TABLE>
What is bottoming out? Are you into the bump stops? Are the upper control arms hitting the frame? What is the ride height of the car? What is the current suspension setup?
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 04:07 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but my last suspension (TEIN SS)
had those rates and they were waaaay too soft for the street. It used to bottom out.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

wonder why...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The drop is amazing on the TEINS ! 3.1" front & 2.75" rear.


</TD></TR></TABLE>

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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 04:48 PM
  #13  
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

Why don't you just get air cylinders and be done with it?
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 07:37 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Targa250R)

I say just weld your a-arms in place and be done with it.

You change your spring rates to affect how the tires adhere to the ground, not how the car rests on the shock.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 07:40 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Tweakmeister)

what rates do you recommend then ?
car wont be winter/snow driven.

I want the best handling.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 07:44 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I want the best handling. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Raise it up then.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 07:45 PM
  #17  
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Targa250R)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Raise it up then.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no..
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 07:50 PM
  #18  
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no.. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Then you're just pissing into the wind.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 09:24 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Targa250R)

Well i think think this thread is done since he doesn't want to listen to good advice.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 09:26 PM
  #20  
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (ED7)

no one mentioned what the advantages or disadvantages are of having stiffer rates..
If I want advice, I'll seek a shrink.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 10:10 PM
  #21  
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no one mentioned what the advantages or disadvantages are of having stiffer rates..
If I want advice, I'll seek a shrink. </TD></TR></TABLE>

your right i told the info is on HT though. its really not as simple as "stiffer you go the better".

Or even "up untill XXX lbs springs everything is great, after that it goes down hill"


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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 10:42 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (Rob.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no one mentioned what the advantages or disadvantages are of having stiffer rates..
If I want advice, I'll seek a shrink. </TD></TR></TABLE>

stiffer doesn't matter if you don't have any shock travel.

trust me, if you want the car to handle better you're going to have to raise the car a little bit.

or spend 1300 bucks on some shortened koni yellows and start gutting your wheel wells.

you're not putting 2 and 2 together here.

here are the pros and cons-
advantage: more street cred
disadvantage: you will hate it and blame it on the shocks and spend money on shocks that keep on blowing b/c they a) don't have enough travel, and b) can't handle the spring rates.
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 09:50 PM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (bad-monkey)

Or get some GC top hats for more travel.

My car is pretty low. I have H&R Race springs, integra rated and KYB AGX. I know I don't have enough shock travel, but since I have stiffer springs my suspension never bottoms out.

My friend has Megan Racing springs 240/280 and Koni Yellows. His car isn't as low as mine and it bottoms out all of the time.

So, yes a stiffer spring rate will keep your shock from bottoming out, even if it's not the "correct" way to fix the problem.
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Old Jul 7, 2006 | 01:05 AM
  #24  
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Default

or not spend money and raise the car... and learn to drive
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Old Jul 7, 2006 | 04:13 AM
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Default Re: Stiffer spring rates (thehatchninja)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thehatchninja &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Or get some GC top hats for more travel.

My car is pretty low. I have H&R Race springs, integra rated and KYB AGX. I know I don't have enough shock travel, but since I have stiffer springs my suspension never bottoms out.

My friend has Megan Racing springs 240/280 and Koni Yellows. His car isn't as low as mine and it bottoms out all of the time.

So, yes a stiffer spring rate will keep your shock from bottoming out, even if it's not the "correct" way to fix the problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

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