Question about spring rates
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Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 52
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Question about spring rates Just a simple question for suspension gurus..
Is the relationship between 'correctly sized' sway bars vs. spring rates for a given car? Or is it strictly subjective?
I want to know what am I losing by not running stiffer springs. I had planned on running stock springs on the lower perch of my new konis. Right now I have 32 mm and 19 mm bars. (1le stuff) This car is 100% daily driver.
Is the relationship between 'correctly sized' sway bars vs. spring rates for a given car? Or is it strictly subjective?
I want to know what am I losing by not running stiffer springs. I had planned on running stock springs on the lower perch of my new konis. Right now I have 32 mm and 19 mm bars. (1le stuff) This car is 100% daily driver.
I do not consider myself a "guru", but I've done a lot of experimenting ...
In my race series, I'm limited to OEM sway bars, but can run any rate spring I want and can run about any shock I want as long as they all mount in the OEM location and fashion.
With that said ...
Using a 32/21 sway bar combo and aluminum bodied custom valved Bilstein shocks front and Koni SAs rear with a 255/50/16 R-Compound ...
I've had the following rates on the car ...
900/300
800/250
800/275
650/200
650/225
Changed to a 275/40-17 tire
650/250
750/250
750/225
750/275
changed rear sway bars and rear wheel spacers
Right now, the car is about as stable as I've ever driven with
32/19 bars
750/250 springs
same shock package revalved for 800lb springs
GW bearings in the lower A-Arms
1/2" wheel spacers on front and 1/4" wheel spacer out back
on a 275/40-17 R compounds
To answer your question ... there is no right answer. The package/combo makes a huge difference, but it boils down to driver comfort and confidence.
Some folks don't like the body roll with the smaller sway bars and I didn't like the skating I felt with the uber-stiff springs. Moving down to 650s found me coil binding the springs, making the rate infinite.
It's a journey ... one only you can make.
In my race series, I'm limited to OEM sway bars, but can run any rate spring I want and can run about any shock I want as long as they all mount in the OEM location and fashion.
With that said ...
Using a 32/21 sway bar combo and aluminum bodied custom valved Bilstein shocks front and Koni SAs rear with a 255/50/16 R-Compound ...
I've had the following rates on the car ...
900/300
800/250
800/275
650/200
650/225
Changed to a 275/40-17 tire
650/250
750/250
750/225
750/275
changed rear sway bars and rear wheel spacers
Right now, the car is about as stable as I've ever driven with
32/19 bars
750/250 springs
same shock package revalved for 800lb springs
GW bearings in the lower A-Arms
1/2" wheel spacers on front and 1/4" wheel spacer out back
on a 275/40-17 R compounds
To answer your question ... there is no right answer. The package/combo makes a huge difference, but it boils down to driver comfort and confidence.
Some folks don't like the body roll with the smaller sway bars and I didn't like the skating I felt with the uber-stiff springs. Moving down to 650s found me coil binding the springs, making the rate infinite.
It's a journey ... one only you can make.
