Club G40 Forum
Technical => Chassis & Braking => Topic started by: Alex on April 04, 2009, 01:32:06 pm
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I need an answer to this fairly quickly, as the coilovers are due to be going on fairly soon.
I got my Gaz coilovers last weekend, and having unpacked one of the front struts they've supplied the kit with 275lbs springs. This, I understand, is very hard for a road car.
I'm not that bothered about ride quality, but I don't want something which will be so hard I won't want to drive the car.
What would you reckon is an ideal spring rate for a car which does most of its time on the road, but gets the occasional track thrashing?
I'll get the springs swapped over this week then.
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200 front
180 rear
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Gaz list the "standard" springs with the kit as 8" long 250lb front and 9" long 180lb rear.
I'm sure Phil used to supply them with 225lb and 180lb springs unless otherwise spec'd.
I would think either 225 or 200lb for the front would be ideal for the type of use you're after.
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Cool, thanks I'll get that sorted this week then. :)
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alex, I've got some 8" 225lb springs on my coilovers at the moment but want something stiffer. Would you be interested in doing a swap? The springs have done zero miles.
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Actually, that's not a bad idea! Would that be fronts and rears?
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they are fronts. Do you have your coilovers yet? Are the front springs 8" long, are they def 275lb or 225l with 50lb helper springs?
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If there are some 'track' springs going I will take them to use as a startig point on my coilies
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I'm going to check them again this evening to make sure (I've been in Cardiff for a few days and they're up in Peterborough) but I'm pretty sure they're 275lbs springs up front, that's what the (admittedly fairly unclear) label said anyway.
The possible issue with swapping springs with people is that Gaz are expecting coverage of the fitting process, so I'd need to have black springs going on. It may be easier to just swap them back with Gaz from that point of view.
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ah Ok, the springs I have are blue so yeah maybe they wouldn't be too happy about that! Not too worry I'll just buy some from Rally Design, I might try these 225lb springs on the back anyway!
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I have some FK coilover springs that are standard which should be great for the track. I am after trialling swopping them out for some softer rate coils. Does anyone know the rate of these? I have the rear FK code but not the front.
If anyone is interested in doing some swopping over/interchanging to get an idea please give me a shout. This may be permanent/temporary but we can discuss. Does anyone have some softer coilover springs I can try out?
Yoof, you sure the 200/180 combo is spot on for road?
I wanna make sure I don't waste any Duck bread shelling out on the wrong spring rates!
Cheers
Duck
;)
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I've checked my springs this afternoon.
The fronts are 7x2.25" x 275lbs springs, and the rears are 160lbs springs!
Isn't that really hard up front, and fairly soft at the back?
I can alter the stiffness on the back anyway, but I think I'll swap for softer fronts.
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Alex- who specified those rates!? That's really random...!
200lb/225lb for the front with a decent shock will be fine, approx 180lb for the back if you've got an interior & spare wheel etc is also comfortable.
If you want better turn in/ a snatchier rear end up the rear rate.
Worth remembering for anyone running stupid camber the effective spring rate will reduce the further away from a perpendicular line you go, something to take into consideration anyway.
Alex, 7.5" also sound quite a short spring, I guess you'd get 2" of travel with it approx 50mm lowered?
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alex if you want to swap I think those front springs you have would be ideal for me. The ones I have are 8" long 225lb. I guess your only problem is that they are blue and not purple, nothing a rattle can can't sort out though?
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It's a bit of a random one this really, because of the coverage involved and how it's all been arranged.
The original plan was for me to go down there and they'd make up the kit to my specifications and fit it in their workshop. So I was going to post on here a few days before I went down and ask what would be best, then get that fitted to the car.
But then the clutch let go, so I had to put off the trip down there. The suspension turned up at my parents house a week or so later, so I didn't get to specify spring rates at all. That's just what Gaz have supplied.
It's getting to the point where I'm half tempted to swap tbh, just get a pic of them fitting the rears and take a shot of the fronts off the car. I'll see what Gaz say tomorrow, but I'm going to try and change the lot. I'm used to the car having a fairly snatchy back end on the Spax kit, so I think I'll up the spring rates to 180lbs.
Is it better to go for 8" ones all round then? I assume less travel means a harder ride.
Sorry, I'm learning but I'm new to this! If I'd been faced with these choices when I fitted the Spax in 2001 I'd probably have put it on and just learned the hard way.
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Lost and a little confused now. Just spoken to Gaz, who have said with the first coilover kits they did for the Polo G40 they supplied 225lbs springs for the fronts, and the amount of travel left wasn't enough even with progressive bump stops. The rears they're happy to swap for 180s.
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I'm not too sure what they mean by:
and the amount of travel left wasn't enough even with progressive bump stop
are they saying that with the softer springs it was riding the bump stops all the time? I'm going to order some 275lb 7" springs from RallyDesign I think. I'll give my 225lb 8" ones a go on the rear.