Spring rates

[Assault_Cow]

Hey guys

Looking into lowering the car, and a mate is advising i get custom made king spings (he can get them cheap, $400), that is, springs with a determined drop and spring rate.

The reason for the custom springs, is that due to keeping original shocks, choosing a stiff spring rate will limit the shocks from bottoming out, and killing themselves, well thats the theory...

Is this reasoning correct? Or will the lowering kill the shocks simply from idling sitting at a 50mm/60mm drop?

I havnt got the cash for 1200$ coilovers, nor can i justify fitting them to a 94 GSI integra...

Also, if anyone has any experience with calculating springs rates could you PM me :).

any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks
James

[e240]

Hey guys

Looking into lowering the car, and a mate is advising i get custom made king spings (he can get them cheap, $400), that is, springs with a determined drop and spring rate.


Is $400 cheap for King Springs? Am pretty sure you can get Spoon ones and Tiens for around that price on ebay by some local sellers. Think it was like $490(?) for spoon ones

[Assault_Cow]

sorry thats $400 for custom made king springs, not the ones you buy off the shelf (lows and super lows)

[Muzz]

Why do you want custom made, and not off the shelf parts?

[Assault_Cow]

As said, to give a stiff spring rate, and stop them from bottoming out the shocks.

[Muzz]

off the shelf lowering springs, all come with a higher spring rates standard, as you say, they need it since there is less availiable shock travel.

If your looking at getting an even higher rate than what is on offer for your car, have a look at groundcontrolstore.com, you can custom order specific spring rates and their springs (eibach) come with a height adjustable coilover sleve, for around $500AU.

If your going to spend $400 on custom king springs, dont, its a complete and absolute rip off (yes it is cheap for custom made springs though). They are extremly poor springs, they sag and give over time, doing so unevenly, messing up the corner weighting of the car bad, spend the slight amount extra on the option above, eibach springs w/GC mounts are top notch!

But seriously, if you order any lowering springs eg/whiteline, kmac, eibach, etc.. They all have an increase in spring rate to accomodate the decrease in shock travel. No need to spend extra to get custom made ones. Also you wouldnt want anything much stiffer than the off the shelf lowering springs provide, as your suspension will be seriously underdampened from the stock shocks.



Choosing a stiff spring rate will limit the shocks from bottoming out, and killing themselves, well thats the theory...
:thumbsup: correct




The reason for the custom springs, is that due to keeping original shocks, choosing a stiff spring rate will limit the shocks from bottoming out, and killing themselves, well thats the theory...


Here is the confusion:
Just because you will be using stock shocks, dosnt mean you need a higher spring rate to reduce travel more than aftermarket shocks.

Also high spring rates will also kill your shocks over time. An underdampened vechicle will handle very bouncy and respond slopily. If you do decide you want super stiff springs, youll want to get stiffer shocks to match the springs down the track, when the stock shocks die, if you want your car to perform.

:honda: :thumbsup:

[Assault_Cow]

Am i able to replace the shocks down the track when they do die with a matching set for the aftermarket springs?


off the shelf lowering springs, all come with a higher spring rates standard, as you say, they need it since there is less availiable shock travel. If your going to spend $400 on custom king springs, dont, its a complete and absolute rip off (yes it is cheap for custom made springs though). They are extremly poor springs, they sag and give over time, doing so unevenly, messing up the corner weighting of the car bad, spend the slight amount extra on the option above, eibach springs w/GC mounts are top notch!



so getting a set of say, teins, would be better off than the custom king springs?

Edit: just checked out that US site, those springs look really nice, and being adjustable also is a major plus. Which ones would i want for my teg? as there are several variations for the 94-01 Integra?