What is a good spring rate for lowering springs?

Springs should typically be compressed 25-30% of the free length when supporting the weight of the vehicle. Drag race cars will normally use a lighter rate spring (about 30%) to promote weight transfer while a street car will use a firmer rate spring (about 25%).

What is the spring rate on a coil spring?

So, what is spring rate? It’s the amount of force that’s required to compress or extend a spring (coil in this case) by 1 inch, and is measured in pounds per inch (lb/in).

How do I choose a spring rate?

When attempting to determine the correct spring rate for a car, the trick is to set the ride height so the chassis rests in the shocks’ sweet spot within this small 3- to 4-inch window. A solid-axle rear suspension, on the other hand, is a bit more forgiving.

What is 8K spring rate?

What does it mean when they say 8K or 500lb Spring Rate? When someone says “8K” they are shortening the metric measurement of the spring rate; in this case 8 kg/mm. What this means is that if you apply 8 kilograms of weight to the top of the spring it will compress 1mm.

What does 5K spring rate mean?

So if a spring is listed at 5k it would mean it takes 5 kilograms of force to compress the spring 1 millimeter. If your spring rate is 450lb/in (pounds per inch) it will mean it takes 450 pounds of force to compress the spring 1 inch.

What do higher spring rates do?

Although a higher spring rate reduces body roll, it comes at the expense of a harsher ride. “Not only will a softer spring improve ride quality, it will also enable the tires to follow uneven road surfaces more precisely for improved grip.

What does the K mean in coilovers?

Most commonly seen is a spring rate given in KG/mm or LBS/in. This means the weighted force / the space traveled. For example, 700LB/in would mean 700 pounds will compress that spring 1”. This can also be read as 12.5K/mm (12.5kg to compress spring 25mm).

How to figure out coilover spring rates?

Wire Diameter: This effects rate since a greater wire diameter is stronger than a smaller diameter wire.

  • Mean Spring Diameter: This is the overall outside diameter of the spring,less one wire diameter.
  • Active Coils: Figuring out the number of active coils varies with the design of the spring.
  • What is the best spring rate for coilovers?

    The greater the angle of the spring, the stiffer it will need to be to support the weight of the car. A coilover with a 10” 225 lb. spring that is installed at 0° straight up and down (90° from the axle centerline) will support 1450 lbs.

    How do I calculate coil spring rates?

    – Wire diameter is the thickness of the coil metal which is most accurately measured with vernier callipers – Mean diameter is shown in the diagram and is the distance between centres of the coil spring. – The number of active coils still has uncertainty in the industry of how to apply an accurate number for a type of spring.

    Which coilover is best?

    Spring Rates. Understanding what spring rates are is pretty simple.

  • Build Quality. Choosing the coilover with the best build quality is mandatory.
  • Adjustability. The level of adjustability will highly depend on how much you want to fine-tune your car’s suspension.
  • Warranty.