troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Spring Weights
G`day guys
I`m working on a streetable escort that i could also use for rally and hillclimb events.
What sort of spring weights would you recommend?
Cheers all
Troppo
|
evobda2
Scholar
- Total Posts : 412
- Scores: 20
- Reward points: 4930
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: NSW, Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/13 21:18:19
(permalink)
Depends on the motor your using (well the weight and power of it) and over all suspension setup.
But most will say 190-225lb front springs for a sporty road car which is a firmer ride. Some of the serious guys running up to 275lb in the hill climbs and track. Ill be starting with the 225lb with my mk1 escort.
Rear you don't want them too hard. As escorts are much lighter in the rear than the front. And too hard will make it skitterish on uneven road surfaces. From memory around 150lb id look to start with.
|
troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 07:29:00
(permalink)
Thanks for that Evobda
I`n building a mkII 2 door with a mild pinto in it. I think i`ll start somewhere between your min set weights and go for 170 or so
|
evobda2
Scholar
- Total Posts : 412
- Scores: 20
- Reward points: 4930
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: NSW, Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 09:03:53
(permalink)
Go 190lb front springs for a pinto. Tends to be the proven weight. 170lb about tends to be more for a kent motor.
|
troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 09:24:55
(permalink)
Thanks again mate for the wisdom, 190`s it is
|
gazz
Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 139
- Scores: 2
- Reward points: 4043
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: Adelaide S.A Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 12:00:53
(permalink)
streetable or daily driven??
I have a hillclimb car that I drive on the road but only really to and from events. no rallies.
I run 275lbs fronts, mk1 with a pinto.
if I was going to drive it daily or more often I would think about going softer, but im going to go stiffer because its too soft on the track.
190 will be way too soft for the hillclimbs I think you will find, especially if your thinking about good tyres.
|
troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 13:40:51
(permalink)
Thanks for that Gazz, i appreciate the experience your sharing. Mine will be a 50/50 road, rally/hillclimb so i think i might go with the softer springs.
Cheers
Troppo
|
Matt75
Deity
- Total Posts : 2184
- Scores: 67
- Reward points: 5609
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: Doncaster Vic Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 14:35:11
(permalink)
If you can get some coilovers it will make you life easier then you can change the springs depending on what you are doing as you will find with the scope of what you want from your springs it will be a compromise across the board.
Coilover springs are dirt cheap too.
Cheers,
Matt
|
troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 14:45:05
(permalink)
Yep, got coil-overs going on all round with five link rear end
|
SFE
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 199
- Scores: 7
- Reward points: 5071
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: melbourne vic Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 14:45:36
(permalink)
Do you intend to lower the car much? If you're planning on lowering the front a fair bit from standard height,( not knowing how low it is now from perhaps old sagged springs) I'd go for at least the 190lb/ins with a pinto. If it's low you don't want to be on the bump stops under hard braking because of soft springs. You could always go a progressive rate spring with quality dampers to control.
rgds,
SFE
|
troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 14:51:08
(permalink)
I`m actually thinking about raising it about an inch or so for clearance reasons as you mentioned.
Gotta say thanks to all you guys, you`ve been really helpfull
|
Matt75
Deity
- Total Posts : 2184
- Scores: 67
- Reward points: 5609
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: Doncaster Vic Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 15:47:24
(permalink)
In that case get a few and change them according to the event. You'll never be happy with the handling otherwise.
I have 275lb springs and drive it around a bit and don't find it too hard at all. If it was a daily drive it's a different story though.
Sounds like a great project. Get some pics up.
Cheers,
Matt
|
evobda2
Scholar
- Total Posts : 412
- Scores: 20
- Reward points: 4930
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: NSW, Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 15:48:13
(permalink)
Note also if you have coil overs in the rear, you'll need different spring rates to that of standard leaf spring setup. Usually a higher rate. Agree on the different springs too if you have coil overs all round. 2.25" springs are cheap and relatively easy to change compared to standard springs.
|
troppo
Aficionado
- Total Posts : 376
- Scores: 8
- Reward points: 3498
- Joined: 2014/01/05 13:45:37
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 16:08:54
(permalink)
Matt75
In that case get a few and change them according to the event. You'll never be happy with the handling otherwise.
I have 275lb springs and drive it around a bit and don't find it too hard at all. If it was a daily drive it's a different story though.
Sounds like a great project. Get some pics up.
Cheers,
Matt
Thanks Matt I`ll get some pics up when i get the yard sorted, got things stacked around it right now. Going to be a long haul but had a winfall a few weeks ago so i bought a heap of parts i`m going to need eventuallyso thats why i`m asking all these questions evobda2
Note also if you have coil overs in the rear, you'll need different spring rates to that of standard leaf spring setup. Usually a higher rate. Agree on the different springs too if you have coil overs all round. 2.25" springs are cheap and relatively easy to change compared to standard springs.
What sort of weight would you recommend i start with evobda? Like you say i can get a few different weights and change them over but i want to get midweight coils first so im not driving around on solid springs. Cheers guys Troppo
|
evobda2
Scholar
- Total Posts : 412
- Scores: 20
- Reward points: 4930
- Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
- Location: NSW, Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Spring Weights
2014/01/14 16:28:09
(permalink)
I think its only a slight increase. So if you were running 150lb leaf springs you may go up to around 180lb for coil overs. I think once you get to this stage it might be worth talking to suspension guru's like Heasman here in Sydney, who have done grp4 escorts in the past. Also the UK guys have a lot of knowledge on these setups too. The Turbosport forum is a good place to look.
Perhaps maybe run a 190lb front & 160lb rear for road, and then for track try a 280lb front 180lb rear?
Im only guessing with the rear springs here as I've run leaf. Having 5 link etc is a whole new ball game.
|