J-Protege

Hard to comprehend why you would withhold info on products you are trying to sell.

Is there any way for me to test them if I get them, so I can post results of estimated rates?

_Kansei_

You can do really crude testing by placing a certain mass on the spring and measuring how much it deflects.

Since the springrates thrown around are in pounds per inch, you could just convert that to kg per cm and go wild with it :P

But of course the data won't be entirely accurate, especially for springs like the s-techs where in that sort of crude testing they would appear to be progressive, but when mounted on the car the helper coils are completely compressed and the springs behave linearly.

But in the end, basically you'll just be able to say "oh ok, so yeah these are stiffer than my stock springs". I know Josh collected some data too, maybe you can compare and kinda see where those springs fall in relation to all the others.

JoshP5

Yeah, there are formulas for predicting the spring stiffness. They rely on the spring geometry, which you can measure, and the spring material parameters, which manufacturers don't usually provide.

In principle you could go to the weight room, incrementally stack 45lb plates on the spring, and measure the deflection to get the rate. But you'd need something to stabilize it like a 1" diameter rod sticking out of the floor. Since the springs aren't flat on top, there would be some balance issues too. If you work out those details and measure accurately, it's not that crude.

Actually, in the case of a progressive rate spring, the data would yield more useful info than what manufacturers give out. You'd have the rate as a function of compression, rather than simply the min/max rate that (only some) manufacturers provide.

This info would be useful for predicting ride quality, because you could get the rate of the progressive spring specifically at the static load compression distance (how far the spring is compressed under the car's weight). Also, the data would indicate exactly how progressive the spring is.

J-Protege

Well, I may change my mind, but this project may wait until spring.

With a harsh Canadian winter just around the corner, I'm not sure if I want to have a lowered, maybe oversteering car, on the ice and deep snow.

And with new endlinks, I'd like to not have them seized up too fast.

Should give me a few months to plan and research my setup, and make sure to get exactly what suits me.

By the way, does anyone have any experience driving around with a rear RB bar on ice?

_Kansei_

*raises hand*

but I repress all memories of winter times. I did have my racing beat bar last winter though. The car was a snow monster (with Blizzak WS-50s)

J-Protege

Hmmm, so no oversteer problems with the rear bar on ice? I have some monster 15" winter tires, they just destroy everything in their paths. If possible oversteer can be kept at bay with good tires, maybe I won't hold out after all

_Kansei_

I never had an issue with unwanted (i.e. without extreme action on my part or the e-bake) oversteer.