Coilover Spring Rates?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
Coilover Spring Rates?
I just bought a set of Qa1 coilovers from a forum member and I am trying to decide if I want to stay with the spring rate that is on them or if I should change them up. My car is going to be mainly ran on the street but it will see the autox track and strip alot also.
The QA1 springs are 10-250 which from what I see have the spring rate of 250 lbs. That seems a little light to me but I have never ran coilovers on a C4. From the research I have do thus far, these should have heavier springs on the front. In the pictures they appear to have the same springs on all 4.
Any input would be great guys.
http://www.qa1.net/qa1_motorsports/c...d-springs.html
The QA1 springs are 10-250 which from what I see have the spring rate of 250 lbs. That seems a little light to me but I have never ran coilovers on a C4. From the research I have do thus far, these should have heavier springs on the front. In the pictures they appear to have the same springs on all 4.
Any input would be great guys.
http://www.qa1.net/qa1_motorsports/c...d-springs.html
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I'd guess those are extremely "light" at maybe all fours - I believe that most L98/LT1 cars throughout the forum are probably at 400 for the fronts and maybe the majority of the rears maybe at 350. There's a good bit that goes into the calculation of the effective rate. The angle of the mount has considerable to do with that.
I'm not recommending the weights I mentioned but you need to check into it considerably before I guess an install. It looks like you also are going to need 2 more spanner nuts. Your rears look to be missing the jamb nuts.
There were some very interesting threads 5 - 6 years ago and most are likely still around by just searching.
Here's a good read from Hyperco:
http://www.hypercoils.com/spring-rate-calculator/
These may or may not work:
http://www.proshocks.com/calcs/
There are many others. I'd start with getting the springs you have checked for "rate" - simple and you should be able to get it accomplished local for cheap or maybe even "free"!
I'm not recommending the weights I mentioned but you need to check into it considerably before I guess an install. It looks like you also are going to need 2 more spanner nuts. Your rears look to be missing the jamb nuts.
There were some very interesting threads 5 - 6 years ago and most are likely still around by just searching.
Here's a good read from Hyperco:
http://www.hypercoils.com/spring-rate-calculator/
These may or may not work:
http://www.proshocks.com/calcs/
There are many others. I'd start with getting the springs you have checked for "rate" - simple and you should be able to get it accomplished local for cheap or maybe even "free"!
Last edited by WVZR-1; Nov 23, 2013 at 10:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
I'd guess those are extremely "light" at maybe all fours - I believe that most L98/LT1 cars throughout the forum are probably at 400 for the fronts and maybe the majority of the rears maybe at 350. There's a good bit that goes into the calculation of the effective rate. The angle of the mount has considerable to do with that.
I'm not recommending the weights I mentioned but you need to check into it considerably before I guess an install. It looks like you also are going to need 2 more spanner nuts. Your rears look to be missing the jamb nuts.
There were some very interesting threads 5 - 6 years ago and most are likely still around by just searching.
Here's a good read from Hyperco:
http://www.hypercoils.com/spring-rate-calculator/
These may or may not work:
http://www.proshocks.com/calcs/
There are many others. I'd start with getting the springs you have checked for "rate" - simple and you should be able to get it accomplished local for cheap or maybe even "free"!
I'm not recommending the weights I mentioned but you need to check into it considerably before I guess an install. It looks like you also are going to need 2 more spanner nuts. Your rears look to be missing the jamb nuts.
There were some very interesting threads 5 - 6 years ago and most are likely still around by just searching.
Here's a good read from Hyperco:
http://www.hypercoils.com/spring-rate-calculator/
These may or may not work:
http://www.proshocks.com/calcs/
There are many others. I'd start with getting the springs you have checked for "rate" - simple and you should be able to get it accomplished local for cheap or maybe even "free"!
Looks like I have alot to learn on the suspension of this car. I t will be a total removal ,clean up, powdercoat, and replace project over the winter.
Thanks BTW!
Last edited by smooth1990; Nov 23, 2013 at 10:21 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 365
Likes: 27
From: Shelby Township Michigan
I have the Van Steel kit on my 93 coupe with 500# on the front and 425# on the rear. They are a little bouncy on the street, but with stock seats and neoprene seat covers tolerable. If I had race seats I don't think I could drive on the street and be comfortable. However, the streets here in metro Detroit suck. The setup did allow me to go from the street to the drag strip to a road track with no suspension adjustments. Also, note I have a 32 MM front sway bar and SPC adjustable upper control arms. In the rear I'm still running the stock sway bar which IMO is fine. I also run banksi rod ends in the rear with all poly bushings. It's definitely a race car driven on the street. The SPC control arms allow you to have an aggressive alignment and still drive on the street.
So, maybe contact Van Steel. They are very knowledgeable with spring rates. With my set up
The ride is smooth or rough depending on the road.
So, maybe contact Van Steel. They are very knowledgeable with spring rates. With my set up
The ride is smooth or rough depending on the road.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
I have the Van Steel kit on my 93 coupe with 500# on the front and 425# on the rear. They are a little bouncy on the street, but with stock seats and neoprene seat covers tolerable. If I had race seats I don't think I could drive on the street and be comfortable. However, the streets here in metro Detroit suck. The setup did allow me to go from the street to the drag strip to a road track with no suspension adjustments. Also, note I have a 32 MM front sway bar and SPC adjustable upper control arms. In the rear I'm still running the stock sway bar which IMO is fine. I also run banksi rod ends in the rear with all poly bushings. It's definitely a race car driven on the street. The SPC control arms allow you to have an aggressive alignment and still drive on the street.
So, maybe contact Van Steel. They are very knowledgeable with spring rates. With my set up
The ride is smooth or rough depending on the road.
So, maybe contact Van Steel. They are very knowledgeable with spring rates. With my set up
The ride is smooth or rough depending on the road.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
http://www.mongoosems.com/
That is what I assumed they were for starters and here's a thread from a few months ago showing the "jamb nuts" I believe you're missing.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...fferences.html
Use the information I posted yesterday for you to "convert" the weights or maybe and I would think "Armysnipe" likely has. I expect he'll be back!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I have a set of EM/DRM with 10" Hyperco and the fronts are 400 and the rears 275 (on the spring).
OP - if these would interest you we could discuss maybe a swap of sorts. The shocks with mine are very low use and they're already cut for the ring etc. I don't recall the Bilstein #'s but I could check probably. I would need the Bilstein #'s on yours etc.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
I'm quite sure all anyone could post would be the "advertised" rate. I'm assuming that's what you're calling "raw"! Do you actually know what the package that you have was assembled for? I doubt it was actually assembled for a "fully optioned" C4 build. Maybe resto-rod of sorts with C4 suspension. See what "Mongoose" uses or suggests with their package on the GS.
http://www.mongoosems.com/
That is what I assumed they were for starters and here's a thread from a few months ago showing the "jamb nuts" I believe you're missing.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...fferences.html
Use the information I posted yesterday for you to "convert" the weights or maybe and I would think "Armysnipe" likely has. I expect he'll be back!
http://www.mongoosems.com/
That is what I assumed they were for starters and here's a thread from a few months ago showing the "jamb nuts" I believe you're missing.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...fferences.html
Use the information I posted yesterday for you to "convert" the weights or maybe and I would think "Armysnipe" likely has. I expect he'll be back!
I emailed mongoose to see what they suggest. i didnt see any jam nuts on their site but they hopefully have some they can sell me.
I should have done more research on these before I bought them. Looks like with all the replacement stuff and changes, I will be into them for as much as a new set from EM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Looks like you are spot on WVZR-1!
I emailed mongoose to see what they suggest. i didnt see any jam nuts on their site but they hopefully have some they can sell me.
I should have done more research on these before I bought them. Looks like with all the replacement stuff and changes, I will be into them for as much as a new set from EM.
I emailed mongoose to see what they suggest. i didnt see any jam nuts on their site but they hopefully have some they can sell me.
I should have done more research on these before I bought them. Looks like with all the replacement stuff and changes, I will be into them for as much as a new set from EM.
10" = 254mm Yours are on the floor check the ends of the coils! It will be an interesting find I believe!
I didn't mean for you to ask for a recommendation from Mongoose but it shouldn't hurt. I just meant to ask what they suggest for their GS/replica/resto-rod package when you buy their product.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Nov 24, 2013 at 11:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
That is the way I believe Van Steel and VBP product is flagged. Yours is assembled and driving so you can't easily check but it would be etched in the end of each coil.
I have a set of EM/DRM with 10" Hyperco and the fronts are 400 and the rears 275 (on the spring).
OP - if these would interest you we could discuss maybe a swap of sorts. The shocks with mine are very low use and they're already cut for the ring etc. I don't recall the Bilstein #'s but I could check probably. I would need the Bilstein #'s on yours etc.
I have a set of EM/DRM with 10" Hyperco and the fronts are 400 and the rears 275 (on the spring).
OP - if these would interest you we could discuss maybe a swap of sorts. The shocks with mine are very low use and they're already cut for the ring etc. I don't recall the Bilstein #'s but I could check probably. I would need the Bilstein #'s on yours etc.
http://www.qa1.net/qa1_motorsports/c...d-springs.html
I will check the ends of the springs when they arrive from the person I purchased them from.
What setup do you have and why would you be interested in swapping? Either way I need to get the right setup on my car before they are installed the first time so I am open to ideas. Springs, if i have to change them are going to run 170.00 or so. I would think I would want to get the shocks rebuilt and revalved also.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I would have assumed and did that the 10 -250 meant precisely that but there's not many applications that would do the 250 X 4 - I was attempting to rethink the package. I thought you would have had these in hand.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
I should have them wendsday.
I meassured my fx3 rod and it came out to 14mm or .550. Im wondering if these will fit my fx3 shock.....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 12
Looks Like I will beable to retain my FX3 with this coilover setup. I did a little mocking up this morning and here is what it looks like!
Dont mind the dirt! Im in the process of a complete suspension rebuild so she will look all purty when its done!
Dont mind the dirt! Im in the process of a complete suspension rebuild so she will look all purty when its done!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Like I said in your other thread
Give Doug Rippie a call, they'll set you up with proper springs
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...le-shocks.html
Give Doug Rippie a call, they'll set you up with proper springs
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...le-shocks.html
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 572
Likes: 1
From: MOBILE Al
Or calculate the spring rates yourself.. Hyperco will suggest a slightly higher rate spring, but it doesn't take into account streetability. Ridetech will offer 3 seperate spring rate choices to fit your needs.
I have all the measurements for my 96 vette suspension if you need them. The only thing that may be different is your coil angle. I bought a $1.50 protractor from CVS to get my angle.
Several extremely succesful racers and vendors said to go with a hyperco spring over a QA-1.. They win all the time, so I took their advice.
http://www.ridetech.com/tech/spring-rate-calculator/
http://www.hypercoils.com/spring-rate-calculator/
I have all the measurements for my 96 vette suspension if you need them. The only thing that may be different is your coil angle. I bought a $1.50 protractor from CVS to get my angle.
Several extremely succesful racers and vendors said to go with a hyperco spring over a QA-1.. They win all the time, so I took their advice.
http://www.ridetech.com/tech/spring-rate-calculator/
http://www.hypercoils.com/spring-rate-calculator/