Adding shocks controls the speed of compression and depression of the springs. The shocks used on a solid-axle rear suspension typically have 5 to 6 inches of travel. They are regarded as useful aftermarket parts in the car community. Todeliver a smoother rideand allow for road hazards, street cars that encounter many different road conditions should be positioned for the shocks to have 60% allowed for compression. However, the shock is non-adjustable. Upgrading to (or updating a poorly designed) independent front suspension, or IFS, will vastly improve your classic muscle car, hot rod, or pickup trucks braking and handling, Making great horsepower on a budget is the LS engine familys claim to fame, but just like any other engine, the more power you ask of it the more youll need to spend. When working with a solid axle you will need to generically subtract 300 pounds from the vehicles rear weight, to compensate for unsprung weight (wheels, tires, axle, and brakes). The more stroke the shock has, the less risk you will be at for bottoming out or overextending your shocks. So, to help you make an informed decision and get the correct spring with the correct spring rate, we spoke with Steve Smith, lead technical writer at QA1. "We can get you in the ballpark by comparing your car's setup to other cars we've supplied springs for in the past. It all comes down to making sure that the shocks can operate in their ideal range of motion, and the importance of the shocks in relation to overall handling performance. Quite simply this means that if you apply 8kgs of force on top of that spring, it will compress by 1mm. How to Tune Your Coil-Overs For Street Driving, Tuning Your Pro Touring Car's Shocks At The Track, Why You Should Swap Your Corvettes Leaf Springs to Coilovers. These are most often stock replacement type suspension springs. However, a coilover comes with preassembled shocks and springs that are designed to perfectly fit each other and work in harmony. The two main advantages of coilovers are improved handling and adjustability. QA1 FAQs: How Much Shock Travel Do I Need? It is constant to a point and then it changes. ", It's All About Support QA1 stock mount coil-overs area great option for anyone looking for fully adjustable ride height and valving control. That said, shocks have a very limited range of motion, and their performance degrades dramatically as they reach the extremes of their travel. The motion-ratio of an independent suspension and the effect it has on spring force is a little more complicated than simply knowing corner weights. "Upgrading to bigger sway bars is a far more effective method of limiting body roll and managing weight transfer. Coilovers offer benefits other springs and shocks may not, including tight packaging for custom suspensions, easy ride height adjustment, and the ability to swap springs at a low cost. What is spring rate? Spring Manufacturing, 2015 HARDWARE PRODUCTS COMPANY, LP. If you travel on predominantly smooth roads, the springs should position the shocks to travel If you travel on predominantly smooth roads, the springs should position the shocks to travel 50% in either direction. How To Lay Down Graphics When Painting Your Car. This creates a motion ratio that is more proportional to the total travel of the wheels. A typical A-arm-style front suspension has between 5 to 7 inches of wheel travel. It is recommended that you get your coilovers installed at an auto shop. Most of the other suspension systems have the spring separate from the shock. There's no reason any car should ride badly, and if it does, it was either built incorrectly or something was overlooked. For the sake of illustration, let's presume that a 500 lb/in spring (R) measuring 8.94 inches (F) compresses down to 6.50 inches (L) at ride height. We all know that adding coilovers to your ride can improve handling. Most of the time, the spring is mounted on the strut. With a typical street car, youre looking for the weight of the vehicle to compress the springs 25- to 30-percent. With the help of QA1 you can help you choose coilovers that create a road-handling hot rod youll be even more proud of when you drive. For people who have already made the plunge for coilovers, our method involves starting out with a baseline spring to get you in the ballpark, making a few simple measurements once they're installed, then plugging those numbers into a simple formula to determine the ideal spring rate for your car. Exhaust clamps are the perfect DIY solution to assembling your performance exhaust system at home, but what is the best clamp to use for your application. Steve Smith, QA1. There are a couple considerations when choosing the right spring for a given application, Steve stated. You add preload by rotating the upper coil adjustment nut down. Find out in our buyers guide. In spring terms, the rate is expressed as the pounds of linear force needed to compress or extend the spring by one inch. Normal coil springs are linear. to help you find answers to your spring-related questions be it understanding key concepts like spring rate or figuring out which spring steel works best for your next project. Use the examples provided on this page or the formula below to determine your Angle Correction Factor (ACF). for the job at hand? However, the cheap coilover will not provide the same durability, safety, and performance as a well-designed quality coilover. These parts are not supported by the springs. A solid-axle rear suspension is a bit more forgiving, because the shocks are bolted directly to the rearend housing. We would generally lean toward the softer side, but taking the shock angle correction into consideration might lead to using the 200 lb-in spring. is put onto the spring, the spring will compress another inch. per inch. Now to that fourth variable, and one which is most often abused in practice. Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. For the upward movement of the wheel, both the shock and the spring must compress. It is exactly these adjustability options which attract many people to choose them. The term spring-rate, refers to the amount of weight that is needed to compress any spring 1-inch. However, variations in suspension geometry or track conditions may necessitate altering the travel percentages to prevent the shocks from bottoming- or topping-out.". Well the same is true of springs. If the cars handling is pretty good as it is, this might not be a cost efficient option for you. Coil-Over Springs are high-performance, aftermarket suspension springs primarily used in Motorsports and Motor Racing. Typically, you will have to first extend the shock. Off-Road: Motorcycles, Quads, Dune Buggies, etc. ASf/ (spring free length x 0.25) = Firmer Spring Rate. This is a type of suspension. Our Mopar flexplate buyers guide will help. 1526-1700 LBS. With all the foreplay out of the way, it's time to finally get into some number crunching. *- The most popular spring size used in motorsports applications. 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%). Find out about giveaways, sales, & the latest products. Coil-Over Springs are high-performance, aftermarket suspension springs primarily used in Motorsports and Motor Racing. Preload at the coilover should be between " and 6" to prevent the springs from coming loose and to ensure proper droop, wheel rate and bottoming control. An imperial measurement is a very similar way of working. This will give us the corner weight, including the unsprung weight. Selecting the size of coil spring needed for your vehicle is based on the amount of weight that must be supported by the spring and the ride height you want to achieve. For instance, if you make $10 per hour, it means for two hours of work you will be paid $20. Making Significant Performance Gains from a Mopar Torsion Bar Suspension, Mopar Suspension Upgrades: Torsion Bars vs Coil-Overs, Muscle Car Suspension Upgrades What to Update Now, and What Can Wait (GM), Mustang II Front Suspension & Coil-Overs FAQs, QA1s Dodge D100 Gets Massive Suspension Upgrades, Rebuilding A QA1 Circle Track Twin Tube Shock, Rebuilding A QA1 Circle Track Monotube Shock. Well the same is true of springs. Take your overall vehicle weight and multiply that by .55 for the front weight. How can the home enthusiast figure out the weight of their vehicle? At this point the load on the spring is 400 pounds, but the rate of the spring, however, remains constant at 200 lbs/inch. If the role of the springs is so simple, then why the big stink about picking the perfect set for your car? The name coilover is a short version of coil spring over shock. The weigh that must be used is the sprung weight and not the unsprung weight. A coilover with a 10 225 lb. Finally, active coils. Higher spring rates reduce body roll but deliver a harsher ride. The 230 lbs. Now that you have installed the coilovers and set the correct preload, you can go for a test run. The 230 pounds represents the spring-rate needed when mounted at a 30-degree angle to equal the desired spring rate of 200 pounds when mounted straight up. A tire that momentarily loses contact with the road due to having too stiff of a spring won't produce any grip at all," Chris explains. Even if a set of automotive scales arent available, you may still be able to weigh the vehicle locally. The idea here is to deal with two kinds of characteristics for handling. Additionally, the advantages of coilovers are great for racing. Example 500lb/in 56 = 8.9K Spring Rate. Shocks have a limited range of motion. 1526-1700 LBS. Years ago, when we wanted to increase handling performance of our classic rides, we had to rely on test-fitting various springs and hoping for the best. Select your vehicle below to see compatible products. Please check out the YouTube video for more information. Chevy Hardcore NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE! Front End Weight: <1350 LBS. Tri-Fives and Classic Trucks Hit the Coast: Huge Cruise Gallery! Not only would this spring move the shock outside its sweet spot, it would also bias its travel too far toward rebound, not leaving enough travel for optimum compression valving and potentially degrading ride quality. Coilovers solve most of the problems lowering springs present. Step 2: Install the Coilover. Springrates will return as partner for the Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday May 27, 2023, Coilovers and Lowering Springs: A Comparison for Automotive Tuners, The benefits (and drawbacks) of lowering a car. When selecting the mounting points and ride height of the shock, select the longest shock that you can within reason. In the shock adjustable coilover, the shock is adjustable and perfectly dials into the suspensions. The Math A great tool for figuring angles quickly is our part number 910-89409 from Deco. 4 UNIQUE USES OF QA1 INDUSTRIAL SHOCK ABSORBERS, QA1 Case Study: Coil-Over Shocks For Football Tackle Sleds, QA1 Quarterly: Industrial & OEM Newsletter, ATV, UTV And Off-Road Component Fabrication, 5 Things to Look For In Your Pro-Touring Control Arms, Achieve Maximum Grip: Front Suspension Tuning for Your Drag Car, Ball Joints 101: Frequently Asked Questions, Calculating Spring Rate for QA1 Stock Mount Coil-Over Systems, Coil-Over vs Torsion Bar: Suspension Upgrades for Classic Mopars, Compare: F-100 Upgrades - Crown Vic Suspension vs QA1's Suspension System, Considerations When Lowering Your Car: QA1 Coil-Over Shocks vs. Drop Spindles, Cruiser, Cornering, Drag Car: How To Improve Your Impala's Suspension, Dialing In Your Impala Suspension For The Street. Because of these options, its a must if you want to go racing or a serious track day attendee, you just need to ask yourself, are you going to benefit from the options it can give. Going from a 150- to a 170-pound spring rate isnt going to mean much of anything in terms of how the car rides. Calculating the optimal spring rate for any car can be expressed in the following equation, where "F" is the free length of the spring, "L" is the loaded length of the spring, "R" is the baseline spring rate, and "T" is how much the shock collapses at ride height. These springs are used primarily in road racing and high-performance street applications. So, you should make sure that both springs snug together. Of course you do. "In my opinion, the only thing more important than the shocks in regards to handling is the tires. That same assembly, when installed at a 45 degree angle would need to be a 450 lb. Multiply the vehicles overall weight by .45 to find the rear weight.. Sf/ACF=ASf. Copyright 2023 QA1. If you need a 12 mounted length at ride height you should get a shock that is approximately 9 compressed and 14 extended. Learn more in our guide. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Divide D1 by D2 to calculate the force ratio (Fr). Same rate throughout their travel. You have entered an incorrect email address! As an example, if the rear coilover shock on your street car calls for a 12-inch spring, 3 inches would be 25-percent of a 12-inch spring. Shock Travel Divide D1 by D2 to calculate the force ratio (Fr). For starters, the coil spring and the strut are made to perfectly fit each other. People often think there's something wrong with their shocks, but 80 percent of the time perceived shock problems are a result of not having the right springs on their car.". We also offer average weights of different modifications such as big block swaps, air conditioning, or power steering. As with any aftermarket product, a delicate balance of characteristics is always trying to be maintained. Too stiff a spring will allow the chassis to accept too many of these forces, adversely affecting the ride quality and handling, while too soft a spring can cause the suspension to bottom out and result in a wallowing ride. The shocks will be called on to control the ride quality and motion control.. Coilover sleeves resemble lowering spring. In the past, the spring rate was also referred to as the "spring constant" because no matter what, the rate always remained the same. Need a replacement suspension spring? If another 200 lbs. They do not provide any other adjustment to your shocks. Different manufacturers have different designs. The OE suspension designers back in Detroit-equipped with mechanical engineering degrees, chassis schematics, CAD/CAM software, and really big brains-can precisely calculate the perfect spring rate by feeding data such as control arm lengths and suspension pickup points into exotic math formulas. Enter your email and password to access your account. Obviously, you can't use the chart here to determine spring rate when a progressive spring is mounted at an angle, and we'd advise checking with your coilover supplier if you opt for progressive springs. Coilovers are some of the best suspension setups invented in the automobile industry. They are easily identified by their construction of continually varied spacing between the coils. Click on the red button to open the pdf file. The first thing needed to choose any spring rate is to determine the weight of the vehicle. You may be pleasantly surprised if your car is a common one that gets converted a lot. spring that is installed at 0 straight up and down (90 from the axle centerline) will support . Using the actual corner weights (spring force) and dividing them by the target spring compression will lead to the spring rate that is right for your vehicle, affirmed Steve. The weigh that must Selecting the size of coil spring needed for your vehicle is based on the amount of weight supported by the spring and the ride height you want to achieve. Hyperco and MW Components are proud members of SMI and CASMI.Hyperco Sales Inquiries: 800.365.2645. When deciding what installed length you use is another important decision you will need to make. These are an adjustable, ridged mounted strut that will allow you to build an entire car and transport it to a scale before you buy your shocks! What is the Difference Between a Linear Spring and a Progressive . That is to say; you cannot adjust the rebound, compression, and stiffness of the shock. If the spring rate is 10 pounds per inch and the spring is only half an inch long, maybe it can only be deflected a quarter of an inch. However, the number of people who understand how they should be set up is certainly less than the number using them on their rides. The known spring method is great, because it takes the guesswork out of how much of your corner weight is supported by the spring vs. the unsprung weight not supported by the spring (wheels, tires, axles, brakes, etc.) The price is mid-range, and they usually do not come with a Camber Kit. In addition, each damper gives the driver the ability to adjust each corners rebound and compressions adjustments. Add a couple of passengers and you can increase the air pressure to compensate with no compromise in ride quality or component changes.". The greater the angle of the spring, the stiffer it will need to be to support the weight of the car. Talk to the experts. Since the shocks are usually bolted directly to the rearend housing, the motion ratio of the wheels is more proportional to the total travel of the shocks. Most provide them pre-assembled with top mounts. D2 = The distance from the pivot point of the A-arm to the center of the ball joint. 20. In the case of coilovers, you get what you pay. when standing straight up. We will go over some of the basic pieces of information that will help you get the right parts the first time. In most cases, the travel space for shocks should be no more than three to four inches. Or do you want to be paid (40 X $10) + (5 X $15) = $475? Weigh your car to determine the weight on the wheels (W). A solid-axle rear suspension is a bit more forgiving, because the shocks are bolted directly to the rearend housing. With an independent suspension, use the following calculations to help select spring rate: 1) Determine spring force D1 = The distance from the pivot point of the A-arm to the mounting point of the spring/shock. The answer to that is no different than you making $10 per hour and wanting to be paid if you only work for half an hour. How to Tune Your Shocks For a Smooth Ride, Four Ways To Make Your 65-70 Impala Feel Like A New Car, How to Determine Your Valving on QA1 Shocks, How to Install a QA1 Mustang Tubular K-member, How to Install QA1 GM Pro Coil Shock Systems, How to Install C10 Front Suspension Systems. Featuring a unique design concept that adjusts the body diameter of the spring relative to the end coils, an OBD spring enables Hyperco to take full advantage of our ultra-high tensile spring materials by optimizing the applied stress by adjusting the springs body diameter. These are the two main types of coil springs to beware of. In case of any compression on the strut, or the spring, or both, the wheel moves upwards towards the body of the car. But, a well-designed coilover allows you to improve the handling without changing much of the other parts of your cars suspension setup. 2023 Springrates.com, LLC. The concept can be tricky to understand if you arent a physicist or a spring maker yourself. All Rights Reserved. W/Fr=Sf, If your spring is mounted at an angle you will need to consider that in your spring calculations. SBC Thick and Thin Oil Pan Gaskets - Which do I need? Next, figuring out how much the springs and shocks should be compressed at ride height to get the shocks in their sweet spot is merely an exercise in simple math. load is placed onto the spring. Again, do you want your shocks to have rebound and compression adjustment? The same ShockWave will go on a heavier car, say a '30 sedan, which would require a spring rate in the region of 175-200 pounds, inflated to 70-75-pounds pressure. Moreover, understanding coilovers allows for height adjustments and improves the rebound on the shock. Upgrade to Microsoft Edge or switch to a supported browser, like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, to explore the MW Components website.We're sorry for the inconvenience. Note that coilovers may be quite pricey. Your main concerns on the test run should be the feel of the suspension. These are entry level suspension upgrades they have a low price and do not come with a Camber Kit. Once your front end weight has been calculated, simply choose the suggested spring rate. The name coilover itself is a shortened down version of Coil spring over shock. Does your project require custom component manufacturing? If the spring force for the rear corner of the car is 650 lbs-in, we would divide 650 by the 3 inches of compression were looking for. You want the coilover to achieve light handling, and also need the suspension to be strong enough to adequately support the weight of the vehicle. Most coilover-shock lengths will determine the length of spring to be used, but within that spring length, there are other considerations like the springs design, features, and spring rate. The answer to that question depends on your needs. For example, say you have a 200 lb. Also giving the driver more options to optimise their handling for on track conditions. and use this to correct the spring rate. But, one of the first questions many people ask, is what spring should I get? A coilover type suspension n is often chosen for two primary reasons, either to lower your car or to achieve an improvement in handling. To put it succinctly, anything that adds or removes weight from a car affects the optimal stiffness of a spring. Click the button below to shop parts available for online order. Every car has a different weight depending on the vehicles design, the options added to the car, and the number of passengers the vehicle is designed to carry. Spring Design(s): Optimum Body Diameter (OBD), Ultra High Travel (UHT), Dual Rate UHT, Motorsports: Circle Track Racing (Legend Cars, Micro-Sprints, Midgets), Spring Design(s): Optimum Body Diameter (OBD), Ultra High Travel (UHT), Motorsports: Circle Track Racing (Super Modified Pavement, Dirt Short Track), Off-Road & Off-Road Racing: Side x Side and UTV where spring travel and resistance to bowing is important, Off-Road & Off-Road Racing: Pick-up Trucks, Light Trucks, Custom Build Off-Road Racing Vehicles, Motorsports: IndyCar, Indy Lights, Sports Car Racing, Prototype Racecars, Tudor Classes, SSCA Racing, Street Performance: Sports Cars, Sports Sedans where handling is important. You cannot adjust its height once you install them. Normally, they feature a front camber kit, with some advanced versions sporting the rear camber kit. "Optimizing the rate of weight transfer is the essence of good handling, and the shocks control how the entire suspension operates. Finally, dividing 1,220 by 2.13 results in a quotient of 572.77, which is the ideal spring rate for this application. It is typical to work with the front- or rear-weights derived from the overall weight, Steve affirmed. Do Tubular Trailing Arms Really Make a Noticeable Improvement? A typical GM A-arm front suspension has between 5 and 7 inches of wheel travel. The angle that the coilover assembly is installed at has a large effect on what the spring rate will need to be. Front End Weight: <1350 LBS. Angle. Changing your tires profile, be it width, height, or both, can provide increased traction, braking, and handling. Variable rate springs are progressive, compressing 100 pounds for the first inch in the previous example, then requiring 150 pounds to compress the second inch and so on, making the spring rate progressive. Best case scenario is to have access to a set of scales (such as our part number 475-72593). When some of the coils start to go solid and in effect are no longer active, the spring rate goes up. Softer spring rates ensure that the tires maintain contact with the road surface and hence provide better control. Why Mowers with Shock Absorbers Provide A Smoother Cut. Also known as pounds per inch. Then, to compensate for installations at different angles, use the chart above. Copyright 2023 QA1. 25. A much more economical option is to purchase a set of our mock-up coil overs (Speedway part number 916-36037). If youre in the business of buying springs, you are bound to deal with spring rates. So, if you needed to lower or raise your car, you would have to install another set of lowering springs. If a particular vehicles spring length and rate are known, measuring the compressed length of the spring will show how much spring force (weight) is on that particular corner. So how do we measure a spring rate? Well show you what to look for in this buyers guide. Which is better? So, lets talk in terms of something we are all very familiar with instead your rate of pay. Exactly, it would take 400lbs of force on the top of that spring to compress it 1 inch. Contact one of our spring geeks todayto help you find answers to your spring-related questions be it understanding key concepts like spring rate or figuring out which spring steel works best for your next project. Our Ultra High Travel springs are designed specifically for light rate / high travel coil-over applications, such as dirt and pavement racing. The difference between the two spring height figures is 2.44 inches, which yields a product of 1,220 when multiplied by the spring rate of 500 lb/in. Everything you do to your car in terms of modifications that add or subtract weight, including the number of passengers carried, affects the spring rate and theperformance of the coilover springs. It just takes some research. Fords small block and big block engine families have their share of flexplate differences. Simple right? You also dont want to weigh it before the car is completely assembled. Noise-Free Operation - Which Rod Ends Provide the Best Results? 4. Before we get into spring rates, let's take a quick look at what the coil spring's intended purpose is: to insulate the chassis from forces applied by irregularities in the road. Shock Valving: What is Compression and Rebound? The greater the installed angle, the stiffer the spring rate must be to support the same weight. 1350-1525 LBS. Thankfully, those days are gone. If your coilover is mounted at an angle, you will need to consider that factor in your calculations. This consistent rate makes it quite easy to calculate a given spring length at ride height, and this helps when setting up the ride height of a specific vehicle. Call 800.979.0122, 7am-10pm, everyday. You can choose from a wide range of rates and lengths. You can improve your cars suspension system using aftermarket upgrades such ascoilover kits, lowering spring kits, adjustable shocks, and struts . The suspension system also provides comfort on uneven terrain. If more than two springs are in series then the next spring up can keep being added to the equation for all the springs; for example in the case of 4 springs stacked on top of each other the equation would be like the below: What if you work 45 hours? If your car sits too high or too low due to having the wrong springs, it will take the shocks out of their sweet spot and they'll never perform well. Also, check that you have received sets for the rear wheels and the front wheels. I think I've settled on some BC coilovers - Look great quality, damping adjustable, made in the UK and in Yorkshire and very competitive on price. So then whats all this talk about the spring rate not always being constant? Use the table above to determine your Angle Correction Factor (ACF). There seems to be a lot of information out there on this subject equally in different units of measurement. If the rate of the spring is linear, that rate is not affected by the load placed on the spring. If the coilover is dual rate, install the slider first before mounting the lower spring from the lower end of the shock. Over several generations of small block Chevy (and big block Chevy) engines there have been several changes that dictate what flexplate works with them. However, no two cars are the exact same, so you can't get it perfect that way. To install the fully assembled coilover, suspend the chassis using a jack and make sure the suspension is in full droop. A good number of racing cars and luxury cars run on coilover suspension systems. So, how is it different? And that could be expressed mathematically as 10/1. Is There Such a Thing as a Constant Spring Rate? Still, a D-I-Y installation is not out of the question. The factory suspension system in your car improves its control and handling, giving you a smooth ride. The result is a car that is low, but the handling is worse than before the spring installation. Ideal for those who are regular on track days or at a club racing level. The greater the angle of the spring, the stiffer it will need to be to support the weight of the car. If you prescribe to this school of thought, where the purpose of the springs is to merely support the weight of the car, then picking out the right rate isn't hard. At Hardware Products, our aim is to make your spring ordering process as easy as possible. As the number of active coils increases, the spring rate decreases. A coilover with a 10" 225 lb. Spring Rate: 375 500 600 700. When matched with a shock featuring 4.25 inches of travel, setting it up for a 50/50 cornering application requires the shock to collapse 2.13 inches (T) at ride height. Do you want to be paid 45 X $10 = $450? Coilover shock absorbers are one of the most common forms of suspension on our kind of cars, whether used on Mustang II-based independent front suspensions, IRS systems, or in conjunction with four-links or ladder bars and a live axle.